A little GOP affirmation.
Getting through my first convention that I’ve been trying to blog on was an eye-opening experience.
First, it’s tough to blog and be a delegate, when they don’t allow laptops on the convention floor. So, unless I get a blackberry, future posting of this nature if I’m fortunate to be selected 4 years from now is going to continue to be spotty.
Secondly, coming to convention as a blogging delegate was a huge affirmation of the fact that to have a lick of credibility, one needs to “do” as well as to write about things.
There are plenty of people who write about politics, but unless you’re in the thick of it, you can’t understand the pride of going to something like a national convention and the raw emotion surrounding the experience. In fact, I’d call going to an event like this a good gut-check in reminding oneself of the diversity of the GOP on a national basis. We’re black, white, red, and every pigment the skin comes in. We’re Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Evangelical and agnostic. We’re conservative and liberal. At convention, there were even those who were spreading the message that Republicans can be gay or straight as well.
The national convention is the perfect demonstration that the party is a big tent, and that’s what it takes to win elections.
When you see some commentators slinging around terms such as RINO, and they haven’t participated in state or national conventions such as this, or ran for office under the GOP banner, or served as precinct committeeman or woman, or filled one of the many party roles, I can tell you one thing - they speak without authority. All they’ve ever done to further the GOP is register their political affiliation that way, and as fueled by the internet, cast judgment on those who show up.
And at the end of the day, they’re little more than ignorant fools who call themselves cowboys as they ride a mechanical bull. By their inaction towards the party itself, aren’t they the ones who are actually “Republican in Name Only?”
The chairman of the national GOP explained to a group this week that he himself had risen from being a precinct committeeperson. And there’s many in South Dakota who have risen to great heights within the GOP as well. He got involved with the republican party, and make a difference, and continues to make a difference.
Don’t be just another fool riding the mechanical bull. Get involved and make a difference. The GOP is what you make it, and it is who you make it.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Can the tent become too large? If the diversity of opinion within the party becomes the dominant feature of the party, what does the party stand for? How can a party that openly accepts all ideas stand for any? At some point does it lose its way?
The 2 Party system is broken. Independent moderates are going to decide this election, the conventions were pointless.
Pat, I’m glad that you posted this. It embodies probably one the biggest reasons that I (and I believe Bill) take the time to post here. And I’m glad that you are back. I felt an obligation to post knowing that you had other things to do.
Americans love their country and want it to fulfill its greatest potential. An expression of their love is taking an interest in politics (activities and affairs involved in managing a state or a government). Parties exist to provide framework of particular issues and principles. And people identify with particular parties because it advocates a single or multiple principles they hold dear.
The idea of dissing some members of a party as either Dinos or Rinos has always bothered me. The parties are not an ideology (a coherent structure of thought which all adherents are required to subscribe) or a religion (set of beliefs expected to be held by members) but a collection of people subscribing to some or all of the general principles of varying depth and degree. If either party required its members to accept all platform planks, without exception, it would be a permanent minority party of little consequence.
There are issues which I disagree with many if not most Republicans. Yet, I’m quite comfortable calling myself a Republican because I believe the Republican Party best promotes issues important to me Does that preclude me from expressing my differences (sometimes to change the party if I can and sometimes to express support of a Democrat’s initiative)? No! My fidelity to party doesn’t trump my fidelity to America (as articulated last night by John McCain). In fact it is the contrary. My love of America transcends my love for my party. My fidelity to my party is because of my love of America
For some Americans:
*They identify with a party because of a transcendent issue (abortion for example) while disagreeing with many of the other principles of their party.
*They identify with a party because they support a collection of issues advocated by a party.
*They adhere to a general philosophy they believe is embodied in a particular party yet discern policies not always discerned by the majority of the party (for example, a government that decides who lives and dies is too powerful. In other words, I discern a position on the death penalty, while contrary to the party majority, that I believe is consistent with GOP core principles).
*They prefer not to identify with a party or a single set of principles.
But in all cases, these are personal decisions to be respected even if there is disagreement.
When we call a person a RINO or DINO, we are assaulting their own personal motive for identifying with a party and thus assaulting their dignity.
