The Party of Free and Independent Thinkers

What does it mean to be a Republican?

Generally speaking, members of the Grand Old Party tend to be fiscally and socially conservative while supporting a strong military, lower taxes, and fewer federal regulations. In other words, the smaller and less intrusive the government is… the better.

Republicans are also patriots who stand for more personal freedom and more personal responsibility. No “Big Nanny” government for us! We are largely (and proudly) pro-life, pro-family, and pro-traditional values. That is what Ronald Reagan, the father of the modern GOP, believed in and if it was good enough for the “Gipper”, it is good enough for me.

Reagan also believed in a “Big Tent” approach to Republicanism. As he famously said, “The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally – not a 20 percent traitor.” That is how he built not only a majority, but also a mandate that lasted 12 years.

That is also how Donald J. Trump has rebuilt the GOP into America’s dominant political party today.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has become the party of coercion and forced compliance. Democrats like to brag about how tolerant they are when, in fact, they are anything but. On the contrary, like so many despots and dictators before them, they demand complete and utter obedience on every issue… from abortion to immigration to sexual deviancy. No dissenters allowed and no deviations from the party platform are permitted.

That is why Bob Casey Sr., the then-popular governor of Pennsylvania, was denied an opportunity to speak at the 1992 Democratic National Convention, despite having just won a landslide re-election over his Republican challenger. The reason? According to the Media Report.com, “Gov. Casey wished to deliver a fervent pro-life speech in which he would defend the dignity of the unborn and voice opposition to his party's stance on abortion.”

“I’m trying to get my party to be a mainstream party and not have a radical, extreme position,” Casey said at the time, pushing for common sense policies such as parental notification for minors, a 24-hour waiting period, and a ban on partial birth abortions. However, the DNC powerbrokers would have none of that.

“So they could have treated Casey better but don't underestimate — the Democrats are not going to try to fudge it on this issue”, said Bob Beckel, a Democratic strategist who had served as Walter Mondale’s campaign manager in 1984. “You've got to be choice on this issue.”

Likewise, James Carville, who had guided Casey’s 1986 gubernatorial campaign to victory but was now running Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential bid, had this to say about giving his old boss the bum’s rush. "The convention schedule is set. The Democrats of the country have spoken as to the direction they want the country to go.”

In other words, Bob, “Hop aboard the abortion express or get run over!”

Which brings me to Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Gabbard was a Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii who was a rising star within the party until she had the audacity to challenge the status quo in 2020 when she campaigned for the party’s presidential nomination. In very short order, she became persona non grata in the DNC, which led her to switch her party affiliation first to independent and then to the GOP.

In the same manner, RFK Jr. was a lifelong Democrat who was treated like the poor red-headed stepchild by the DNC. President Biden wouldn’t debate him, and the DNC spent untold millions to derail his candidacy. First, they strongarmed state officials to keep RFK Jr. off the primary ballot and then – after his withdrawal from the race and subsequent endorsement of President Trump – they sued to keep him on the general election ballot in as many swing states as possible.

As a result, the nephew of a Democratic president and the son of a Democratic icon jumped ship and landed – much to the Progressives chagrin – with a prime position in President Trump’s administration (pending his confirmation). I hope he is seated right next to Tulsi Gabbard in the cabinet room and directly across from two other independent thinkers, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

My friends, we dare not go down the same totalitarian path as the DNC. Instead, the Party of Lincoln must maintain as broad a base as possible. Yes, that may mean rubbing elbows with someone who doesn’t dot every “i” and cross every “t” the same way you or I do… but that’s OK.

Let’s remember and apply Reagan’s 80-20 rule because if we do, the Republican Party will grow more robust and more resilient than any previous version. Forget about the 12-year mandate we enjoyed under Reagan and George H.W. Bush. If we are smart, we can ride the rails as far as the Trump train will take us… and beyond.