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?

[kidd]

There are few conservative grass-roots groups. The Free Republic is one of the best that do exist. The GOP needs grass-roots groups to demonstrate that it is in touch with the public. The Free Republic thus carries some influence with the GOP.

I think that we are generally GOP-friendly, but we need to speak out when crappolla like CFR is passed. CFR is an example of an issue that we would have to accept as a GOP group rather than fight as a conservative group.

Free Republic serves as a means to keep the GOP from veering further left. It cannot serve that function if it is associated with the GOP.

[ProudGOP]

So lets see, the question is Is Free Republic too "Republican?" and the proposed solution is to make the site more Republican? ;-)

Actually, I think conservative best fits the site and what its goals are. We need to be able to jump on the RINOs that move too far left and to do that we need to maintain our independence from the party.

So I say no.

[Dick Bachert]

"The common and continual mischief of the spirit of Party is sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it." G. Washington

If one considers the excesses, abuses and occasional HORRORS inflicted on nations by "parties," George got it right. He clearly understood the old truth that "The road to hell IS (or can be) paved with good intentions."

Party over principle has become the rule of the many of the expedient minded politicians under whom THIS nation now suffers. To do anything to exacerbate THAT problem would be a major mistake -- especially here at THE premier anti-statist web discussion site.

[NMC EXP]

I'm still anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-Democrat and anti-liberalism

Defeating these things is a worthwhile objective.

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

How do you propose to change the republican party in order to accomplish these objectives?

One thing we can count on is that if we reward a behavior, we will get more of it. A vote is the ultimate reward to a politican.

Voting republican says we agree with their version of big government socialism. Then what incentive does the party have to change?

Regards

J.R.

[Maelstrom]

Jim Jeffords was a Republican.

McCain still is along with Olympia Snowe and Chaffee.

Beware, my friend, while being Republican in general should lend itself toward the goal of less government power, intrusion, and spending, there are some Republicans who are every bit as anti-conservative as Dianne Feinstein.

If you recall NYC "Republican" mayor Bloomberg ran as a Republican only because he wasn't able to get on the Democrat or Liberal ticket. Look how he's tearing that city apart with liberalism.

[Yeti]

What's in a label? I'll change it to "Republican" if demand warrants. .... What say you, FReepers?

Do what you think is right, Jim.

After your essay from the other day and this, I feel like I am in a bit of a moral quandry, in that I must bite my tongue on issues about which I have strong feelings or else I will be using your creation(FR) contrary to your wishes(by espousing negative opinions about The Party). I don't feel right about doing either.

If changing the label to "Republican" means making the label more accurate, then you might want to do it just to be honest. I know FR has evolved, and I see no reason why its label shouldn't evolve with it.

[Dataman]

I'd like to see the whining stop.

MO: Leave the site the way it is and create a whiner filter.

[Tamzee]

It's your wonderful site and should be your call alone, IMHO.

One item I would like to point out to all the purists out there, though, is that we are just finally establishing some solid power against liberals after decades of their running the show. And thanks to our Democrat "Americans", our politics no longer end at the waters' edge, they have teamed up with socialist and radical left governments abroad against the Republicans and conservatives here at home.

Our only real hope is to firmly support the Republican Party until the liberal/socialist beast is totally powerless here at home... only then will it do any good to debate our internal differences. It seems our current battle in this crucial political war has only two outcomes right now... win small a bit at a time, or lose big entirely.

If progressives get too powerful and hand us over to the U.N., we can lose the Republic forever...

[wita]

...and just maybe Ross Perot did us all a favor. Willy the worst, woke up a significant portion of the sleepy sheep.

[Constitution Day]

Nah. If anything it's too cConfederate. (I corrected that capitalization error)

Ha, speak for yourself, Yankee! :)

[Oberon]

I was definitely anti-Democrat. And definitely anti-big government, anti-government corruption, anti-government abuse, anti-liberalism, etc. And I still am.

So are many of us regular Freepers, even those of us (myself included) who are registered Independent. I don't mind Republicans being Republicans, or even FreeRepublic being Republican... as long as those Republicans and FreeRepublic actually work to implement the Republican platform.

My main wish is that Republicans currently in our legislatures and assemblies might be more easily distinguished by their records from their Democrat counterparts.

[Non-Sequitur]

I did.

[PGalt]

It's fine the way it is and your mission, as you explain in this post, is an honorable one. Many thanks.

[billc41147]

I feel that REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS are very different "Labels" than Conservatives and Liberals. Republicans and Democrats are Politicians while Conservatism and Liberalism are basic philosophies. Politicians only care about themselves and power (BOTH Republicans and Democrats). Until people understand that the politicians from both parties have NOTHING to do with conservative or liberal viewpoints we are doomed. Keep FR a CONSERTATIVE site.

[Constitution Day]

Sheesh. Have you no sense of humor this morning, Billy Yank?

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I like it just the way it is.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I see so little difference between the parties.

Not that I am of any value, but I could not be part of an organization that was either democrat or republican.

Neither party supports the Constitution and the original ideals of this nation. If this was a republican site, soon all that would be left would be the Bushmoonies and the DU trolls who snuck in to pull their whiskers.

[Fredgoblu]

Is Free Republic too "Republican?"

Au contraire. FR is, perhaps, one of the most "progressive" websites out there. This is not meant to be derogatory--as in "progressive tax" or as in the media equation of liberal = progressive--but rather, a compliment to the site.

The site promotes a free exchange of ideas, gives voice to the quiet majority, and holds politicians accountable to the public. In general, FR serves to strengthen the Republic.

If that isn't progressive, I don't know what is.

[North Coast Conservative]

I vote no.

I am a lifelong Republican, sit on the County party Executive Committee, and am struggling to make the grass roots Republican party more conservative. I see the liberal trend in the Ohio party, (Bob Taft, George Voinovich, Steve Latourette, et al), and am involved to correct these shortfalls.

Many individuals see unfailing support of the party and winning at the polls as the objectives of the game. I see the objectives as:

lower taxes,
smaller government at all levels,
less govenmental interference in your life,
unfettered freedom to live your life as you choose as long as you don't impinge on the rights and freedoms of others.

The Republican party needs us to remain independent, to take them to task when they have gone astray,(Pro-Life and Pro-Family issues come to mind immediately, as does spending and taxes). To be a lap dog for the Republican party would do a disservice to the many members of this forum, and to the party itself.

In God We Trust.....Semper Fi

[Core_Conservative]

Leave it the way it is - I agree whole heartedly with you on the premise. I am an ultra conservative - get the government out of my life at almost any cost.