Don’t get me wrong, it is wholly appropriate to aggressively debate in a primary which candidate best represents the party. And it is wholly appropriate to support a member of the other party or withhold support for a member of a party in a general election if they hold positions on a single or set of issues contrary to your own personal views. And, it is wholly appropriate to express agreement or disagreement with regard to the positions the person holds. But it doesn’t give license to go so far as to assault their sincerity of convictions, motives, or rationale for joining a party.
When I lived in DC, I remember watching a Log Cabin Republican on tv giving an interview. The interviewer basically was chastising him for being a Republican because the interviewer held the idea that the GOP was opposed to his very personhood.
This guy tried to be calm and respectful and then lost it. He essentially blew his top and said (I’m paraphrasing), “I’ve received alot more respect from Republicans in disagreement on gay issues than I’ve ever gotten from Democrats on the other issues that are important to me. Democrats think that on this one issue I should give them a blank check to tax me, regulate my business, and get between me and my employees. They think I should let them disarm my country and trust the Soviets (this was during the Reagan administration).” He went on and on expressing core Republican principles.
He basically spoke to two groups. Democrats who want him to come over on one issue so they could use him for an agenda he opposes. Republicans who want to refer to him as a RINO on a single issue. He, as an American, decided the issues most dear to him and he put his efforts behind those efforts. This is an American principle that transcends party and should be applauded not ridiculed by anyone. Even if we disagree on some issues, I’m proud to have this guy in my party and I believe he is proud to have me in his party.
If you work to elect Republicans, you are not a RINO. If you work to change the party on any issue, you are not a RINO. If you try to make the party better, broader, more relevant, more principled, more conservative, more liberal, more moderate, more anything, you are not a RINO. If you only complain, make character assassinations, criticize, and never show up for the heavy lifting, your allegiance is “In Name Only.”
Veritas, you bring up a good point. Parties would be well-advised to not water down their principles as a vapid attempt to broaden appeal. But, to the point that I’m making above is that the party is not an ideology or a religion. A party doesn’t pick its members like a fraternity. Its members pick it. I understand that the GOP supports the death penalty in it platform. I disagree with this plank. I acknowledge that this is an issue on which I disagree with the majority of my party. If the GOP wants to become a religion/fraternity and require me to assent on this issue, I have no choice but to leave it because I have greater fidelity to what I consider higher principles. But, like the Log Cabin Republican above, with just a few exceptions, my views on the death penalty have always been respected with elected Republicans on which I’ve advocated my view.
Tolerance doesn’t require agreement but does require extending respect and dignity. And respect and dignity can be extended even in disagreement.
Again Troy you nailed it, we make up the majority of the republican party and the term RINO always bothered me. As all labels and putting people in boxes tends to deminish there capicity to think for themselves or guilt someone into there line of thinking. The republican party (libertarian isnt bad) is my home because of my strong beliefs that they hold this country to a standard more in line with my own and the freedom from government not freedom from this nation that I hold dear.
Pat, don’t worry about not being able to blog from the floor. You’re pictures were better than anything you could have written.
Is it ‘eye-opening’ that the G.O.P. selected a v.p. candidate who won’t take reporters’ questions? Sure opened my eyes.
I want to drink the Kool-Aid and believe, but I’m having a hard time pulling the lever for any more scripted and staged individuals for our nation’s highest office.
In other words, Mission Unaccomplished, McCain. Try again.
I am a registered indy.
I consider myself a small government, fiscal conservative that believes in a small but effective military, socialized medicine, free higher education, gay marriage and adoption and I am prochoice. I am also anti-censorship and beleive all campaigns on all levels should be publicly funded ONLY. No outside money.
Neither party would want me.
I almost always agree with Pat, but on this one I have to part company. Eveyone is entitled to their opinions about our RINO friend Adelstein, whether you’ve attended a convention or run for office. I’ve done both. Adelstein is a RINO. You can choose to associate with him or not, but you had better not count on him when the chips are down. Someone who lives in Rapid City has little chance of being elected as a democrat who believes in gay marriage, more taxes and other democrat positions that Adelstein holds. So, when district 32 is split about even in registrations, I bet Adelstein will probably be switching to the party that actually represents his “values”.
