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?

[jmq]

As if anyone can be too Republican.....

[Blue Scourge]

I've always called myself a Conservative first and a republican at times. A label is a label, I vote republican almost completely.

I say leave it conservative, like you said, most conservatives are republicans.

[Mare]

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.

Amen.

I think we should stay a conservative site and not take on the label of any political party. There's more credibility in that.

Right now President Bush and his administration are the best hope we have to fight liberalism and the Demonocrats. What's wrong with ardently supporting them? As for President Bush, it is so refreshing to have someone in charge that you can admire and support. These things do not make one a Republican.

Thanks again, Jim and John, for all you do.

[BlueAngel]

I vote to keep FR just as it is. There will always be critics no matter what you do.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Although I'm registered Republican, I would vote for Democrat Zell Miller over Republican Lincoln Chaffee any day.

I would NEVER to that. I will vote for a pro-abortion Republican before I will vote for a supposed pro-life Democrat. Pro-life Democrats are useless unless they're in the minority.

Just try to get pro-life legislation through a Democrat-controlled committee.

NEVER, NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE EVER VOTE FOR A RAT, unless it's for county supervisor or less.

[stainlessbanner]

Nah. If anything it's too confederate.

Doh!

[varon]

Long live the Republic!

Bravo!

[m18436572]

bump

Republican does'nt always = conservative.

[Sam Cree]

I vote nay, leave FR as it is.

I believe FR will be diminished in integrity by affiliating too closely with a political party.

Free Republic, if it stands for anything, stands for the traditions, principles and freedoms on which America was founded. These things are immeasurably greater than party loyalty.

Thank you for this wonderful site.

[wita]

I have rewritten this to conform to what I think will pass muster, but your reference to days of yore, brought back memories of Ash Alerts. and he who bashed ash is long gone. Ash on the other hand was still lurking in the weeds, but maintaing an extremely low profile, at least long after the ash basher left or was banned, I don't remember which. What's my point, I think I've forgotten already. Oh yea it had something to do with selective banning, but then I'm not the owner, boss, moderator, or anyone else associated with regulating, monitoring, running, or building, oops, scratch that, I have helped to build FR, in my own small way.

I vote a resounding NO, to any association with a political party willing to let unprincipled people who cannot back the party platform, but will take party money and support for calling themselves such. A rino does not belong in the republican party, or deserve to gain political favor, by use of the party name after his or her own.

[Pietro]

I think Conservative is a better description of FR than Republican. Afterall the GOP is not w/o Rino's and outright liberals.

I share your feelings on liberals and government.

Thanks for the freedom of FR that doesn't carry anybodies water!

[smiley]

Brava, Jim......(clapping and standing O's).....we're right there with you, shoulder to shoulder..

[Psalm 73]

"I will vote for a pro-abortion Republican..."

How sad - I would never vote for ANYbody who advocates the slaughter of babies. Period.
Well, some of us have principles, and some of us.....

[Bikers4Bush]

No, it's not.

[KEVLAR]

I prefer conservative.

[Physicist]

What if? What if's are fun.

Whee! What if a draft dodger were elected Commander-in-Chief? Whee!

What if a Republican implemented wage & price controls? Whee!

[RottiBiz]

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

My sentiments exactly!

Although I am a conservative and a "broken glass" Republican, I would hate to see Free Republic become a wing of any political party.

[HairOfTheDog]

Whining is the only power the fringes have! Don't take this away from them, they will just whine about something else!

[M Kehoe]

Back in Jan. of '98, I heard 97 (i42's concubine at the time) say that there was a "vast right-wing conspiracy" out there to get her husband. My first thought was "cool" where do I sign up? I contacted the RNC, Scaiffe, the local party affiliate, everyone I could think of to join. Needless to say, unfortunately, there wasn't a vast right-wing conspiracy.

So, what does this have to do with your question? Well, I say we call FR the "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy." Heck, we've done more to hurt the democRATs than any 'conspiracy' could.

5.56mm

[Let's Roll]

JimRob, I think Conservative is more accurate than Republican and agree with you about the Republican organization already being "up and running" as far as doing what we want to do.

That's the thing I never understand about these splinter parties - they only help elect our enemies. IMO the way to go is to defeat and discredit your opponent first and then when your ideas and policies are solidly dominant you can worry about conservative and moderate or conservative and very conservative.