I have always been a faithful Republican. And in spite of the vitriol spewed by some on the left, it is not, nor has it ever been true that I hate women (and want to control their ovaries), dislike people of color and enjoy killing people for profit. I have never wanted to poor poisonous substances into the streams and lakes where I enjoy fishing and camping. I don't have a relationship with anyone who is a corporate CEO, and I don't think they do wonderful work for our country.
Many of us came into the Grand Old Party during the Ronald Reagan years, just like many are coming into the Democratic Party because of Barack Obama. Reagan had three pillars of support. Strong national defense. Moral compassion and leadership. And a belief in small government.
Only one of those pillars remain today...strong national defense.
The Independent Party has the rightful claim to small government now, and rightfully so. They seem to be the only ones now who talk about keeping the government out of our lives, and not in it so much.
But here is the shocker. For me. For my Republican friends. The Democratic Party has become the party picking up the pieces of the moral pillar of compassion and justice, mixed with grace.
Here's how Republicans dropped the ball for Morality Repubs like me:
Immigration:
I simply cannot, just CANNOT believe that we as a Party would hunt down and grab millions of "illegal aliens" and "ship them back to Mexico." I just can't believe that we think that way. How can we say that we love people, and then treat them this way. We have always, ALWAYS, communicated a message of responsibility. People need to work, take the jobs they can, quit complaining, get off welfare and begin to live the American dream. Nobody is a victim here in America. Try living in Guatemala or in Kenya. This is the best country in the world.
So now we have a people group who does just that. Often living in sub-standard housing, putting up with unfair working conditions and taking jobs that NOBODY wants anyway. Our brothers from the South have finally begun to realize the dream that we have promised. And then we want to blame them? We want to say that THEY are why our economy is struggling? We want to grab fathers and mothers and separate them from their children because why? Because they were starving to death and left everything they knew to begin a life here? Doesn't that sound like our story...I mean you and me? These people don't owe us anything. We owe them.
Environment:
I always thought that taking care of the earth was a Biblical principle. Well, not from what I hear coming out of the mouths of guys like Hannity or Limbaugh. Listen, I'm not smart enough to know if Global Warming is being caused by humans and our wasteful treatment of the earth or not. AND NEITHER ARE YOU.
But why does that make an effing bit of difference! Why would we not want to do all we can to keep our waters clean and raise our children without asthma and bronchial conditions? Why would we not want to save a few animals in the meantime? Why is this goal so hard to defend?
I applaud the Dems efforts to make it a priority. I'm not so sure that I care if another multi-billionaire can set up another plant that spews toxins into our atmosphere. Find another way to create jobs!
Economics:
I don't believe in trickle-down economics anymore. I'm not so sure I ever did, but I at least used to think it worked. This is a theory that stated that we should make sure rich people keep their money so they could reward the economy with job creation, buying shit, etc. The problem with that is it places the onus of responsibility on people who make a ton of money to take care of people who don't.
Like...that is really going to happen.
Instead what happens is they buy an island or another home in Paris and then give their money to their bratty kids (see Paris Hilton). Either it is the stupidess plan that has ever been concocted, or I have just bought into the false premise (which is entirely likely) by a party who just wants to keep getting richer.
No. I am done. I'm not mad at most rich people. I'm really not. But can someone please tell me how buying one Lamborghini stimulates the economy more than feeding and clothing hundreds of people for a year?
Many of you have been wondering about my reasons for being here. There will be more who are coming. Please make room. We may not agree on everything, or even most things.
But at least allow room to understand that we are beginning to see the light and we may just bring a little of it with us into "your" party.
UPDATE:
This is key for Obama. When he frames issues like the economy, immigration and the environment in moral terms, some of us Republicans peel off into your party. Mike Huckabee understood this about framing the economy as well.