There is a difference. There are RINOs. They are unmistakeable to anyone who sees them. RINOs are half-pregnant with republicanism. Where will they be when the going gets tough?
We’re black, white, red, and every pigment the skin comes in. We’re Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Evangelical and agnostic. We’re conservative and liberal.
That line is ridiculous. The delegates to the national convention were estimated to by over 93% white, over 50% male and over 75% protestant, over 50% fifty and older. That is not diversity. I would say that since those are levels much higher than the population of America as a whole that a much better description would be about the homogeneity of the GOP.
So anon 2:13pm
What exactly is the split among registered voters in the USA.
What is the precentage of black registered voters, protestant, over 50, and men?
How far off are we?
Mom, most of your answers can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States
Whoops, I made a typo, Mom. Put a “/” after “US” in the address above. Sorry.
(For some reason, links are loathe to post on this site sometimes. Take the quotation marks off, and copy and paste the address into your browser.)
Number 12, you might be right. You might be wrong.
In your OPINION, Stan is a RINO. In Sibby’s OPINION, PP is a RINO (or a Judas, I’m not sure which.) In my mind, Stan sits in his big new house on the hill pulling the strings of the GOP as the West-River puppetmaster.
I’m just glad PP had fun and now can lord over all of us (you) that he’s a better (more important) Republican.
BF
I am not all that interested in the census. I want to know what break down is of registered voters.
Grud, I’m certainly not more important than any other Republican. I just talk about it publicly in an attempt to bring more visibility and understanding to those who fight under it’s banner.
O gezzzzz Fleming.
If you don’t know what she means maybe you should take a nap then read it again. Just mho, soory for sound crappy.
I get her question.
“MOM”, if I had the breakdowns I would post them.
Mom,
Representation at a party convention that matches some ideal diversity goal is just an attempt to infect Republicans with a quota mentality. We are a party that opposes quotas. And we have nothing to apologize for.
Going to a convention is not a right it is earned. If you are active in GOP politics you will be able to get on the delegate list for a candidate you like. If your candidate then does well in the primary, you go to the convention. If you pick the wrong candidate, you watch from home.
If my daughter went to the delegate selection caucus (is that what they are called?), people would look at her and say who are you. And they’d select somebody who has been carrying water for the party for years. This practice of meritocracy and not quota skews the results. Any moron who thinks my daughter should go so we could have more women and young people “representing Republicans” is not fit to be in leadership of a coffee klutch much less a party.
If my daughter wants something, I tell her go earn it. Keep your phony quota ideas to yourself. I want my daughter to excel and succeed and not buy into some idea she gets special treatment because she is young or a woman.
P.P.,
I understand you’re passionate about your party alignment, and rightfully so. However, a little self-righteousness goes a long way. Your admonishment of those who would be your allies, if only as members of the electorate, does nothing to help the party’s cause.
There were gays at the Republican convention? Did you need a microscope to see them? I thought the GOP just about shunned any hint of gays. Why have a ‘big tent’ if you don’t bother acknowledging anyone who isn’t white or straight?
Troy’s right I suppose.
The demographic makeup of the political parties is what it is for a reason.
As he has instructed me many times before, we are a Republic, not a Democracy. And that’s a good thing, yes?
(I’m still working on it Troy.)
Actually Troy my thinking didn’t go down those lines at all.
I am a bit afraid to post what i really was thinking for the blast that will surly follow.
I know that the homosexual population–at least the ones out of the closet–number less than 1% of the population as a whole. (That is a CDC stat) And 89% of the 1% are registered to vote and are very vocal. (That is the GLBT Chamber of Commerence stat)
That would mean that if there were 5000 at the convention then there would be about 45 out of the closet (log cabin) homosexuals at the RNC. And that is about what there were.
It is my guess that despite all the hype, the convention is not as far off as the Dems would like to think that they are.
I think that the Dems had a disporpotionate number of Blacks at their convention then there are registered Black voters in the country–because of the race card being played over and over.
I was wondering where I would get the numbers to follow through on the thought–but since we don’t mark race on the voter registration I think that it would be hard to tally
Old Eyes,
The Log Cabin Republicans were the homosexual “club” at the convention and NO you don’t need a microscope to see them.
Yup, Mom’s onto something alright.
