This thread needed this pic.
Posted on 01/07/2008 2:03:00 PM PST by jmc813
There’s an obnoxious and destructive term that’s begun to do real damage to the Republican Party. That term is “RINO,” or “R.I.N.O.” – an acronym for “Republican In Name Only.” Angry conservatives use the term to attack purported moderates in their own party. Recently, Mike Huckabee and John McCain have been attacked as “RINO’s” –Governor Schwarzenegger of California regularly draws that denunciation. Those who make war on RINO’s, however, ought to confront an obvious question: would you really prefer that such people drop the Republican designation? How does it help if politicians or office-holders with whom you disagree leave your party and join the opposition? When alleged “RINO” Jim Jeffords of Vermont left the GOP and joined the Democrats, it gave them control of the US Senate. When another RINO, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, lost his Senate seat in 2006, it also gave the Democrats control; if Chafee had won, we’d still have a Republican majority and GOP committee chairs. The truth is that no successful political party has ever been built on ideological purity. You can construct a majority coalition by bringing people into your party, not by driving them away. It’s childish and self-destructive to wage war based on some notion of “real conservatism” with those who want to align themselves with your side. Ronald Reagan himself used to say that “if somebody agrees with me 70% of the time, rather than 100%, that doesn’t make him my enemy.” Democrats understand this principle--- they never attack “DINO’s,” Democrats In Name Only. In fact, they understand the usefulness of such figures: they put forward several conservative Democrats in key Congressional districts in 2006, and those “DINO’s” helped them win a majority in the House. If Republicans continue to express contempt and hostility for those they consider “RINO’s,” they’ve got to get ready for “DIMO’s” – Democrats In the Majority Only.” It’s time, in other words, for sane GOP partisans to call off the silly and suicidal RINO hunt.
So what if the RINO’s run to the dark side when they get called out? It’s better that way for everyone.
I’d prefer to know exactly where a politician stands (if that’s possible) that to have them fake being a Republican and then vote Democrat on everything. If they think like a Democrat and vote like a Democrat, then they’re certainly not a Republican.
They are what they are: RINO’s. Oh, and Ahnold is not just a RINO, he’s a girlee-man RINO.
Care to state how that is over the top?
What's getting old is watching the GOP eat itself from the inside and hand over more and more to the dems without a fight.
While just about any of the Republicans can beat any of the Dems this time around, I suspect we're going to see a dem in the white house in 08 anyway. Republicans have too much self-hatred to get together and fight a common enemy.
Here on FR there's a contingent that *wants* the democrats in the white house mainly because no amount of damage to the country is too much if it means they think it will teach some kind of "lesson" to all the "other" Republicans they hate so much.
I've got no time for people who want to lose. Medved is spot-on.
Medved appears to be a Huckabee shill.
My only concern about the ‘RINO’ wars is that the term is tossed about every time someone says something someone else disagrees with. It is used as the insult designed to end arguments when actual facts don’t seem to suffice. It is the label placed on someone so as to marginalize them and impugn their credibility.
I hate it (the term RINO) in the manner it is often used on FR because it is a weak argument - it is simply name calling. It does nothing to further the discussion of issues, the debate on principal, and the education of the populace about what core conservatism really is.
There seems to be an unwritten motto - when you are losing a debate, pull the RINO card. When you disagree with someone - pull the RINO card. When you prefer one candidate over another - pull the RINO card. It smacks of intellectual laziness, and I for one am tired of it.
That said - I must disagree with Mr. Medved. It is not in fact a RINO hunt that we are on. Rather, it is a conservative hunt. And that, Kind Sir, we will not abandon.
/Soap-Box
As are you sir!
And I've no time for any Republican or conservative to run as one thing but actually believe something altogether differently....hence, RINO.
The "it's getting old now" comment comes from running into certain posters on various threads put down Conservative candidates while pumping up dem type rhetoric.
You got that right. Medved couldn’t be “spot-on” even if he were dressed as a Dalmatian.
Your kidding me right? Ever time I’ve had to pull a sharp stick out of my conservative eye, the person that stuck it there was McCain. I had decided years ago I would never vote for that man. He’s enforced that dozens of times since.
This thread needed this pic.
People forget that in the recall, the RINOs and Dems in Cali voted in Schwarzenkennedy because of star power, marital connections and the fact that Bustamente just p****d them off waaaay too much.
Conservatives voted for Tom McClintock.
Medved doesn't get that, because he is a Huckabeetle.
Thats right,and the destruction they have caused by saying one thing and doing another ,disregarding the conservative values for a few minutes of fame,has been far reaching,when can we decide who we are with,what we believe and stick to it,life is dynamic,but jeeshh! liberals change with the wind,conservative I think,stand on tried and true principles
How does it help the party if politicians or office-holders stray from the party and join with the opposition on important issues they should agree with?
I generally like Medved, but if an (R) is acting like anything but an (R) why should we, the base, continue to support them?
Yeah, I screwed up royally! I was one of the "scared of Bustamente" voters. I would love to have my vote back (plus I feel tricked by Ahnold. I really thought he held some conservative ideals *sigh*)
He would do it too. Many FReepers would vote for him.
Great reminder, great post!
When they don't agree with the party platform, and adopt the agenda of liberals, they are the opposition. Why do you (Mr. Medved) support them just because they put an (R) next to their name?
Absolutely. The Jeffords business is a perfect example of why such people should be out of the party.
Nah, you didn’t screw up; to me, there were really two criteria in that recall — get rid of Davis and keep Bustamente out of the State House. Dems were incredibly angry at “Busta” for running - especially since he was Lt. Governor at the time - many voted for Ah-nold for that reason.
Of course, getting Tom would have been ideal. But more than anything, it was to keep Busta out of the governorship - he was (and is) ready to completely turn this state over to the illegals.
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