Letter: What does it mean to be a Republican?

What does it mean to be a member of the Republican Party? What do Republicans believe?

Every four years, each political party drafts a platform. The platform might be discarded before the ink on it is dry, but for a time anyway, it serves as a testament to what the party stands for.

Hammering out a party platform can be contentious. Divergent views on differing issues make for healthy intra-party debate. Eventually, though, party leaders reach a compromise on a set of shared principles and values that bind the party together and define it to the people.

The Republican Party did not write a party platform this year. Why not? Perhaps the party doesn’t have any shared principles and values it wants to commit to paper? That’s not likely.

Maybe it’s because the party wants to appear so homogeneous that it finds it a waste of time to trifle with memorializing a platform. But then, surely there are Republicans who don’t like tariffs, import quotas or trade wars. Surely there are Republicans who are appalled at a $3.3 trillion debt. Surely there are Republicans who still believe that international alliances form the bulwark for maintaining peace. Surely there are Republicans who abhor the idea of the U.S. military being deployed against American citizens on American soil.

So why aren’t these Republicans making their views known? Are they frightened of being singled out and punished by their political leader, who disdains the principles they embrace? Maybe so.

The Republican Party now says there is no need to draft a platform because the party is unanimous in “enthusiastically supporting the agenda” of their political leader, Donald Trump. This despite the fact that the president has not been able to articulate in English what his agenda for a second term might be.

So I end up where I started. What does it mean to be a member of the Republican Party? What do Republicans believe?

Scott Newton, Jasper

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12 Comments

  1. Hi Scott! what it means to be a Republican, is being part of a party that doesn’t create a fake Russian Dossier and then weaponize that dossier, just before an election, by representing it as truth to the DOJ and FBI. Then having the heads of the intelligence committee tell the media that the dossier is true and Trump colluded with the Russians, while telling the House Intelligence Committee that there is no collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia.

    What it means to be a Republican, is not wasting $32M on a special counsel investigation, loaded with all Democratic lawyers, knowing that the outcome would show no collusion because the FBI and DOJ had already told them so.

    What it means to be a Republican, is caring for all black lives, including those killed by bad police officers. Caring for the 20 million black babies that have been aborted since Roe v Wade, was made legal. Caring for the black lives that are killed each and every day in urban cities controlled by Democrats for decades, who do nothing to stop the violence.

    What it means to be a Republican, is caring about the law and enforcing the law to protect citizens lives, property and business. Caring to prevent rioting and looting, in even Democratic controlled states and cities, that allow their constitutes to pillage and burn because they are afraid it will cost them votes in an election.

    What it means to be a Republican, is caring about the spiritual health of all people to peacefully assemble and worship in accordance with the guaranteed rights under the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Being denied that right under the Constitution, while “peaceful protestors” can assemble, without masks and social distancing.

    What it means to be a Republican, is caring about your family, friends and neighbors enough to protect them, until the police arrive, by the use of a legal firearm guaranteed under the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

    What it means to be a Republican, is caring about the education of our children, knowing that knowledge will do more to end poverty then a life time of government assistance. We groan because Democratic controlled cities attempt to deny school choice in underperforming school districts. We groan when the teachers choose to indoctrinate instead of educate. We groan when the teachers’ union dues, go more to aid Democratic politicians then helping the teachers get better at their craft.

    What it means to be a Republican, is not caring what the entertainment and sports elites have to say, as if they have any credibility, when their hypocrisy is rolling off their tongues.

    Daryl Hensley, Jasper IN

    1. A darn good, spot-on reply, Mr. Hensley – something I could have never articulated near as well nor without getting out of bounds with something, and so didn’t even want to try taking such bait. The only thing I would specifically add/mention/include somewhere in there – maybe in your last paragraph where it would fit quite well along with “entertainment and sports elites” – is the democratic-led and funded “hitman” organization, otherwise known as the mainstream media. They can say whet they want about Fox News, and Fox is far from perfect, but Fox is also far and away the best, more/most accurate and fair news source available of any network, cable or broadcast, etc., which their ratings bear out time and again, year after year – not even close, and often more than all others combined.

    2. Well said Daryl. The main problem with what you said is that some people can’t Or won’t understand half of, or all of what you just articulated. Stay strong.

    3. If the Republicans care about educating our children, then why did the current State Legislators cut the budget to our Public schools in Dubois County? Did you know that our tax dollars go to the vouchers used for expensive private schools by wealthy people in Indianapolis? Did you know that those same State Legislators allowed $86 million dollars to go to a fraudulent virtual school? Indiana has always had school choice and still does now. Anyone can send their child to any public school in the state, anyone can home school their kid if they wish, and no one is stopping anyone from enrolling their child in a private school. The difference is who pays for it. Please tell me you would have no problem using tax dollars to pay for a voucher for a religious school that is not Christian.