You guys even had a little “ground noise and static” at your convention. Of course, nobody wanted to listen to them… and they got the big-boot out of the big-tent , but hey, they were there!
You didn’t see any of that when the Dems had their convention, by golly.
Plus, Mom, everybody already knows how fond John McCain is of women… and I’m not just talking about just the good-looking, gun totin’ ones.
Remember the joke he told about how Chelsea Clinton is so ugly because her real father is Janet Reno?
I tell ya, you gotta be pretty comfortable with the grass-roots ground-noise makers to think you can get away with cracks like that!
Tell ya what folks, this conversation has went to hell. I was informed that the trouble makes who were creating the “ground noise” where at the Dem Convention also. People on both sides of the isle voted for War. It is working and hopefully it will end soon.
I don’t care what color someone is or what position they hold as long as they have the ability/qualifications to do so. Inasmuch, I do not feel Obama has the qualifications to do so at this time. I also do not agree with most of his stances on the issues/policy. I do not agree with the Dem thought process.
BF: not that the comment I am about to make has any bearing, but are you trying to state in your post at 6:52a that you have never make a comment in flip? I find that hard to believe to be honest. I will admit that I have made comments in flip.
Get Real, I try not to make comments like that when I’m running for President of the United States. But you know, even when I am, sometimes I just can’t help myself. (wink)
If you really want demographic info. for voters you can examine
http://pewresearch.org/assets/pdf/933.pdf
The 1% fig for gays is likely low–probably closer to 3% (but these numbers are always moveable based on what the actual methodology/question asked). Couldn’t find a ref to CDC.
Thanks, denature. There’s also this info that you found and posted on another site. Between the two docs, Mom should now have most of what she was looking for.
“http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/09/01/us/politics/20080901_POLL_GRAPHIC.html”
Looking only at the Pew doc so far doesn’t really give me enough information to confirm what i suspect–which is that the make up of the Republican convention is really not that far off from the registered voter population.
Without knowing the stats for the overall voters it isn’t possible to draw a conclusion about the numbers of minorities that one should see in the crowd. IE: if Black Americans make up 15% of the registered voters then 15% of the faces in the crowd should be black.
The pew numbers do indicate that only 7% of the Black voters are identifying with the Rep. party this year while 86% are identifing with the Dems.–It would be interesting to know the effect this has on the married vs unmarried and the homeowner vs non homeowner populations.–hummm
Thanks denature–very interesting documents.
If you look through the doc you will probably find what you’re looking for. With your example of blacks: They represent 11% of registered voters, 2% of registered republicans, and 23% of registered democrats. White is 79% all voters, 93% for republicans, and 67% for democrats. Females are 53% of voters, 50% of republicans, and 59% of democrats. 41% of total voters are white protestants, compared to 60% of the republicans and 29% of democrats. 21% of all voters consider themselves white evangelicals compared to 37% of republicans and 12% of democrats. 34% of all voters make over $75,000 (matching independents). 42% of republicans make this grade as do 29% of democrats.
If I were to make a conclusion, I would say that the republican conventioneers were not representative of voters as a whole, but are probably not that far off from republican rolls with a few exceptions. In both conventions, people 18-29 were underrepresented, and people making over $75,000 and college-educated were overrepresented. Not sure about religious affiliation.
“Representation at a party convention that matches some ideal diversity goal is just an attempt to infect Republicans with a quota mentality. We are a party that opposes quotas.”
But you can never have enough rich, white, men, huh Troy?
I found it interesting that post graduate educated people are more likely to be democrat (and more likely to be homosexual too.)
It does make sense that with the timing of the conventions with Back to college that there would be less college age (18-24) people, And back to school for younger children would take away parents that are verybusy at that time (24-29)
It also makes sense that those who have the money for travel and hotel bills–who can afford to be away from work–would be a greater number.
It would make sense that in the Republican party we would want those who are financially sucessful to find ways to pave the way for the American Dream for others. Those who have been sucessful in business would be aware of what it takes to be sucessful–and they would look for leaders with those skills—whereas the Dems might be looking for people who will redistribute (other people’s) wealth to the less sucessful.
I’m a Republican female in my 40s, well educated.Someone here said well-educated people are gays and support the democratic party. Not so, there are republicans gay.
