Posted on 11/14/2009 9:07:29 AM PST by J. Worthington
It dawned on me during the NY 23rd Congressional race, an election which normally would have gone unnoticed by most of us. What began with a relatively benign election on a national scale increasingly became a seminal line in the sand for me, and many other conservatives. As the campaign ran its course, it became difficult to distinguish between the SEIU backed Democratic Owens and the ACORN backed Republican Scozzafava. As Glenn Beck often describes this match up, it was a choice between progressive and progressive-lite; and in this case, I couldn’t distinguish which was which.
I recall being somewhat confused, then angry when Newt Gingrich came out in staunch support of the Republican candidate in the race – liberal track record notwithstanding – and was unflinching in his opposition to the only obvious conservative in the race, Hoffman. Clarity set in when those conservatives with whom I most align myself philosophically, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Michelle Malkin and Glenn Beck came out publicly supporting Hoffman, or at least pointing out the clear drastic difference between he and the other two “establishment” candidates. The unknown, unassuming and unlikely candidate, Hoffman, who had no other option but to run as an independent, became the catalyst for my epiphany: I am a RINO.
I am convinced that this race illuminated the growing ever deeper and wider chasm between the direction of traditional republicans and true conservatives; the old versus the new, the establishment versus the reborn. Newt’s unabashedly support of Scozzafava was for me, the straw that finally broke this RINO’s back.
Please do not misinterpret this stand as my advocacy for a third party, but I also do not dismiss that possibility out of hand. I have yet to determine for myself if this newly confirmed political awareness is best served in the battle to retake my party, or by joining a new movement altogether. Crazy? These are crazy times as almost anyone with eyes and ears is forced to acknowledge. But, these are also historic times in which we live; and historic events are afoot, good, bad or some combination.
Before you place me among the ranks of the fickle: the soldier who was too timid or frightened or cowardly to “hold the line,” know that I have always described myself politically as a patriot first, a conservative next, and a republican third. This new mindset for me is not so much a change, but confirmation of that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach that who I am, what I believe and what I want for my country and my children is not being represented much less driven by the party with which I have always aligned myself.
I don’t expect this simple column to change many hearts or minds, but as with much of my writing, the intent is not necessarily to do so, but to confirm and solidify my own beliefs; yes, writing is in fact therapeutic. I’ve always been a bit of the rebel’s rebel. I come from a generations-long family of democratic voters; heck, I’m Hispanic, what else are we supposed to do. I was the first person in my family to vote (at least openly) republican, with my first ever vote proudly cast for Ronald Reagan. If you don’t think that’s rebellious, you’ve obviously never been to a Gonzales family reunion and loitered within earshot of the verbal scourging I would receive for betraying my family and my race for not “holding the line.” In this case I think it was, “firma del soporte, hermano.”
Which political party do I belong to? I am a republican. But I am not happy, nor am I willing to compromise my standing as a patriot first and a conservative second. I hope and pray that the RNC will not make a tent so big, that the supports can longer bear the weight.
A column by John Gonzales
Yet it's hype ... but not too far out. It is the thinking that kept 4 million people who had voted for GW, at home when it came time to pull the lever for Lame-Brain McCain.
I was just trying to point out that the author does not seem to know what it means
He is obviously NOT a democrap, hiding as a republican, so the name RINO does not apply.
Sad, but true.
Mr. K, the piece is trying to make the point that the term RINO literally now applies to the true conservatives in the party, because so-called moderates now control and speak for it. Of course, either agress or disagree with the author’s premise, but he clearly understands the meaning of RINO.
but does the author have a problem with the GOP candidates running in his area? What state does he live in?
Some guy here last week was saying he refused to support Marco Rubio because of Dede Scazzafava ... wanted a complete break ... as if the NY GOP chairman somehow were influencing the Florida senate race.
i suspect that if we pressed John Gonzales on this issue, he would concede that he is not really involved in politics. He is just an amateur pundit. Like 30 million other people.
