I've never understood the RINO label. In actuality, the Republican party is a centrist party that incorporates libertarians, fiscal and social conservatives.
TRUE conservatives, to which this forum caters, are in fact 'Republicans in Name Only' if they happen to cross the line and vote R in order to stave off allowing a Dem to win a particular election. If they stick to their principles, then they are Conservatives.
Policies for which one can be labeled a RINO at FR represent the baseline platform of the Republican party.
Are you posting from RNC headquarters? Just curious.
Your correct in saying that the Pubbie party is acting like a centrist one. That is exactly the problem. They have abondoned the tenets outlined in the party platform.
You got it Chuck.
The term RINO is used as a pejorative in simplistic saber-rattlings, not reasoned debate. Someone else kindly pointed this out to me last week and it took a bit to sink in.
Why should I take offense at being called a RINO? I am a RINO! I’m also a student of conservatism. The Republican party is the original “big tent” party. It is the mechanism for my participation in American politics. Like it or not, the current paradigm is a two party system. I certainly have NOTHING in common with the Dhimmis, so that leaves me the Republican party to further my aspirations. It is a grossly inexact system, but what are you gonna do?
The problem we face today is that some are saying that we must abandon our conservative principles and “go with the flow”. No thank you. “The Republican Party must reach out to the left if we are to pick up the votes we need in order to win”. Win what, exactly?!
What is the point of “winning” the battle and losing our souls?
That might make me a RINO, or paleo-whatever, but I have a thick skin (and a firm grip on my principles).
Let me help you understand why Giuliani is a RINO:
|
|
Giuliani | Clinton | Dem Platform | GOP Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abortion on Demand | Supports | Supports | Supports | Opposes |
| Partial Birth Abortion | Supports Opposed NY ban |
Supports | Supports | Opposes |
| Overturning Roe v. Wade | Opposes | Opposes | Opposes | Supports |
| Taxpayer Funded Abortions | Supports | Supports | Supports | Opposes |
| Embryonic Stem Cell Research | Supports | Supports | Supports | Opposes |
| Federal Marriage Amendment | Opposes | Opposes | Opposes Defined at state level |
Supports |
| Gay Domestic Partnership/ Civil Unions |
Supports | Supports | Supports | Opposes |
| Openly Gay Military | Supports | Supports | Supports | Opposes |
| Defense of Marriage Act | Opposes | Opposes | Opposes | Supports |
| Amnesty for Illegal Aliens | Supports | Supports | Supports | Opposes |
| Special Path to Citizenship for Illegal Aliens |
Supports | Supports | Supports | Opposes |
| Tough Penalties for Employers of Illegal Aliens |
Opposes | Opposes | Opposes | Supports |
| Sanctuary Cities/ Ignoring Immigration Law |
Supports | Supports | Supports | Opposes |
| Protecting 2nd Amendment | Opposes |
Opposes | Opposes Supports bans |
Supports |
| Confiscating Guns | Supports Confiscated as mayor. Even bragged. |
Supports | Supports Supports bans |
Opposes |
| 'Assault' Weapons Ban | Supports | Supports | Supports | |
| Frivolous Lawsuits Against Gun Makers |
Supports Filed One Himself |
Supports | Opposes | |
| Gun Registration/Licenses | Supports | Supports | Opposes | |
| War in Afghanistan | Supports | Supports Voted for it |
Supports | Supports |
| War in Iraq | Supports | Varies Voted for it |
Supports Weak support |
Supports |
| Patriot Act | Supports | Supports Voted for it 2001 & 2006 |
Opposes | Supports |