I am a Christian and as a Christian one is called to not be so quick to judge but love people. I find it insulting when someone is so hateful to any group.
Anyway, I live well but I think it is our responsibility to not just think about our monies and investments but ask how are others doing?This Iraq war has left us in so much debt, am concerned about education, the path this country is taking in terms of how we are falling behind–scientists(even from NIH) are flocking to China and opening labs there, R&D companies are no longer here but in China. We are having a brain drain and any country needs well educated people to grow this country. I know people who are in the sciences and who say the money for research has been cut by the government. We think we are a rich country but in reality we have fallen behind and China is and will be the new superpower and economy. China has trillions of reserves and we are now borrowing from them. This is sad situation. I am half Chinese and visited China and they are wealthy(they learned a secret we didnt: save and put money for retirement whereas Americans spend all the way from the individual to the government even if we don’t have the monies).
US Wall street is no longer IT. London is the new Wall Street and they are helping us out!
This election will be the first time I may not vote Republican…
“The recent failure in the US housing and credit markets have resulted in a slowdown in the US economy. 2007 GDP growth was estimated at 2.2% but in 2008 it is projected to be just 0.9%, down from the 10-year average of 2.8% (see chart at end of article).
China’s annual GDP growth eased to 10.1 percent in the second quarter from 10.6 percent in the first three months, the National Bureau of Statistics said Thursday, slowed by weakening exports, domestic tightening steps and the devastating Sichuan earthquake.
However, growth remained in double digits, where it has been since 2003.
Real GDP Performance and Forecast
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Argentina –10.9 8.8 9.0 9.2 8.5 8.4 6.1 4.6
Bolivia 2.5 2.7 4.2 4.0 4.6 4.0 4.4 4.3
Brazil 2.7 1.2 5.7 3.1 3.7 5.1 4.4 4.2
Chile 2.2 4.0 6.0 5.7 4.0 5.3 4.4 4.9
Colombia 1.9 3.9 4.9 4.7
6.8 6.8 5.0 4.8
Costa Rica 2.9 6.4 4.3 5.9 8.8 6.4 4.6 4.8
Cuba 1.5 2.9 4.4 9.0 12.0 6.5 6.1 5.1
Dom. Republic 4.3 0.5 1.2 9.5 10.7 7.9 4.9 4.3
Ecuador 4.2 3.6 8.0 6.0 3.9 2.1 2.6 2.2
El Salvador 2.3 2.3 1.8 2.8 4.2 4.2 2.9 2.5
Guatemala 3.9 2.5 3.2 3.5 5.0 5.2 3.6 3.5
Honduras 2.7 3.5 5.0 4.0 6.0 6.1 3.3 4.0
Jamaica 1.1 2.3 1.0 1.4 2.5 1.3 1.7 2.4
Mexico 0.8 1.4 4.2 2.8 4.8 3.2 2.6 3.7
Nicaragua 0.8 2.5 6.6 3.1 3.7 3.6 3.4 3.1
Panama 2.2 4.2 7.5 7.2 8.7 9.2 7.8 7.3
Paraguay 0.0 3.8 4.1 2.9 4.3 5.4 4.1 3.9
Peru 5.2 3.9 5.2 6.5 8.0 8.5 6.6 6.4
Uruguay –11.0 2.2 11.8 6.6 7.0 6.5 4.3 3.9
Venezuela –8.9 –7.8 18.3 10.3 10.3 8.6 5.6 3.8
Total 0.5 1.9 6.0 4.4 5.4 5.3 4.1 4.2
Source: International Monetary Fund, Consensus Economics, Latin Focus, JP Morgan, and the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Annual percent change
The data presented here represent the average of available forecasts. Individual country forecasts are weighted by GDP to produce the average for the region.
Sarah Palin is going back to Alaska, to return we don’t know when. To talk w/the evil media, we don’t know when. Are we all sheep? She gave a good speech/read. Good for her. Did she write it? Doubt it? What did she change, edit? What does she believe, off the cuff to a direct questions? When will we know?
Drill, Drill, Drill, hockey, hockey, hockey. Great.
I suppose if a gimmick was needed to beat Obama, that’s fine, we all do what we need to do to win.