I recently received a "Republican Party Census" document in the mail. The "census" is obviously a fund raising and propaganda tool, but to me the content was just another example of the wrong-headed and lop-sided priorities of the Republican Party. I don’t know what list I am on to have received it, as I have never contributed to the Republican Party nor registered as a Republican. Perhaps this "census" was sent to all residents in my area for the purpose of identifying supporters.
There is more . . .
Many questions on the "Census" are “Should Republicans stop (or oppose, or fight, etc.) the Democrats” on certain specified issues. The available responses are; yes, or no, or undecided, to all but the last question. Out of 25 questions there are eight questions referring specifically to Democrats and/or their programs. It seemed that there were no positives mentioned for the Republicans, just negatives for the Democrats.
The census questions are in five categories - homeland security, economic issues, domestic issues, social issues, defense issues and Republican party.
Yes, social issues on a Republican propaganda document. The three topics this section addresses are: Federal Marriage Amendment, partial-birth abortion ban and last, but not least,
Do you support President Bush's initiatives to allow private religious and charitable groups to do more to help those in need?
Sure sounds like social issues is misnamed and should perhaps be religious social issues. Or, maybe even just religious issues.
They found a way to get the Clinton name in the census twice. First, in the second question on the census, under the Homeland Security section.
Should Reublicans stop the Democrats from cutting funding for intelligence agencies and bring back Clinton-era restrictions on inter-agency communications?
Not done with Clinton yet, they also found a way to use the Clinton name on a question in the defense issue section.
Should Republicans fight Democrat efforts to impose Clinton-era cuts in the Pentagon's budget?
Economic Issues:
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid made it to this section in a question about opposing "new, wasteful government spending programs proposed by the Democrats and their leaders, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid?"
Domestic Issues:
How about this one: "Should Republicans oppose Democrat plans for one-size-fits-all, government-run health care?"
One question really surprised me in the Domestic Issues section.
Should Republicans in Congress protect our private property rights from eminent domain?
I thought the Democrats were more into this issue, so I found it strange that it is listed as a Republican issue.
Only two questions in the whole document mention anything about what would be good for the country – both security type questions stated in terms of protecting America.
One question really surprised me in the Domestic Issues section.
Should Republicans in Congress protect our private property rights from eminent domain?
I thought the Democrats were more into this issue, so I found it strange that it is listed as a Republican issue.
The whole page and a half goes on this way. I get distressed by all the garbage coming from Republicans, and this is certainly mild compared to much that I have seen and heard, but still another reminder of the displaced priorities that the Republican Party has.
And, of course, the last item in the instruction portion tells the recipient of this odd document to enclose a generous donation to help expand this “census project”. This seems to me to be a strange way of soliciting funds. If I was going to make a political contribution, I would prefer to donate toward electing candidate, not expanding a "census" project. Actually, a quarter of the form is related to fund raising in various ways.
Do Democrats use anything this inane for fundraising and/or identifying supporters?