Strike the big tent Republicans. In the special elections last Tuesday, Republicans Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie won their respective races while Conservative Doug Hoffman came out of nowhere losing his race by only 3 percent. Their message: Conservatism. There was no talk of reaching across the aisle or expanding the Republican tent.
If conservatives have not learned it yet, it is fair to say that reaching across the aisle to work with liberals is like hand feeding raw meat to piranha, you could lose your whole arm. The idea of a big tent, to my understanding, is to have several deals for several different groups. This sounds good, a deal for each different minority, a deal for each economic level, a deal for this special interest and that, but it all boils down to trying to please everyone and ending up pleasing no one. The big tent is built upon the sand. It stands for anything and falls with everything.
Twenty years ago after long self-deliberation and serious soul searching, I changed my party affiliation to Republican. I realized that my deep seeded beliefs were conservative in nature. Unfortunately, it appears at that same time elected Republican candidates lost their conservative bearing. I was fired up at the onset of the Republican Revolution lead by Newt Gingrech and then completely disillusioned when elected Republican lawmakers lost their spines. A few weeks ago Newt Gingirch himself exhibited nothing more than “business as usual” politics. He tried to excuse his actions by citing the flawed political system in New York, but I’m sorry Mr. Gingrich, you knew better. Mr. Gingrich has not only lost his way, he has lost the respect of many conservative thinking Republicans. If there is to be a big tent in the Republican Party let it not be for this group or that, but an open tent for all Americans who wish to stand on the principles for freedom and opportunity for all.
Toppie Lincicome,
Shawnee
