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Is you is, or is you ain't a Republican?

There seems to be an inherent blondeness to the thought processes of too many Republicans, which has been causing me a good deal of consternation of late. It's the type of fuzzy-headed thinking that I expect from some Democrats, particularly those self-described "southern Democrats" or those who claim the oxymoronic label of "conservative Democrat" but, it's not what I expect from members of the Grand Old Party.

These must be that off-breed of "moderate" Republicans I've heard so much about, who describe themselves as fiscal conservatives and social liberals. These are the folks caught in that strange nether world where their beliefs and behaviors are still guided as much by feeeelings as by thought. It is this, I think, that leads to the mental confusion and unpredictable behavior that I find so difficult to abide. A case in point is the rather schizoid behavior I've been witnessing in some Republicans with regard to John McCain's candidacy.

For weeks now, ever since the mainstream media dubbed McCain the shoe-in for the Republican nomination, I've heard self-proclaimed Republicans say:

A. "I hate the guy and will vote for Hillary/Obama instead"
B. "I don't like McCain, but will hold my nose and vote for him, if I have to..."
C. "I'm protesting them all. I'm voting for Ron Paul"
D. "I hate them all and I won't even bother to vote"

Of all the unmitigated gallwho the hell are these people, anyway? This is uncommitted/independent voter talk and it should never go unchallenged within Republican ranks. It's unreasoned, unprincipled, and downright destructive. Statements like these have no place in the conversation of card-carrying Republicans not even in whispered tones in some darkened corner of that "big tent" the Party has mistakenly invited all and sundry to find shelter under.

These are the selfish and self-serving thoughts and behaviors of people who have never learned to put duty or loyalty or the good of the whole above self. They are polar opposites of John McCain and every true Republican for whom words like loyalty, duty, and sacrifice are actually verbs. We are "the party of personal responsibility." That means we don't pick up our ball and go home when the game's not going our way. I have no use for anyone who claims to be one of us, but who shirks their responsibility by refusing to help elect Republicans to office. However imperfect they may be (and believe me, they are ALL imperfect) they do represent most, if not all, of our shared interests. Democrats and third party hacks represent none of them.

Did no one ever warn these people that the Republican Party cannot and will never adequately represent all their special interests and concerns? And, that goes double for Republican politicians? Single-issue ideologues are really better suited to join like-minded individuals equally disinterested in seeing the big picture like Ralph Nader's Green Party or Ron Paul's Libertarians.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why such folks would walk through the open flap of the big Republican tent in the first place. Anyone who'd vote for a liberal Democrat (or the Libertarian-in-Republican's-cl othing) over McCain has clearly chosen the wrong tent to walk into. Will someone please help them find their way back out of here?

And, shut that damn tent flap! It's letting all the flies in.

Learn more about this author, Jean M. La Rue.
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