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?

[ForOurFuture]

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

I vote nay.

[Cindy]

"Is FREEREPUBLIC Too 'Republican'?"

No. I am a Christian, conservative, a registered voter and not a Republican and I post away quite freely, thanks to you, Mr. Robinson.

[xm177e2]

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.)

If we get too drawn into "beating the Democrats at all costs," what are we propping up? We have to keep the Republicans honest.

[ForOurFuture]

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.) If we get too drawn into "beating the Democrats at all costs," what are we propping up? We have to keep the Republicans honest.

I agree. Independence is a strength.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I want to defeat the left, and I want to do it as quickly as possible.

Now that is beautiful poetry.

[ClancyJ]

I am surely Republican but I enjoy reading posts of other views too - (as long as I can stand it).

I am middle of the road on this.

I agree - nothing will beat the Democrats except the Republican Party. And, as dangerous as the democrats are - we have to beat them.

So we become a little more liberal - so what? We can also become more conservative too as time goes bye.

[The Raven]

No....

The libs have - over the years - spun the termonology. They have succeeed in correlating right wing [conservative, Republican] with the NRA, pro-life, anti-labor, anti-popular government programs (social security, education) and the Nazis.

Put me in the column of freedom. Free people, free markets, free press, small government, and republican rule (small "r").

[JohnHuang2]

Long live Republicanism. Long live the Republic!'

Amen. Well said, Jim.

[Jim Robinson]

Well, I want to defeat liberalism, and not only defeat it, but drive a stake through it's cold, dead heart. I could care less what label they put on me or what tools I use to get the job done. Right now the Republican Party appears to be the only party that can do it. I won't officially change the label on FR unless the vast majority of FReepers want it done, but I'd like to see the whining stop. I announced way back after the 2000 primaries my intentions. Three years and many successes later, we still have some people objecting. 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.

[ladyinred]

Okay, I am in the minority here, but Republicans are the only ones who can defeat the democrats, and I think we all know that, even those who prefer a third party.
The liberal left is the enemy, and we need to use the best weapon against them.

[HAL9000]

Keep the "independent" label - and the Republican spirit.

[lowbridge]

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

Nay.

[PaulJ]

I vote "no". As FR gains in numbers and power it will be too easy, for those on the left, to attempt to discount & discredit us by saying Free Republic is nothing more than the postings of Republican talking points.
And there is always the fear that anyone critical of the GOP not only would be hesitant to post, but could be flamed for posting their thoughts.
Grandpa always said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it">

[sit-rep]

Don't fix want aint broke... tell the whiners to get a life.

[BagCamAddict]

I vote No. I'm quite new to the site, but....

I'd rather fight against wrong issues than a wrong political party. Some issues are clearly "liberal" or "conservative" and there is no middle ground. Whereas the "right" solution for other issues may be somewhere in the middle. But if everyone focuses on "partisan" politics, then there is no attempt to find the RIGHT (proper) solution for each separate issue.

Partisanship causes attitudes of: "I don't care what is right for this issue, as long as it's the opposite of what the Democrats want." That would make us no better than them. We should be capable of critical thinking, and of separating politics from issues. Otherwise, we'd be equally as guilty of stupid-logic and stupid-thinking as "they" are.

So I vote No to assigning "Republican" to the website name/charter.

[Cindy]

Bump to Post No. 15

[chasio649]

Nay

[oceanperch]

Can we do a poll thingy that would only take one vote per Freeper? So it won't get Freeped.

[ForOurFuture]

Jim, one of the biggest benefits I've gotten out of FR has been exposure to all the threads wherein the viability of the GOP as a vehicle for conservatism and small government is debated. One side will point to the constant growth of government even under GOP control, the horrible, unconstitutional bills passed and signed by GOP congresses and Presidents, the RINOs who have hijacked the party and moved it to the left, and how our side constantly compromises. They tend to be Libertarians and independents. They have completely lost confidence in the Republican party as a vehicle for conservatism and the constitution.

The other side will cite incrementalism as the way to go. They offer that unconstitutional socialism was put in place slowly, and that, under the GOP, it will have to be eroded slowly. They say ours is a two-party system, and that the lesser of two evils, however evil they may be, is the proper option. They acknowledge its faults, but believe the GOP can be reformed, and that that is the only way.

Well, I have struggled with this debate. I've heard eloquent, reasoned arguments on both sides, and I have bounced back and forth. I supported a Libertarian for my state's governorship. But in 2002, I campaigned for a very conservative Republican running for the state legislature, the dream candidate- pro-life, pro-RKBA, pro-Constitution, pro-small government, and vehemently so. He won the primary and the general election.

Partly because of this experience, and after reflection on all my observations, I just recently registered to vote as a Republican. The GOP is chock full of faults. But rather than abandoning it, I will work from the inside to change it. I just thought this would be a good opportunity to express this, particularly since I have read your remarks on the subject before.