Republicans must head back to center
Published: November 24, 2008
An important step for Republican Party recovery is to move it back to the center. This will be a difficult, decade long, hard turn away from the elite right neo-cons and the social fundamentalists that
Christine Todd Whitman, co-chair of the Republican Leadership Council, says is holding the party hostage.
The move is necessary because these two entrenched groups have run the party to ground. Under their leadership, the party no longer has the moral authority to govern.
The social fundamentalists so overwhelmingly control the Republican Party that they deter many talented Republicans of different beliefs from seeking political office because in good conscience they
cannot support the social fundamentalists’ approved theology. This is not a good situation for the party or for democracy. The net effect is a reduced Republican talent pool that many refer to as
a “dumbing-down” of the party and a dramatic shift away from its historic principles.
What Whitman and other keen observers saw on Election Day was the return of millions of centrist Reagan Democrats from their diaspora. They could no longer accept immoral preemptive wars, the use
of torture, the use of illegal searches, a presidential philosophy that holds itself above the law and so many extreme social and economic positions the essence of which violated their moral
consciences.
Clearly in a democracy the people want governance that does not impose the theocratic hegemony of the extreme right.
WILLIAM H. WESTHOFF
Woodbridge
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
“And, please, do not put the left liberal radicals and the Christians in the same “extremists” category?!?!
Why not?
“Can you compare what we see recently in California with any act done by Christians?“
Yes, the great flood which led to the building of the ark by Noah would be equal to the wildfires recently affecting California.
“Do I really have to explain to you how the promotion of homosexuality affects the society especially if it becomes part of the public schools curriculum?“
Yes.
“What exactly made you think you are “discussing this with one of the loonies”?“
Well, when people finish their thoughts by adding - “more than the liberals are imposing their believes on the normally thinking part of the population using twisted methods like liberal judges in the courts or brainwashing kids from early age in schools?“ - well, that just screams “loony” to me.
It would indicate you take a postion that someone that doesn’t agree with you is NOT a part of the “normally thinking population”. Hence, you are part of the loony extreme both sides have.
Please don’t change your opinion - just open your mind to discussion.
Ray, you say you do not mind children as young as kidergartners to be taught in schools about homosexual lifestyle as a normal human behavior and to read homosexual literature in the classroom?!
And you think it is OK the schools to invite liberal radical speakers to tell kids to experiment with drugs, alcohol and the same sex as it happened in Boulder, Colorado?!
Do I really have to explain to you how the promotion of homosexuality affects the society especially if it becomes part of the public schools curriculum?!
Would you really like ot see polygamy or bestiality spread around and become the norm and being taught in school as “normal alternative life styles”??!
Do you have any children or grandchildren, Ray? Do you tell them to experiment with drugs, same sex and alcohol, Ray?
Do you experiment with those things yourself, Ray?
And, please, do not put the left liberal radicals and the Christians in the same “extremists” category?!?! Can you compare what we see recently in California with any act done by Christians?
Why are you getting personal, Ray?
What exactly made you think you are “discussing this with one of the loonies”?
Or is attacking and calling names easier than explaining the reason behind your worldviews?
scorpio, if I misunderstood the original intent of your posting, then let me say I’m sorry if I changed the direction.
“It is the other way around - the Government should not establish religion meaning everyone is free to worship (or not) whoever and whatever way they please without any prohibition and restrictions on behalf of the government.“
I think this is what I said, but regardless, I’m in full agreement.
“Are you saying that Christians are imposing their believes on others more than the liberals are imposing their believes”
No, I think the extremist on both sides are equally looney.
And then I read the rest of your statement - “on the normally thinking part of the population using twisted methods like liberal judges in the courts or brainwashing kids from early age in schools?“ - and realize I’m discussing this with one of the loonies.
The rest: yes, fine with that, no, no, I don’t and no.
“Where do you put the bar?“
My personal bar is if your actions do not affect the function of our society, and are not harmful to others, you should be free to live your life as you choose.
How are you impacted by gay marriage? By a man having three wifes? By homosexuals living their life in an open manner? Gays adopting children?
I personally see no downside in how my life goes by others making these choices.