      I have been a teacher for 32 years, and I can tell you that I am extremely offended when you accuse me and other teachers of “indoctrinating” students or that my teachers union dues have done anything other than provide support for teachers. Have you been in a public school classroom, say in the past 10 years? Have ever talked to a Public School teacher, the ones that made virtual school work last spring when most huge corporations couldn’t pull that off?

      Public schools and the teachers and all other staff have only one agenda, and that is to help our students learn in a safe, caring environment that will allow them to grow and develop into a productive citizen in our society.

      Please use your words more carefully before you malign a dedicated, selfless group of people like teachers.

      1. Thanks candidate Kendall for joining the debate. BTW I was glad to see that your husband Michael cleaned up that mess he made in the Dubious County Council race. Being a lawyer and involved in politics so long, you think he would have known the law regarding felons and elections.

        Hopefully I didn’t offend you with the truth so much that you’re going to tear down a statue or something. Let’s dissect your comments.

        “If the Republicans care about educating our children, then why did the current State Legislators cut the budget to our Public schools in Dubois County?”

        Currently no Dubious County schools are experiencing any budget cuts because they are in compliance with Indiana law by conducting 85% of their teaching in the classroom. In fact Dubois County Schools should see a slight increase over previous years. In fact here is what Gov. Holcomb said. “Basically, the letter says that lawmakers are still committed to fully funding the state’s public schools – as Gov. Eric Holcomb and Statehouse leaders said in June – but only if school districts offer an in-person option to families.” See links

        https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2020/08/07/indiana-education-what-we-know-about-sen-rod-brays-letter-schools-funding-cuts-virtual/3322242001/

        https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/clientuploads/PDF/2019/Tuition_Support_Formula_-_HB_1001.pdf

        “Did you know that our tax dollars go to the vouchers used for expensive private schools by wealthy people in Indianapolis?”

        Last time I checked wealthy people pay taxes and should have a say in how their tax dollars are spent. I mean seriously, its their tax money and the elected government of our state has voted to allow them to spend their tax dollars on their children’s education. In fact poor people pay taxes too and they should be able to spend their tax dollars on wealthy private schools and charter schools if they feel they are getting a better education there. I love the fact that there are Muslim schools, here in Indiana, using the school voucher program. Be careful of this website. It is a Muslim school with VP Mike Pence in one of the photos. You’re doing a great Job Mr. VP.
        http://www.isimti.org/

        “I have been a teacher for 32 years, and I can tell you that I am extremely offended when you accuse me and other teachers of “indoctrinating” students…”

        First let me thank you for your 32 years of service. If your extremely offended by the truth, I can’t apologize for that. In fact you won’t like what I’m posting from here on (Trigger Alert)

        Let’s get serious about some topics like Critical Race Theory (CRT), (the view that the law and legal institutions are inherently racist and that race itself, instead of being biologically grounded and natural, is a socially constructed concept that is used by white people to further their economic and political interests at the expense of people of colour.) CRT is not only reverse racism but works against the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King when he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” You see CRT immediately broad strokes all white people as racist and does not judge them by the content of their character. Black Lives Matter is also a Marxist organization that wants to destroy the patriarchal family. Their peaceful protest are anything but peaceful. These indoctrinations are being taught right here in Indiana’s public schools. Does racism still exist, your darn right it does but it is not systemic. If it was, Obama would have never been President, Affirmative Action would have never became law and Lebron James wouldn’t be living in the gated white community he currently does live in. As far as the Teacher’s Unions, one needs to look to the newspapers to see all of the union dues going to political candidates.

        https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=l1300

        https://myips.org/blog/district/ips-board-approves-racial-equity-policy-and-black-lives-matter-resolution/

        https://go.boarddocs.com/in/indps/Board.nsf/files/BR4S7871421D/$file/Res.%20No.%207863%20-%20Black%20Lives%20Matter.pdf

        https://in.chalkbeat.org/2018/10/19/21105937/indiana-teachers-union-spends-big-on-indianapolis-public-schools-in-election

        https://www.followthemoney.org/research/institute-reports/an-apple-from-the-teachers-teachers-unions-give-lessons-on-contributing-at-the-state-level

        https://districtadministration.com/ips-racial-equity-school-racial-equity-policy-accomplishes/

        Ms. Kendall, all teachers aren’t bad, just the ones who bring their politics into the classroom. I bet I can guess which one you are. Best wishes on your campaign.

        FYI, Before COVID, I visited schools on a weekly basis and probably know more principals, teachers and school business officials then you do. I’m in the biz 35 years. School science equipment. Looking forward to getting back after it when the election is over.

