Who are we when we are Republicans?

[Perry Ealim]

WHO ARE WE WHEN WE ARE REPUBLICANS?

There’s an old saying “If you always do what you always done. You’ll always get the same old stuff “   

I’ve seen a number of posts and a heard a number of radio comments that suggest that the Republican Party needs to change. I believe that despite the successes around the country in the past election, Republicans failed to have a platform and a communications plan to convince the people who they are, how they represent the people, and what they stand for.  In Maryland, there has been a call for new leadership.  The leadership now seems to be the same, just a different make up, still all white and marginalized minorities in the main mix. The buzz now is, we are the party of no.

Reasons the County is ran by a Black Democrat.  Is this the real reason?  Let’s pull back the curtain and look at the real wizard for what he really is.

From where I sit I see that old ugly hat rage for Blacks coming out.  I really think it is not about the President but it to me seems to be a deeper thought. How about he is the son of a white mother who in some eyes she was raped by a Black Man. So it is not that he is black but he came from a Black man and a White woman.  Remember when Blacks were hung they hung them if they looked at a white woman.  The thinking was to keep the race pure so the President has come full circle by showing that a child from a Black man and White women can rule the most powerful county in the world.  This just doesn’t sit right with a lot of the whites from the south and north.  Let’s call it what it is pure and simple raciest thinking.

When will the Republican Party start reaching out to the minority communities and ask what can we do to help you help yourself?

I have to believe that the Republican Party has a place and a relevance to minorities.  Though Republicans ignore the research, minorities have a strong leaning toward conservative values.  However, most have an aversion to extremism, particularly when the views are presented without ever mentioning the benefit to anyone who looks like them.

We seem to want to make things happen with the same old thinking and recycle the same old people to bring the party anew, focusing on exclusion rather than inclusion. As my son would say “It’s not happening”

We as a party talk about keeping government out of our homes.  That is consistent with what Lincoln said when he described the role of government.  “The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves -- in their separate, and individual capacities.”  So, I question elected officials who spend their time trying to restrict the rights of people.  I am particularly concerned about any efforts that require citizens to bear a burden of proof when it comes to voting.  The most basic thing we can do quite well for ourselves. 

Have we elected people who do not know the history in this country?  Why are we trying to solve a problem that has not yet surfaced?  Here is the point.  There is no need for a voter ID bill to burden those who, for whatever reason, do not have a “government issued ID”.  And for the misguided fiscal conservatives who would introduce such a bill, who will bear the burden.  The elderly, those who use public transportation?  Whom?  Well, some, particularly Black African Americans, have already paid the price, even made the ultimate sacrifice for the right to vote.   So may I suggest, first show us the problem, and let’s work together to find an appropriate solution.

One of the candidates for re-election in my district had a sign that read “People before Politics.” Our party must believe that and act upon that if the Party is to survive as a Party of relevance.    The Wing nuts have no place in leadership of our party.  I, like many other citizens, want to know what the extremists mean when they say, “Let’s take back our country.”   I ask from whom and from what? 

The relevance and balance of our party depends on our ability to include those who neither look like us nor sound like us, but who are nevertheless citizens, just like us.  We elect people it seems on popularity and skin color and not on values and policies. I say let’s stop the “Skin Politics” and start looking for ways to bridge our differences if, in fact, there are any.

I think the message should be inclusive, short, and sweet:

1.      Economy

2.      Education

3.      Opportunity

4.      Quality of  life

5.      Term limits for elected officials

I would like to see the party return to the old values where you can succeed in this country by preparing yourself. We will offer you a hand up and not a hand out. I want to see this country returned to a government of the people, by the people for the people and with the people.

“If you always do what you always done. You’ll always get the same old stuff “