Are conservatives the Republican’s gays? I’m serious. Just this week the Dems introduced legislation in the House and the Senate to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. They know that this has absolutely no chance of passing. None. But they’re doing it because they have to appease the homosexual activists in order to mobilize them for the 2012 election.
But this kind of pandering isn’t just a Dem thing. The Republicans are treating conservatives just like the Dems are treating the gays.
The Republicans in the House voted recently to defund Planned Parenthood knowing that there was no chance it would pass the Senate. But they thought that would ameliorate us. They’d point to the bill’s failure in the Senate as evidence you need to vote Republican so they can take back the Senate. But here’s the thing -if the Republicans were serious about defunding Planned Parenthood they would’ve included it in the continuing resolution. And then it’s up to Obama to sign it or the government shuts down. But the Republicans didn’t do it because they aren’t yet serious about defunding Planned Parenthood.
In a similar way, the Republicans voted today to prohibit federal funds going to National Public Radio. This was completely a show with no substance. And believe it or not it’s even more a slap in the face of conservatives because it would’ve been so easily accomplished. Let’s face it, if they included the defunding of NPR in the continuing resolution do you honestly believe there’s a chance that Obama would refuse to sign it and shut down the government over NPR funding? There’s no way. It would’ve been an easy almost risk-free push.
I applaud those Republicans who are standing against this milquetoast approach but much of the GOP is treating conservatives just like the Dems are treating the gays. They’re pretending to push on the issues we care about but in reality little has changed from past years where they placated us. They need us for 2012 and are intent on doing just enough to ensure that we show up in 2012. And until they believe we won’t show up in 2012 they’re going to continue doing the same thing over and over and over.
March 18, 2011 at 12:42 pm
SPOT ON!!!!
March 18, 2011 at 1:09 pm
So what do we do? Vote Democrat? That doesn't seem any better, that seems worse.
March 18, 2011 at 1:20 pm
We need better candidates than these sell outs and hypocrites. We need to build up the Tea Party more to replace the professional politicians in the GOP with patriots and statesmen. The Tea Party can have sincere, conscientious and well-meaning Democrats too (if that is not an oxymoron). We can still phone and email the GOP reps and perhaps they can respect the people's will. (These people make me sick; I feel like taking a shot of Pepto Bismol.)
March 18, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Tea Party – YES! Weed out these hypocrites on a local level, vetting them carefully, and praying that they stand firm as persons of good character and against corruption of office.
Hopefully in the next election cycle it will be raining conservatives – hallelujah!
March 18, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Prior to the civil war, there were two parties: the Democrats and the Whigs. The Democrats were pro-slavery. The Whigs declined to oppose slavery with any consistancy. Slowly but eventually, the anti-slavery people supported strong anti-slavery candidates and the country had a new party-Republicans. Where are the Whigs now? Maybe, eventually, we who are here now, can get the message thru to the Repubilcans that the party is not immortal.
March 18, 2011 at 7:11 pm
We also can research 3rd party candidates and see which best lines up.
I do agree with this assessment that the social-conservative vote is traken for granted. I watch a Republican-leaning site, and that is the feeling I have. Fiscal conserviatism is more important at that site.
March 19, 2011 at 2:10 am
We need more people like Sharon Angle, and Joe Miller from Alaska, and that lady from Delaware (the one who is not a witch), and that ex-sentor from PA, Santorium. These people are true conservatives. They will win the White House!
March 19, 2011 at 10:50 am
Dear Mr. Archbold. I think you intended "placate" when you wrote "ameilorate."
That aside, I agree with you completely. The Stupid Party has no intention of serious reform and they will head for entitlements as a way to cut the budget rather than go after the war machine and corporate welfare.
I long ago ceased registering as a Republic. I am now registered in Fl as an NPA, No Party Affiliation, and I think that a vote for either the Evil Party of The Stupid Party produces results that are equally disappointing.
March 20, 2011 at 2:48 pm
FINALLY! A post that points out what I've been saying for years! The real passion of the Republican Party is just protecting tax cuts for top 2% of income earners peppered with a little prolife and profamily rhetoric to pacify the conservative middle class. It's the biggest fraud being committed against Americans. Wake up, Americans! At the end of the day, they just want your vote to keep wealthy bankers in control of our economy! Remember, they didn't ask "how are we going to pay for this?" when we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. They have their own agenda and it's not for middle America. Ratner than going after the greedy bankers and Wall Street who contributed to this mess, they go after middle America…yeah, you know who I'm talking about….those OVERPAID wealthy teachers (many of who have families to support)…not those poor Wall Street speculators giving themselves huge bonus' even AFTER we were forced to bail them out with OUR money! It's disgusting!