Is Free Republic too "Republican?"

Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

Is Free Republic too "Republican?" I've been receiving a lot of complaints lately that FR is not really conservative, it's Republican. Is that a bad thing?

When I started FR (see the wayback machine) I don't think I even used the labels conservative or Republican. But, even though I was a registered Democrat at the time (I registered when I was very young), I was definitely anti-Democrat. And definitely anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-government abuse, anti-liberalism, etc. And I still am.

As FR became more and more popular, people started referring to it as a "conservative" web site and so eventually I posted the label to the front page. If it no longer applies, big deal. What's in a label? I'll change it to "Republican" if demand warrants.

I'm still anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-Democrat and anti-liberalism. I just happen to believe that in the current political environment we stand a better chance of defeating the left (liberalism/socialism/marxism, etc) by using the Republican Party to defeat the Democrats. The organization is there. The platform is there. The winning candidates are there. The dollars to run winning campaigns are there. The momentum is there. And the vast majority of the conservative voters are there.

Makes perfect sense to me. I want to defeat the left, and I want to do it as quickly as possible. I'll go with the organization that can get the job done.

My current goal is to defeat liberalism by defeating the Democrat Party. If that labels me a Republican, then so be it. If the vast majority of the FReepers want it so, then Free Republic will officially become the newest "Republican wing" of the Republican Party.

Long live Republicanism. Long live the Republic!'

What say you, FReepers?

[elephantlips]

Although there are few really principled politicians in our government, I am with you on this issue. The liberals and their ilk need to be defeated and destroyed.

[bigjoesaddle]

I say keep the Conservative banner.

Yes, the present times lean us to the Republican Party, but, unlike the Democrats, we don't 'drink the coolaid' and stay Republicans on "faith"; we quickly turn on our own if they screw up. Thus, we are not necessarily "Republicans" forever.

If a Democrat can stay a Democrat after Bubba, NOTHING will change them.

[Just another Joe]

I agree that defeating the demoncRATS is a thing that needs to be done and the Republican party is the only viable source, at the moment, to do that.
I think that the label, "Republican" should not be used to describe a conservative and visa-versa.
You do not have to be a Republican to be a conservative. Look at me.
I will admit that I have libertarian (small l) leanings on some subjects but with many things I am as conservative as they come.

I don't think you should change the home page. Conservative is how you started it. Conservative should be how it remains, IMO.

[ought-six]

Do not assign a party affiliation. What attracts us to this site is "Conservative," which, depending on the issue, usually transcends party labels.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

I think I speak for both the Mrs. (freeper tweety pie) and myself when I say, leave Free Republic as is. A complete success, without any party affiliation.
We are both registered Republicans simply because the Republican party (with all it's faults) is still the only party with the clout and resources to keep the Rats at bay.
All the other parties, while well intentioned (at least in their own minds), don't have the numbers or resources to be anything more than a minor annoyance to the Rats.

[harpseal]

Well lets put this simply. Jim started this forum based on priciples. To the extent that any political party furthers those principles it is wise to support that party and to win elections. However, blind support of a political party because of the name of the party will not support the principles Jim has stood for over the years. I really do not care all that much what the verbiage is that states any association what I personally care about are the principles that FR has stood for.

It is that stand for principles that has made FR a national force. No political party will ever be perfect as it is made up of human beings but by maintaining its watchdog status Free Republic may help to keep the principles of that founded this Republic at least in the back of some of the more pragmatic politicians minds. Further it can communicate to a much wider audience the necessity of adherence to those principles.

[Consort]

If the vast majority of the FReepers want it so, then Free Republic will officially become the newest "Republican wing" of the Republican Party.

That didn't look like a question to me; it looked like a statement of fact.

[LanPB01]

I don't think FreeRepublic should be labelled as "republican", though they are the only viable threat to socialists/democrats at this time. There's no need to antagonize the libertarians and the constitution party.

[TonyS6]

I am a Democrat. I read the threads at Free Republic because there are many aspects of the Democratic Party that I find disgusting and I need to read a more thruthful account of what is happening. The Stalinization of America is absolutely real and very frightening.

Why do I remain a Democrat? First, to fight the Stalinists from within. Second, there are some issues that I agree with the Democrats and I disagree with Republicans. For example, I sat next to George Voinivich, Republican Senator from Ohio, when he stated that all schooling in the U.S. should be private and if you can't afford to go to private schools, then you should be working. Despite the problems with public schools (both K-12 and university), how many of you agree that public schools should be eliminated? Other issues cause me to straddle the line between the two parties. But I stay a Democrat to try to keep the REAL spirit of Democratic party alive [not the Stalinist, labor union party of Hillary and the far left]. I view the real spirit of the Democratic Party as SENSIBLE diversity enforement, improvement of public schools, modification of the healthcare program (free market failure because AMA and medical schools have restricted the supply of doctors which keeps the costs of medical treatment prohibitively expensive - sound like a Union strategy, doesn't it? But it continues to be supported by Republicans) and modification of laws governing litigation (particulalry malpractice insurance where doctors and hospitals run unnecessary tests [expensive] to protect themselves against mult-million dollar litigation). Many of the lobbyists on healthcare and litigation tend to give money to both sides, but Republicans tend to be the supporters of the status quo.

Keep on Freeping!

[TLBSHOW]

FreeRepublic.com is A Conservative News Forum amd it should be left that way.

When Rush Limbaugh slams the Republicans in office and calls them idiots he has a point. If this site (FR) is not going to try and keep the party principaled and do what your mission statement said then who will besides Rush?

[Darnright]

"Free Republic should stay independent of political parties. There should definitely not be an official Republican affiliation. (And I say this as someone who's more Republican than conservative.)"

Ditto for me. I am a registered Republican, but I value FR's ability to attract conservatives who do not necessarily identify with the Republican party for whatever reason.

United We Stand.

[bmwcyle]

Jim everyone is still free to post and be who they want to be. It sounds like Libertarian crying to me.

[Koblenz]

If you label yourself a Republican web site, then you're probably opening yourself up to a huge number of onerous reporting requirements. You'll probably have to register as a PAC, and all donations will have to be reported to the FEC within 10 days or some silly thing like that. Plus who knows what local state laws might apply. Best just keep it "non-partisan".

[Cultural Jihad]

If they don't want to be part of the team that knocks out the Democrats, then they should either leave, or at least knock off the crying about it.

The problem is that the whiners here on FR are really fighting for Democratic moral-liberal goals, such as acceptance of sexual perversion and drug legalization, and against religion in the public square.

[Clara Lou]

I consider myself a Republican. I think Free Republic should remain unaffiliated.

[TigersEye]

Your "what if Arlen Specter was a pres. nominee" comes close to "what if a giant grasshopper grabbed me" but I think I'll stick to what is, Doc.

There are only two brands of politicians that can get elected. Republicans and Democrats. I pick Republicans. I want conservatives. Ultra mega supra heavy duty axe wielding Nordic horn helmeted conservatives. Republicans are generally more conservative than Democrats. So I pick Republicans.

If Arlen starts picking up steam ping me.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

The ones who are complaining about it not being "conservative enough" have their own (selfish, self-centered) agenda, and can't see past the end of their noses. Look at the general attitude and company these people keep.
I think FR is serving a good purpose, keep it up, Jim!

[manna]

No, thank you.