        Daryl Hensley, Jasper IN

    4. At least you’re honest that to be a Republican means defending Trump’s cult of personality despite all the evidence he’s a liar, fraud, and traitor. The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears and it was their final, most essential command.

      I mean, Donald Trump is literally on tape bragging his office building is now the tallest in New York on the day the Twin Towers were attacked.

      https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-september-11-interview-tallest-building-manhattan-2017-9

      Keep that in mind as today is 9/11. You put this evil in office.

      1. No Markus, Democrats put Trump in office. They crossed over and voted for Trump in blue states like WI, MI, PA, NC. All states who had Democratic governors.

  2. Daryl,

    It’s good to hear from you.

    A platform is a big bold positive declaration as to where a party stands on big big issues. What you’ve done is cherry pick a bunch of grievances in order to bash the opposing party. Can you state, without the bashing, the values and principles that the Republican Party shares as to these very important issues:

    1.) TRADE – Free trade? Or tariffs, import quotas, and trade wars?
    2.) FEDERAL DEBT – Deficit hawks? Or more tax cuts?
    3.) INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCES – A post war relic?
    4.) DEPLOYING THE U.S. MILITARY OR FEDERALIZED AGENTS TO POLICE U.S. CITIZENS – Ruby Ridge and Waco a figment of our imaginations?

    I understand that a political party can evolve. That can be a good thing. Abraham Lincoln was a Whig, a Henry Clay man. Then he became a Republican when he had to make a decision on the issue of slavery. I’m only interested in what the current Republican Party affirmatively believes (not what gripes they have against Democrats) on the four important issues listed above.

    Daryl, I can at least agree with you that neither of us cares what “entertainment and sports elites have to say” concerning politics. I’ve got nothing to learn from John Voight, Tom Selleck, Roseanne Barr, Tom Brady, Brent Favre, Dennis Rodman, Scott Baio, James Caan, Bob Knight. Lou Holtz, Dennis Quaid, Ted Nugent, Mike Ditka, Herschel Walker, Kid Rock, Curt Schilling, , Kirstie Ally, James Woods, John Daley, Mike Tyson . . . .

  3. Scott you may think that what I listed were grievances but they are in fact BIG policy issues between the parties. Education, Sanctity on Life, 1st Amendment issues, 2nd Amendment issues.

    However, before we get to those issues, you skipped right over the Russian Hoax fraud that the Democrats orchestrated and weaponized the DOJ and the FBI to pursue to the tune of $32M in tax payer dollars. Democrats even tricked their media partners and drew them in on the hoax. For three years this country was put through non-stop Russian Collusion Hoax and when it was finally exposed, the Democrats have just basically acted like it never happened. Democrats should pay a political price for such wickedness.

    Without getting too deep in the tall weeds, we can now move on to your 4 BIG issues. TRADE- This one is easy. Love your neighbor by buying American. Control immigration to restrict competition for jobs that Americans would do if the labor market wasn’t flooded with cheap illegal labor. Those low paying jobs would see an increase in wages to make them more attractive to American workers. That has worked. Year over Year wages in 2019 grew over 4% in the manufacturing, hospitality and construction trades. We now know that the outsourcing of pharmaceuticals and PPE have also hurt America during this pandemic. Republican believe that American workers come first. Placing American first lead to the lowest unemployment in every demographic in American history.

    FEDERAL DEBT- The pandemic has ballooned the National debt. For the first time last year the debt has exceeded the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United States this past year (106%). The main driver, is borrowing to pay the deficit being run by Social Security since 2010 (25%). Cutting taxes didn’t help but it did make us more competitive around the world and made our products more competitive abroad, creating jobs. Cutting taxes also brought back $2 trillion a year in revenue from businesses that left the country due to high taxes. Raising taxes will cut jobs, lower tax revenue and lower GDP. Republicans believe jobs will bring less of a debt burden then tax increases will cause.

    INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCES – Republicans are now believing you can’t buy friends with money. It didn’t work in the Iran Deal and it hasn’t worked with Europe, who grew ungrateful from the cash they received. The aid we spent got us nowhere in Iraq or Afghanistan either. It is time to end these endless wars and devote that $50B a year back into the American economy. Rome and Britain both learned that you can’t buy friends and sustain your own people during endless wars. We should learn from history and be neighbors with the world but not try to influence it with foreign aid.

    POLICING U.S. CITIZENS- It is the local, state and federal governments job to protect the homeland and punish evil doers. When any of the three types of government fail to do this, it creates a lack of trust in government and promotes lawlessness. We have seen this first hand. What is sad is that we have Democratic controlled local and state governments abdicating their authority, so they won’t hurt their chances on election day. Their argument is to “let it burn”, “they have insurance to replace it.” “looting is a form of reparations.” At whose expense? The tax payers? The insurance companies? Let me just say if Democrats don’t get hammered on election day, then we get the government we deserve.