I’m a facists loving, hitler loving, Obama loving DINO. Am I any worse?
They are all talk and no action. Can they name one candidate that they are actively supporting for 2010? By “actively” I mean doing something, not just talking about him.
Point well taken. It's a good reminder that I need to put my money and time where my mouth is, and so should like-minded FReepers. Yes, it's a good reminder of getting nothing more done than "pokin' holes in the air with our fingers."
Thanks for the reminder, Pete.
... thank God, because if it wasn't hyperbole then there'd be no hope at all of conservatives retaking the Republican banner.
In the past most important races where most voting Americans loosely ID themselves as Democrat, Republican, or the less commital Independent, the Republican candidate has been a nightmare -- McCain? And Dubya, for that matter, though I loved him, voted for him, am glad I did -- Dubya did a lot of damage to the Republican banner.
As many have said, conservatism needs to contrast itself with liberalism, and the Republican party needs to contrast itself with the Democrat party. That it is begging to happen in tandem is looking us all square in the face. When a figure like Palin endoses Hofffman, and Hoffman's Republican opponent subsequently drops out and endorses the Democrat ...
Where does that rank in hyperbole?
Press at will, I’ve been active in the last several precinct primary caucuses and an elected county and state delegate for the RNC for the last election cycle here in WA state. I’ve also been a staunch and active supporter (canvassing, promoting financially,etc) of local and state (Dino Rossi) candidates that either espouse conservative beliefs or are the only alternative to a strongly left-wing candidate that this state is prone to putting on the ballot. My screenname notwithstanding, I post here periodically and am an editor for another conservative website. I am the author of this piece, and I am anything but “uninvolved.” Forgive the earlier third person references, my account here was set up prior to finding my public voice here, and thus post under J. Worthington.
All that said, I appreciate your opinions and appreciate the opportunity to dialogue with like-minded freedom-loving Americans here on FR.
After your pointed reprimand, I did a little online research of the Crist vs Rubio contest for U.S. Senate in Florida. It seems to me that it is the next on the checklist of NY 23 type races to reclaim the Republican party, and so I have just about decided to send money to Rubio, because you're right -- involvement is what counts, and the quickest and best way I can get involved is by sending him dough.
Crist looks like a Scozzafava redux. Rubio ain't perfect (there are a few things on his website that worry me, like a Gingrich endorsement and too eager an embrace of "energy efficiency" as a solution to a non-existent problem), but he's sure as heck mostly on the right track, it appears, and I like the way he fielded the interviers on some mainstream media talking-heads show "Morning Joe."
I'd be interested in hearing from FReepers as to why I shouldn't send money to Rubio and why I shouldn't encourage others to do so for the express purpose of TAKING BACK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Then we agree...and taking back the Republican banner we must.
No such thing. These guys were big-time liberal spendthrifts.
Well if being a RINO means you beliefs are not being Represented anymore, then I am one too,That means by the Democrats or the Republicans
Which then begs the question of what to do: status quo, which for me is unacceptable; fight to regain control of our party; or choose behind what lies behind door number three.
Here is the 64,000 dollar question,2012 campaign the Democrats run their Messiah Obama, the Republicans pick a Romney ,Huckabee or Pawlenty,in other words a Rino,Sarah Palin who was Aced out by these Country Club Republicans because Huckabee split some of the Conservative Vote from Sarah,so she decides to go third Party. Do you vote for Her Knowing this will give the Messiah another Term or do you vote for the Republican candidate ?
Excellent hypothetical question. Lot’s of variables, but honestly, if the election was today, I’d be hardpressed to fall into line and vote for the establishment candidate. I’m curious how other freepers would answer. .
NY 23 is still as yet unresolved, with Hoffman withdrawing his concession just today. Although it remains an extreme long-shot, with Hoffman having to win 65% of the uncounted absentee ballots to make it an upset, I’m going to take your tagline under advisement, and pray without ceasing.
the problem with going to NY23 to live it in real-time 3-D is that I didn’t watch the sanitized version that everyone saw on TV.
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