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?

[Purdue Pete]

I love Free Republic the way it is. There will always be whiners. If you figure out how to stop whiners from whining, PING ME!

[in the Arena]

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

Worth repeating...

[Militiaman7]

At time it seems that FR is too Republican. Especially when the Bushbots come out in force. Most FREEPERS supported Bush and the Republicans, but those who didn't still have a soapbox on FR.

When it comes down to it,IMHO, FR is more conservative than Republican

[BureaucratusMaximus]

To All: Please edit and double check your thread titles before posting. The numerous punctuation, spacing, grammatical, and spelling errors cause me to cringe and leave a bad impression with visitors.

Thanks mom!

[Temple Owl]

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.

Me too! I flinch when I pull the lever for people like Arlen Specter, but I will not vote for a Democrat.

[Freedom2specul8]

I voted for Keyes, and hubby voted for Bush during primaries. We figured both of us were on the right side..and I wanted to make a statement. I guess we both did eh? :)

[Freedom2specul8]

" I guess we both did eh? :) " Meaning you and I.

[Liberal Classic]

'Course, lots of them vote Republican, as even a small l libertarian, which I keep thinking I may be, can see that the Republican Party is our best hope at this point. After all, the Republicans are taking us down the road to socialism at a slower pace.

As a moderate libertarian who is planning on voting for G.W. Bush next fall, I am in total agreement with your assessment.

[kesg]

An ambivalent "nay" for me.

[ApesForEvolution]

No.

If you hitch up to the Republican bandwagon, you too will abandon the conservative movement which whips the mule that accomplishes your goals.

You will lose this website's dynamic.

[ApesForEvolution]

Good answer.

[vin-one]

Jim, what XM said, I will second.

And by the way Thank you, Thank you , Thank you.

Keep, FR Independant, and Conservative....

[headsonpikes]

"Let's strive for even more credibility."

Fer sure. Wouldn't want any of you nellies 'cringing'.

"'Conservative' denotes extremism."

Bushwa! 'Connotes' it perhaps, in some pretentious liberal circles.

Errors such as this, in your own words, "leave a bad impression with visitors."

[jethropalerobber]

As "conservatives," I believe we discuss ideas. As "Republicans", I believe we discuss strategies.

well said.
if this forum became the latter it would lose all interest for me. i am much more interested in ideas than politics.

[rob777]

'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.'



The above statement deserves a BUMP.

[Drew68]

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.

What Paul said sums up my beliefs as well.

[jpl]

"Conservative" denotes extremism.

According to who, Peter Jennings and the New York Times? Here's how dictionary.com defines the word "conservative":

1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.
3. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.

Nothing in there implying extremism whatsoever. Millions and millions of Americans are conservatives, and I'm not going to allow myself to be marginalized by anyone.

[ApesForEvolution]

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

Thank you. You have perfectly illustrated why I do not identify with a party but rather allign myself most often with the Republican party. You can become 'a little liberal' with the party if you want...

[BSunday]

"I'm witchoo"...hey, can we get those anti-wod threads moved to outer Mongolia or somewhere?

[cars for sale]

those who despise the light of truth will call
the transgression by a thousand names. Freedom ?
Republican ? Those two words are identifiers of
one's intrepretation to the light of truth. No
this Free Republic is not too republican,it is
however bathed in the light of truth.