Republicans are VERY different from Democrats.
I've spent months listening to people like Glenn Beck say there's no difference between Republicans and Democrats. For awhile, I bought it and came to the point of wanting to change parties. I heard rumors that Libertarians had taken over the Tea Party movement, I heard Republican friends I've known for years talk about joining the Independent Party. (Yeah--that's the answer. Join the ranks of those who can't pick a side.) I wasn't quite sure what to do, because no other party quite matched up to what I believe in. Simply put, I believe in the Constitution.
I've been to the Tea Parties. The ones I attended were full of people from all political persuasions. They were racially diverse, peaceful and respectful--all contrary to what the mainstream media would have you believe. If my research is correct, third parties don't win elections. If Libertarians took over anything this year, it could be argued it was CPAC, not the Tea Parties.
Don't get me wrong, there are those in the Republican party, such as former Republican Senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter (who became a Democrat last April--big shocker there), that deserve the tongue lashing they receive from Republicans for going against the very principles on which our party stands, or at least used to stand. There are certainly Republicans, like Senator John McCain and Lindsay Graham, who anger many of us in the conservative wing of our party when they vote as moderates the vast majority of the time. But to assert that there's absolutely no difference between the two parties is simply irresponsible, at the very least. Bill Bennett said it best, when he wrote his review on Beck's CPAC 2010 speech.
...for him [Glenn Beck] to continue to say that he does not hear the Republican party admit its failings or problems is to ignore some of the loudest and brightest lights in the party...
Bennett goes on to highlight some of the "best and brightest" in the Republican party who have, indeed, been working night and day to correct the mistakes the party has made. They've been offering the solutions America needs, if anyone would care to listen...President Obama proved yesterday that he certainly doesn't.
For all the great things Bennett said in his article, I would disagree with his assertion that Senator McCain has seen the light and recognizes that "our party has lost it's way". He may have made the statement multiple times, but he's done virtually nothing to prove he means it. If he had gone after President Obama with the tactics he's using on his opponent in AZ, J.D. Hayworth, we'd likely have a much different political climate today.
Rush Limbaugh highlighted the National Journal Magazine yesterday on his radio show. They did their annual study on who were the most liberal, conservative and moderate leaders in the House and Senate in 2009. Their findings were incredibly fascinating, based purely on votes, not opinions.
The 10 most liberal Senators were found to be Democrats.
Shocking, I know.
The 10 most centrist were found to be Democrats as well, and the 10 most conservative were...get ready for this...Republican. Who knew? Only Republicans were found to be conservative, yet all liberals were found to be only Democrats.
To most of us who are actively involved in politics in one form or another, this data comes as no surprise. The question many on the right have been asking-- what are we going to do about our party?--is easily answered.
Take it back.
How? By first recognizing those who do take a stand for what's right, and making sure that we help others join their ranks in the November elections. The Democrats in our party posing as Republicans? Expose them and get rid of them when their number is up for re-election, but don't punish those who are doing the right thing. Leaders like Congressman John Boehner (R-OH), Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MINN), Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA), Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and others have proven they do have the backbone to do what is right, and are speaking on our behalf. Until mid January, Republicans were impotent. Limbaugh pointed out Monday that it is the American people who have stopped cap and trade. It was you, and me, and others like us who have, until now, stopped Obama's health care bill from passing. It's because we are determined to take back our country that these efforts by the left have been unsuccessful. We can succeed...each of us doing our part. Thomas Sowell once said "the right person in the right place at the right time can change everything" in an article he wrote on the late William F. Buckley and the Conservative movement. Boy was he ever right.
Does our party have some bad eggs? You bet we do...but it certainly does not warrant the blanket statements being made by Glenn Beck and others that there's no difference at all between the parties.
...there is a difference between the Republican and Democratic parties. To ignore these differences, or propagate the myth that they don’t exist, is not only discouraging, it is dangerous.
There is a night and day difference between Republicans like the "best and brightest" I have highlighted above, and the Democrat party. To continue to denigrate those in Washington who aren't like the rest, who do have a shred of character, is to dishearten them. They've been fighting an uphill battle, and taking all things into consideration, I'd say they've been hugely successful in, at the very least, putting up roadblocks at every turn to try and stop this takeover. They have, along with their constituents, refused to play into the "bi-partisan" game, and they should be praised for it.
On the contrary, those who are actively participating in the undermining of our freedoms and the destruction of this country need to be held accountable. The "silent form of socialism" President Ronald Reagan once spoke of is silent no more...and we'd better wake up and stop it before it's too late.
**This post can also be viewed at Smart Girl Nation online magazine for Smart Girl Politics.
5 comments:
I tend to agree with you, but I think Glenn Beck is also right. I think Glenn's overall point might be better stated that the leadership of the Republican party hasn't stepped up clearly enough to delineate Republicans from Democrats. I agree there are some rising stars in the party, but there hasn't been anybody like Reagan, or any speeches like his CPAC speech in which he said that there should be no pale pastels but bright colored differences (paraphrasing). Sarah Palin's definitely a rising star, but until she gets past the visceral hatred some in the media have for her, I don't think she's going to be that leader. Maybe for 2016, but not for 2012. (And I like Sarah Palin, so don't misunderstand my point there.)
Point taken, but I think Glenn Beck is overdoing it big time with his "there is NOOOO difference between the parties". I met leaders at CPAC who are polar opposite of ANY Democrat, and even the most liberal Republicans (who I do NOT support) are noticeably different than liberal Democrats. (with a couple of exceptions) I was at CPAC, and unlike last years uplifting motivational speech given by Rush Limbaugh, this year there was an almost depression that set in after hearing Beck. Don't get me wrong, parts of his speech were fantastic, but I along with many others I speak with are growing QUITE weary of his tone. Bottom line, there ARE some great Republicans out there...interesting that you would say what you did about Sarah. Did you know that people spoke just like that about Reagan before his election? He was greatly underestimated, and turned out to be one of the greatest Presidents in our nation's history. I don't know if that person is Sarah, or someone else in the party, but we'd do well to support their efforts rather than trying to divide Conservatives like Beck is doing.
Thanks for your input!!
"What are we going to do about our party? Take it back."
People stopped voting for GOP when they made themselves the party of "slower statism". The choice between "quick statism" by Dems and "slow statism" by GOP is no choice at all. Both parties want the same end state, but only differ on the route to take to get there.
When in power of late, the GOP has not reduced the size of government, or restored lost liberties. The facts, the votes, show that the size of government, the $$ cost of government, and the tyranny of that government increased steadily when the GOP was driving the bus. The GOP increased the list of 'the long train of abuses'.
There is little difference between the Dems and what the GOP had become. Both want to be court jesters unto the King and extract favors by building up the power of the King /the Court/ the three letter agencies.
We need to "take back" the GOP, to morph the GOP into the party of aggressive liberty and much less government. Because if both existing parties remain statists, then there is no real choice. And the people will need to alter or abolish the government without resorting to either party.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
-TJ and friends
Maybe we could use a marketting jingle. Something like: "Liberty. The choice of a new generation."
Or the tried and true slogan "Liberty or Death".
Totally agree with you. It's so refreshing read sensible opinions like this.
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I think the problem in the Republican party is the wolves(Dems) in sheeps(Rep) clothing. We just need to evict those mascarading as Republicans! There is a difference - we just need accountability at the voting box! You go girl!
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