    Trump was on the verge of losing this election and now former Democrats are crossing party lines to support him. It’s looking like Deja vu all over again, 2016.

    Daryl Hensley, Jasper IN

  4. Daryl,

    Are you claiming that restricting competition from lawful immigrants is automatically going to raise wages for low paying jobs to the point that laid off Americans are going to flock to them? Do you see Americans performing stoop labor in the San Joaquin Valley? Do employers have a say in this? And what happened to Adam Smith’s “invisible hand?” But I digress. What I’d like to know specifically is if you think the Republican Party supports tariffs, import quotas, and trade wars in general. Yes or no? I’m interested because, if so, it represents a sea change in Republican philosophy.

    As to to the issue of the federal debt, my take is that in the tax cuts versus debt burden equation, you think Republicans come down on the side of tax cuts because they believe that tax cuts create jobs which is a more effective way of controlling the debt that tax increases. Good enough. I’m not being judgmental.

    Your response concerning international alliances seems to be restricted to foreign aid. Where does the party stand regarding the traditional military alliances this country has maintained since the end of the war? NATO? ANZUS? NORAD? ROK?

    Concerning the last big issue, I’m afraid you’ve capitulated to Demo bashing. Yes, cities and states exercise police powers. My question specifically is where do Republicans stand on deploying the U.S. military or federalized agents to police American citizens on American soil. Are there any circumstances that would warrant that?

    Daryl, I don’t acknowledge a “Russian Hoax.” Late this summer the Republican led Senate Intelligence Committee issued a 1000 page report concluding unequivocally that a “grave” Russian threat disrupted the 2016 U.S. presidential election in favor of Donald Trump. The report meticulously outlined a web of contacts between Trump advisors and Kremlin officials. On August 7th of this year, a spokesman for the Director of National Intelligence warned Congress and the American people of Russian interference that would benefit Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. And just this week, lo and behold, Facebook had to dismantle a fake account created by the Internet Research Agency, a troll farm for the Kremlin which was very active in the 2016 election. The account was designed to dilute support for Joe Biden.

    I’m not alleging collusion or collaboration. I’m just stating what is undeniable. The Russians interfered in our elections, and they’re interfering now. Those are facts. Daryl, I can’t believe you could be the only person other than Donald Trump who “has no reason not to believe” Vladimir Putin when he says he had nothing to with election interference.

    1. It is not a sea change on trade. Candidate Trump made it clear in2016, he wanted fair and free trade. The United states has long appeased countries allowing them to flood our markets with free tariff goods while placing tariffs on American made products. Scott I’m sorry for my last post being so long that you missed the part about legal immigration. Republicans strongly believe in legal immigration. The kind of immigration where you get vetted criminally and medically and you wait your turn in line like all the other legal immigrants. We wouldn’t want to let rapists or people with a deadly virus get into the country. Illegal immigration floods our country with cheap labor and keeps wages low.

      The security agreements you listed are fine but the United States doesn’t have to be the key financier of those treaties and in most cases are not. NATO is the only exception. Europe should honor their 2% of GDP fees as they have not for many years.

      Unlike Obama, Trump has resisted using Federal military troops domestically, under Title 10. The National Guard, who are controlled by the governors (Title 32) of each state have the authority and ability to quell any uprising in their states. Trump has used Federal Law Enforcement to protect Federal properties like Federal buildings and Federal courthouses. Republicans have not changed their stance on deploying the U.S. military or federalized agents to police American citizens on American soil. The Constitution does provide certain insurrection rights to the President but the Insurrection Act was last used in 1992.

      Nice try in pivoting on the “Russian Hoax”. Your spin was weak. Yes, the Russian’s interfered in our election and they have for decades. I bet Hillary wishes she could take back her 2011 statement to Putin that Russia’s elections were a fraud. Putin definitely made her pay for that statement. I’m referring to the hoax that Donald Trump was a Russian asset and his campaign colluded with Russia of which the DNC initiated with their false dossier. Yes, the Senate Intelligence Committee agreed with the Mueller Report and the FBI and the DOJ also concurred that Trump did not collude. However, the media and the House Intelligence Committee didn’t agree with each of those entities because it was working on a “Hoax” to defraud the American people. You keep avoiding it but you’re not fooling anyone.
      The Chinese, Iran and Israel are also election meddlers. However, no one has meddled in more foreign elections than the United States.

      Scott, I wish you well but since you won’t acknowledge the DNC and Hillary’s involvement in the “Russia Hoax”, this will be my last post.

      Daryl Hensley, Jasper IN

      1. Since we all agree Russia is messing with elections (along with George Soros, China, Saudis, Iran, Iraq, any nation that can) why is nothing being done?

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