Attacking other "Republicans"
For those of you who are anonymously commenting about why I would "attack" other Republicans and even accusing me of being "jealous of wealth," I want to direct your attention to this morning's post by Terry Frank. As Terry points out so ably, many of these so-called "Republicans" supporting Mr. Corker are the same so-called "Republicans" who put a lot of money and behind- the-scenes influence into electing our Democrat Governor Phil Bredesen.Brian Hornback also points out the hypocrisy of the Bredesens in their claims about TennCare and what they do with our tax dollars, and how they rewrite history to fit their political agenda. So-called "Republicans" actually support this man.
Bob Corker, who a commenter apparently thinks is a good Republican, voted in two Democrat Primaries while serving in the Sundquist administration, and when Mayor of Chattanooga, he didn't just take campaign money from Democrats, he gave campaign money to Democrats.
Oh yes, I am such a bad Republican! I do not want my money ultimately going to a candidate who supports Democrats. I am such a terrible Republican!
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 11:42 AM
6 Comments:
Reagan's 11th commandment barely applies today. It seems that power has made many in the party lazy. Michael Savage recently commented that there appears to be 3 parties in America today... Democrats, Republicans, and Conservatives. It's a huge pity really. It's gotten so bad in Ohio that we literally have had to chip away at the RINO establishment over the past couple of years trying to bring reason back into the fold. I never attack fellow Republicans until they sell out the ideas the party was founded on.
I am a believer in the 11th Commandment, but what do you do when someone isn't living up to party principles?
I don't always agree with Savage (I think he is often brash, and as outspoken as I am, I worry that printing or saying statements such as "I hate his guts," which Savage is known to do, is just not appropriate. As much as I disagree with Governor Bredesen or Mayor Haslam, I don't hate either of them), but he is right about this to a point.
Conservatives are still welcome in the GOP, but sometimes it feels like we are used to do the grunt work-pass out the leaflets, make the calls, call the talk shows, take care of the campaign websites-while many (but by no means all) of the candidates we supported turn around and do things that make us want to throw up.
Though this can be frustrating, I am still proud to be both a conservative and a Republican-this party is our home, and for every rotten apple that I have found in the GOP over the years, I have found ten good, honest, decent people to make up for it. The biggest problem we face is getting the 90% good sorts to come forward and seek positions of influence within the party (very important right now), and some to put their names forward as candidates
Mr. Oatney,
The fact that Corker gave money to Democrats could work in his favor - it's an example of Bi-Partisanship, repairing the rabid idealogy that is tearing America apart, and so on. Many people that are not into politics as seriously as you and I will vote for the "best person" regardless of party - and don't deny that you've heard that :-) I'm sure it drives you as nuts as it does me. Also, you have to look at why he contributed to those particular Dems; maybe he, as mayor, felt he could work better with those than a rabidly partisan Republican (I'm assuming that they were local candidates - I don't know and don't care, to be perfectly honest) and so while this might turn off a few conservative stalwarts like youself it might attract a larger number of moderates and swing voters. So there's lots to look at and different ways to look at all of it. So don't write it off as failing some litmus test - it might fail yours but you're only one vote. If I was running for office I'd be more than willing to sacrifice a vote to gain more.
SteveMule
To me, it is not a matter of a "litmus test," I don't think it would bother me (or others) so much if he weren't trying to run as a "conservative stalwart," which he is.
Mr. Oatney,
I agree, I was just trying to make a point that pragmatic politics often looks like selling out - and as you pointed out it often is.
SteveMule
Terry;
First of all, God Bless you and everything you are doing to promote the Truth. My work is of little significance to the mighty work that, with the help of God, you have done.
What you are saying is spot-on. Frankly, I am sick and tired of people who drag out the 11th Commandment during a Primary, because they usually do it only when "their man/woman" gets criticised. I worked on Pat Buchanan's 1996 Presidential campaign-all I did was pass out leaflets, make some calls, hand out flyers at the polls-that sort of thing (this was before Buchanan bolted the Party), and it always bothered me that when Pat criticised Senator Dole, certain people began to scream "11th Commandment!," but Dole could criticise Pat ad infinitem, and this was alright, the 11th Commandment did not apply. It is a double standard, and when Buchanan bolted in 2000, I tihnk that played as much a role as anything in Buchanan bolting-I believe this because I read most of his books.
Obviously, I strongly disagreed with his decision to bolt the Party, and when he did, I backed the now-President.
We do need to be careful, as Republicans, about the double standards we employ on our own people.
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