Thanks for the paragraphs.
“America was founded as a Christian nation”, “The pilgrims did not come here to create a universal religion society”, “Freedom of Religion” should never become “Freedom from Religion” - forgive me, Ray, but I still do not see how these statements suggest that religion should “run the government”?!
As for your: “Founding Fathers gave us the Bill of Rights… and ensured our government would not be run by the churches” - this is a total twist and misinterpretation. It is the other way around - the Government should not establish religion meaning everyone is free to worship (or not) whoever and whatever way they please without any prohibition and restrictions on behalf of the government.
Why did you avoid answering the few questions I asked in my previous comment:
Are you saying that Christians are imposing their believes on others more than the liberals are imposing their believes on the normally thinking part of the population using twisted methods like liberal judges in the courts or brainwashing kids from early age in schools?
Are you OK with kindergartners being taught that homosexual lifestyle is normal?
Or liberal guest speakers telling students to experiment with alcohol, drugs and same sex?
Or that the US government has planned and executed 9/11?
And why do you want to deprive me of my right to tell others that killing babies is wrong?
Do you believe it is human to kill a baby in the last month of pregnancy?
If so why, in your opinion, there is no country in the world where it is officially legal to do it?
Are you even acquainted with the partial birth abortion procedure and, if you are, doesn’t it make you sick?
I do not like pedophiles either - shall I let them do whatever they do too and not “impose” my beliefs that it is wrong on others? Or polygamists?
Why not let someone marry their dog then? Are there any limits in your opinion? Where do you put the bar?
And scorpio - if you choose to reply - please look for a key on your keyboard labeled “enter”.
If you hit this key twice between paragraphs, you will create white space between your thoughts, which will make it easier for all to read.
“Ray, RAy… Have I ever mentioned that “religion has to do with running a government”?!“
Well scorpio - there is this statement from you: “Ray, I base my “America was founded as a Christian nation” on historic facts.“
Or: “The pilgrims did not come here to create a universal religion society”
Or: “But “Freedom of Religion” should never become “Freedom from Religion”
as some are trying to do through liberal activist judges and courts.
But if you simply meant to say the citizens of America follow a predominant Christian faith, well, yes - I’m in full agreement. The majority of people that live in America follow one of the many, many strains of the Christian faith available to pick from.
And I for one am happy for all that do.
I took your comments to mean the Government should adapt the teachings of the Bible to create laws that would require people who enjoy the Bible simply as a historical reference to abide by someone else’s interpretation of said Bible.
Doing so of course would impose someone else’s religious values on me. Which is why our Founding Fathers gave us the Bill of Rights - and the ability to worship, or not worship, as we please - and ensured our government would not be run by the churches.
Ray, RAy… Have I ever mentioned that “religion has to do with running a government”?! And how and who is imposing what beliefs on you?! Are you saying that Christians are imposing their believes on others more than the liberals are imposing their believes on the normally thinking part of the population using twisted methods like liberal judges in the courts or brainwashing kids from early age in schools? Are you OK with kindergartners being taught that homosexual lifestyle is normal? Or liberal guest speakers telling students to experiment with alcohol, drugs and same sex? Or that the US government has planned and executed 9/11?
And why do you want to deprive me of my right to tell others that killing babies is wrong? Do you believe it is human to kill a baby in the last month of pregnancy? If so why, in your opinion, there is no country in the world where it is officially legal to do it? Are you even acquainted with the partial birth abortion procedure and, if you are, doesn’t it make you sick?
I do not like pedophiles either - shall I let them do whatever they do too and not “impose” my beliefs that it is wrong on others? Or polygamists? Why not let someone marry their dog then? Are there any limits in your opinion? Where do you put the bar?
I agree with everything you said in the first part of your comment and then you had to begin twisting and spinning and you went as far as saying that if Billy Graham were democratically elected for president America would not be a free country?!?
Why? Because he is a Christian elected by the majority in the country who define themselves as Christians too?
You ought to elaborate on this assertion, don’t you think?
And try to make a point and give an example rather than using cliches and empty liberal slogans if you want to have a discussion.
Advertisement