Regular Republicans - What Makes You Different than Tea Partiers? (Reagan, illegal)

[CAVA1990]

Party leaders say they don't like the prospect of their party being taken over by tea partiers. So just what policy do the tea partiers advocate that mainstream Republicans disagree with? Please enlighten me on the difference between a Republican and a tea partier on any issue. Prefer to hear from mainstream Republicans only on this.

[okccowboy]

Isn't it fascinating that not one Republican has responded to this question since you posted the question? I'm curious myself.

[twista6002]

One's symbol is an elephant and the other is a sheep.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Party leaders say they don't like the prospect of their party being taken over by tea partiers. So just what policy do the tea partiers advocate that mainstream Republicans disagree with? Please enlighten me on the difference between a Republican and a tea partier on any issue. Prefer to hear from mainstream Republicans only on this.

Certainly

Centrist Republicans like myself

1. Don't advocate hate for illegal immigrants. We believe in strong immigration policy but we don't espouse negative feelings or a personal backlash against illegal immigrants. You can pass every strict immigration policy without the hate speech and racism that many Right Wing supporters espouse.

2. We don't support the Religious Right or the Evangelical movement in the Republican party. We still believe in the separation of Church and State. So regardless of how we feel personally feel about abortion and stem cell research, we don't believe in imposing those views on the public. I don't believe in abortion and I couldn't see myself advocating one but I do believe in a woman's right to choose and I don't think my views can be imposed on someone else's body. We also don't believe in imposing Creationism be taught in public schools or Christian prayer be imposed in public schools.

3. We are not anti-homosexual. We believe homosexuals have the right to conduct their lives however they see fit regardless of our personal views toward homosexuals. If they want to get married, go ahead, that's none of my business.

4. We don't hate Obama. We disagree with most of his policy but we don't agree with Birthers. We don't think he is racist toward Whites. We don't think he is secretly Muslim

5. We are not Partisan. Many right wing were supportive of the war. As soon as Obama became President, they are critical of the war. That is just partisan and petty non-sense. Either you are for the war or against regardless of who is in office.

My final point: if more Republicans espoused the above, we would gain a lot more followers. I know there are many Reagan Democrats. These were former Republicans who left the party when the Evangelicals dominated starting in the mid-90's when Clinton went into office. There are a lot of Democrats who believe in smaller government, lowering taxes and emphasizing personal responsibility but they can't deal with the Christian Right and remain Democrats

[okccowboy]

As a Center left Democrat I agree with most everything you stated.
1. I too favor a strong immigration policy mostly for National Security reasons.
2. I don't support the RR and strongly believe in a separation of Church and State. I personally do not support "abortion" but I do support a woman's right to control her own body.
3.I support teaching science in science class and not a religious belief.
4. Being a gay man I obviously support equality under the law and other people's opinion really doesn't matter to me on this subject.
4. While I do support most of Obama's policies I don't support them all. As to partisanship, most of us are whether we admit to it or not.
5. As for Reagan, he was the ONLY and the LAST Republican I voted for. It was my first election in 1980 and I was only 18. Looking back I chalk it up to being young and very naive.


Given that the current Republican Party does believe most of the things you said you oppose, why do you remain a Republican given most of your positions are left leaning?

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Certainly

Centrist Republicans like myself

1. Don't advocate hate for illegal immigrants. We believe in strong immigration policy but we don't espouse negative feelings or a personal backlash against illegal immigrants. You can pass every strict immigration policy without the hate speech and racism that many Right Wing supporters espouse.

2. We don't support the Religious Right or the Evangelical movement in the Republican party. We still believe in the separation of Church and State. So regardless of how we feel personally feel about abortion and stem cell research, we don't believe in imposing those views on the public. I don't believe in abortion and I couldn't see myself advocating one but I do believe in a woman's right to choose and I don't think my views can be imposed on someone else's body. We also don't believe in imposing Creationism be taught in public schools or Christian prayer be imposed in public schools.

3. We are not anti-homosexual. We believe homosexuals have the right to conduct their lives however they see fit regardless of our personal views toward homosexuals. If they want to get married, go ahead, that's none of my business.

4. We don't hate Obama. We disagree with most of his policy but we don't agree with Birthers. We don't think he is racist toward Whites. We don't think he is secretly Muslim

5. We are not Partisan. Many right wing were supportive of the war. As soon as Obama became President, they are critical of the war. That is just partisan and petty non-sense. Either you are for the war or against regardless of who is in office.

My final point: if more Republicans espoused the above, we would gain a lot more followers. I know there are many Reagan Democrats. These were former Republicans who left the party when the Evangelicals dominated starting in the mid-90's when Clinton went into office. There are a lot of Democrats who believe in smaller government, lowering taxes and emphasizing personal responsibility but they can't deal with the Christian Right and remain Democrats

[Joe_Ryder]

Originally Posted by okccowboy

Isn't it fascinating that not one Republican has responded to this question since you posted the question? I'm curious myself.

The fact that it's Easter Sunday couldn't possibly have anything to do with it eh?

[mateo45]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Certainly Centrist Republicans like myself...
My final point: if more Republicans espoused the above, we would gain a lot more followers. I know there are many Reagan Democrats. These were former Republicans who left the party when the Evangelicals dominated starting in the mid-90's when Clinton went into office. There are a lot of Democrats who believe in smaller government, lowering taxes and emphasizing personal responsibility but they can't deal with the Christian Right and remain Democrats

From what I can see, moderates seem to be regarded like "Uncle Toms" now by the ideology-driven "Base". Or as a Fundie poster once admonished another (less dogmatic) Republican here, "Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15, 16)"!

So just what do centrist Republicans do these days, "hold their nose" and vote "Republican" anyway regardless, or are there still any Republican candidates & issues left (local or national) that haven't been entirely co-opted by the extremists yet?

[CAVA1990]

I didn't think the tea partiers were into the conservative social issues and evangelicalism so much as just wanting less government and lower taxes. If that's the case I still don't see the difference with mainstream Republicans. Unless their lack of religious fervor and moralistic social agenda is the difference. Perhaps tea partiers are actually more palatable to social moderates than today's mainstream Republicans?