Why don’t Republicans follow their own platform? Isn’t the lesser of two evils still evil?

The preamble to the 2012 Republican Party platform reads, “The 2012 Republican Platform is a statement of who we are and what we believe as a Party and our vision for a stronger and freer America.” Many are questioning if Republicans at every level really adhere to their own platform. Some wonder if they have even read it.

Voters lament that they are faced with the choice of voting for the lesser of two evils. But isn’t the lesser of two evils still evil?

The Republican party platform states:

Put simply: The times call for trustworthy leadership and honest talk about the challenges we face. Our nation and our people cannot afford the status quo. We must begin anew, with profound changes in the way government operates; the way it budgets, taxes, and regulates. Jefferson’s vision of a “wise and frugal government” must be restored.

[ … ]

This platform affirms that America has always been a place of grand dreams and even grander realities; and so it will be again, if we return government to its proper role, making it smaller and smarter. If we restructure government’s most important domestic programs to avoid their fiscal collapse. If we keep taxation, litigation, and regulation to a minimum. If we celebrate success, entrepreneurship, and innovation. If we lift up the middle class. If we hand over to the next generation a legacy of growth and prosperity, rather than entitlements and indebtedness.

[ … ]

We possess an owner’s manual: the Constitution of the United States, the greatest political document ever written. That sacred document shows us the path forward. Trust the people. Limit government. Respect federalism. Guarantee opportunity, not outcomes. Adhere to the rule of law. Reaffirm that our rights come from God, are protected by government, and that the only just government is one that truly governs with the consent of the governed.

The platform mentions God eleven times. The Table of Contents lists the following: “We The People: A Restoration of Constitutional Government”; “Reforming Government to Serve the People”; “Renewing American Values to Build Healthy Families, Great Schools and Safe Neighborhoods”; and “American Exceptionalism.”

During an email discussion about how the Republican Party has abandoned social issues with Peter Feaman, the Republican Party of Florida state Committeeman, wrote:

To say Republicans have ignored the social issues is absolutely preposterous.

The RNC changed the start time of their annual meeting last month in Washington so that its members could attend the March for Life rally in Washington last month. Then the RNC hired and paid for busses to take members there and Reince Priebus attended himself.

The 2012 RNC Platform reaffirmed the party’s commitment to life while the Democrat Platform reaffirmed its extreme position on the killing of the unborn.

[ … ]

Also, in 2013, Reince Priebus created a new RNC position entitled Faith Based Outreach. He is Chad Connelly, former Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, now working full-time for the RNC.

Before you spew lies and distortions about the Republican Party, get your facts straight.

You want to insure the control of the Democrat Party at all levels of government? Promote your third party, then watch the country get destroyed.

Tom Trento responded with:

It is almost comical to compare the Republican 2012 Platform with the Democrat Platform, as one was written by adults and the others, by “potheads!” The disparity between the two indicates an enormous cultural shift over the last 30 years. This we know.

But sadly, and I think it is here that Rich wants to focus, many of the current GOP leadership in the Beltway are in more “functional” agreement with the Dem Platform than the Rep Platform!

It is essential to read both platforms and understand the political philosophy of each party and then compare current Republican policy solutions to the Republican political philosophy as articulated in the Platform, which I think is an amazingly wonderful document. It then becomes patently obvious that indeed there is a VERY strong Republican voice that is attacking those who want to affirm the Rep Platform (i.e.TEA Party) while that strong voice wants to water down the very principles that distinguish the GOP from the Potheads!!

There is growing dissatisfaction with Republicans who say one thing and do another. In Florida we have had Charlie Crist (former Republican governor turned Democrat), Senator Marco Rubio who became the Republican Party’s face of amnesty and Rep. Vern Buchanan, co-Chair of the Florida Delegation, who voted on October 16, 2013 to raise the debt ceiling and fully fund Obamacare.

For a growing number of voters the lesser of two evils is still evil. Over 1 million Christians either did not register or did not vote in the 2012 election. President Obama won the state by just over 74,000 votes. Libertarians are becoming the spoilers in races like the District 13 special election.

Perhaps it is time for Republicans to act and vote like Republicans, in adherence with their own party platform?

Click here to read the Democrat Platform and 2012 Republican Party platform.

RELATED COLUMNS: 

Rand Paul: GOP ‘Will Not Win Again in My Lifetime’ the Presidency, Absent Change

Mitch McConnell on Debt Ceiling: I ‘Protect’ the Country

---