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]

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

Right. Jim is asking for input to see "if the vast majority of the FReepers want..Free Republic [to] officially become the newest 'Republican wing' of the Republican Party." This Freeper does not. Hence "I vote nay." Get it?

[veronica]

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

It's rather distinction without a difference on a practical level. The fact is most conservatives vote Republican, and since, when all is said and done, it is only in the voting booth that one can have any real effect on events, it's nitpicking to say "Free Republic is too Republican." Though I would think that conservative values and beliefs animate most Freepers first and foremost, Republican related issues are naturally debated here, since it is the Republican party which best represents conservative views and aspirations.

And, it can also be said that some people who lay claim to "conservative" views in fact, lately, appear to have agendas scarily in line with hard-core leftists. So-called "conservatives" for instance, who opposed the war in Iraq. But I won't name names. I don't want to start anything....;)

[Delphster]

Stay independent. This is a conservative board and not all Republicans are conservative. Do not let the Republicans think they automatically get our support. Being a Freeper is not just being anti-democRAT it focus is on conservative ideas.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Well said.

[reelfoot]

I, too, want to defeat liberalism and the DemocRATs. However, it seems to me the current crop of Republicans are more wont to JOIN the RATs (prescription drugs, $15 BILLION African AIDs scam, ignoring illegal immigration, increasing the size of government in many spheres, etc.) than DEFEAT them. I see very little action (as opposed to talk) in the GOP now that I could identify with real smaller-government conservatism. It's more like: "Hey, the DemocRATs want to increase the size of the federal government 7.2%. I'm a conservative, and want to hold the line at only a 5.4% increase!"

[Corin Stormhands]

Yes, but I have to remember to take alcohol with me the next time I "visit."

[mombonn]

I'd like to see the whining stop.

Amen, Jim! I's so sick of certain posters who can't rush to bash the President that I spend a lot less time here than I used to.

I don't know how put up with complaints from ingrates who probably have never contributed a dime to FR.

God bless you, and thanks for FR.

And, no, don't change it to a Republican site. I'm a conservative first, a Republican second.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

My vote is a BIG NAY, as well.The question is, Is this a, "see where people stand and vote kinda thing", or was it a nice statement of fact by the owner? After all, like it or not, it is what the owner of anything; thinks, that rules.

[sheltonmac]

My current goal is to defeat liberalism by defeating the Democrat Party.

What about defeating liberalism within the GOP? Getting Republicans elected has done nothing to scale back government. Sure, Republicans may grow government at a slightly slower rate than Democrats, but I don't think it's enough to just get Republicans elected. Surely there is more to defeating liberalism than winning elections.

[sheltonmac]

*ping*

[RockyMtnMan]

I am first an foremost a conservative and a party affiliate second. We should do all we can to force the republican party to recognize their base along the lines of conservative/liberal. Once they believe their base is republican and will tow the party line no matter the issue we lose our representation.

I believe Johnathan Goldberg made a similair statement "I'm a conservative not a republican". Blind party affiliation leads to group think not individual thought. The very reason we're in the two party mess is because people blindly vote for a party regardless of the damage they do. Our focus should be to convert the Dems over to conservative principles so that one day we can actually vote for a third party.

We need to focus on the problem, fear to vote independent, and not the result, the two party system. For now our only choice is to vote for the party that will do the least amount of damage to our cause, the Republican party.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I would be very careful about officially sanctioning one party or another. But at the same time, there is an ebb and flow of people on this site who wish to change it to their own form and it is tempting to lock the site into a stable "image". Your site, your call.

What we must realize is that we fight not just a frontal assault against the left, but because we are now a vehicle of growing influence, those along the fringes are seeing a chance to hijack the site and get behind the wheel.

There are those who:

-Believe anyone to the left of their views are socialists.
-Believe that any and all laws they disagree with are Unconstitutional.
-Believe that any and all law enforcement is a slippery slope to tyranny.
-Believe that a minority of people should rule all because they are "right".
-Believe that we only need the 20% base of voters who are self-described "Conservative" and we can win any and all elections.
-Believe that anyone who says they are "Moderate", are "sheeple", or "sucker-moms", or any other alienating and dismissive descriptor.
-Believe that one issue, and that issue alone, is why a person is eligible or not for public office.
-Believe that if a person "betrays" the cause on even one vote or in one quote, they are now "the enemy"

It's hard to keep focusing on the fight before us when our flanks are nipping and sniping along the way. The conservative movement is winning. Look at the results:

Control of the Executive Branch (big win)
Control of the House of Representative (big win)
Marginal Control of the Senate (draw to small win)
3 tax cuts in 3 years (middling to big win)
Rebuilding of the Military (small to middling win)
Resurgance of American Dominence in Diplomatic Circles (big win)

But none of these things would have been possible without the help of the "Moderates", both voters and politicians.

WE NEED THE MODERATES TO HELP US MOVE CONSERVATISM FORWARD.

We need to draw them in and show them the benefits. Calling them "sheeple", telling them they aren't good enough to work with us, and behaving like arrogant jerks will drive them to the liberals...

WHO ALSO NEED THEM

We need to realize that our views are the minority, just as the liberal views are the minority. The vast number of people and politicians do not have strongly held convictions and therefore can be swung from one side to the other with little effort. We need to get those people who are in the middle to swing our way and help us move our agenda forward.

Making this a "Republican" site will hinder us in this attempt I believe. Giving in to the fringe groups on this site will be a complete victory for the liberals. We need to find a balance.

[Consort]

Would we still be bound to the plantation? Not me, bossman.

That seems to make you a RINO...a person that the Republican party can't rely on and it appears to be the same rationale that enabled the Clintons. At present, the Republican Party is the best alternative to the Democrat Party and since it's the parties that make the laws and run the country, we have to always support the best alternative to the Democrats while working to get the best candidates to run, IMO.

[eureka!]

The presstititutes tell me it's "right-wing". Let's change it to that. ;^)

Seriously, leave it as a 'conservative' website, which I think it is. Otherwise, some stoopid Rat trial lawyer will grab the GOP label and started screaming McVain-Feingold BS...

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Conservative first, agreed.

I must miss the whining threads, or don't have time to read em. You can't please all of the people all of the time but if conservatisim is nixed why bother?If republicans were a car engine they would not run without the various and many parts that make the engine run. Many types of conservatives social, neo (whatever the latest labels are) seem to be producing some sparks instead of starting the engine.It seems the engine wants to see if it can run without the gasoline nor the parts, by nixxing the word conservatisim to make the sparks flying go away.

[DannyTN]

What is the difference between a Republican and a Conservative?

Is there such a thing as too Republican?

Is there such a thing as too Conservative?

[sharktrager]

I honestly do think there are times that some of the posters, and even moderators, get a little to blind in their defense of the Republican party.

But the mods in general do well to allow divergant thought as long as it is presented intelligently. Unfortunately, the same standard does not apply to those who always follow the party line.

I hate stupidity whether I agree with the poster's opinions or not.

[MacArthur]

I vote nay.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Maybe you should email Rush and tell him to put a forum on his site, and post there.

Rush is NOT always right. In fact, IMO, rarely right anymore at all.

[eXe]

Another vote here for "It's fine the way it is" one can never be too "Republican" : )