For all practical purposes, I represent the perfect demographic for the Republican Party: 48 years old, married, 1 child, homeowner, gun owner, small business owner, Christian, college educated, middle-income, white and native-born. It is with pride that I have an open mind to all political candidates and I am not a single issue voter.
Unfortunately for the Republican Party, they have chosen to take positions on many issues that just seem contrarian to the everyday life that I lead. In addition, the candidates they support for office are just so uncompromising in their views; they essentially ask me not to vote for them.
To the Republican Party; here are some of the issues that pushed me out of your tent.
Abortion
No one wants to have an abortion or encourage one. It’s a privacy issue that we have to acknowledge. I have no problem with excluding tax payer funds from subsidizing abortions. However, your continued legislative actions for trans-vaginal ultra sounds, restricting the operation of Planned Parenthood clinics and “legitimate rape” comments signal there is no room for rational dialog on the abortion issue.
Foreign policy
Would you please decide if you want to be an isolationist or an interventionist. You can’t condemn our involvement in Libya and then turn around and call for military action in Syria. These contradictory positions only lead me to believe you don’t have a coherent foreign policy foundation.
Gay Marriage
Who cares? When compared to the overwhelming family dysfunction caused by drugs, divorce and absent parents, allowing gay marriage won’t have a detrimental impact on the promotion of traditional marriage. If anything, gay marriage should be celebrated as a means of establishing the importance of long term committed relationships. Sexual promiscuity, from both sides of the aisle, leads to higher rates of sexually transmitted infections. In turn, public health clinics need additional tax dollars to treat the illnesses.
Guns
I am tired of hearing that there is a conspiracy by the government to take away our guns. It seems irresponsible to block enhanced background checks, waiting periods or a ban on assault weapons in the name of the second amendment. Normal, law abiding people like me have no problems with these regulations if they can reduce some of the gun violence in America.
Healthcare Reform
Enough with the repeal and replace, you know that won’t happen. I am not fan of many aspects of the Affordable Care Act, such as the individual mandate and penalties, but something had to be done. The system for providing affordable health care for all is broken for a variety of reasons. The health insurance market place was not addressing some serious issues like coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and folks that can’t afford health insurance.
Patriotism
Just because I am a registered Democrat doesn’t mean I am any less willing to take a bullet for my country than a registered Republican. Your constant harangue that liberals some how love this country less is just offensive.
Religion
This is a personal and family matter and has no place in government. You need to stop promoting your view of the Bible as a template for government.
Mitt Romney*
He seems like a decent fellow. I like Mitt for the same reasons I like President Obama; I see them more as managers than political animals. Romney’s company BainCapital didn’t require a government bail out, Massachusetts is still a state and the Salt Lake City Olympics were just fine. I am not so naive as to think that his management at Bain didn’t have some negative effects on people, communities and local governments. Companies are managed for profits first and philanthropy is way down the list of essential functions.
Paul Ryan
Why? Congressman Ryan is the embodiment of what makes voters shake their heads in disbelief. He is fairly strident in his conservative views leaving no room for compromise. As a big supporter of Medicare, his plans for a voucher system are really a non-starter for me.
Taxes
I don’t like taxes, but to continuously advocate for lower taxes as a means to cut government spending is not a game plan. While I accept the Laffer curve, I am not convinced that lower taxes leads to more jobs. The “No New Tax Pledge” only serves to shackle law makers from compromise, innovation and appropriately restructuring the tax code.
Women
Your opposition regarding women’s reproductive health, brought on by regulations that birth control should be available at no charge through insurance plans, really pushed me over the edge. On one hand you want to stop all abortions. On the other hand, you want to halt a policy that will prevent unwanted pregnancies in the first place. Unplanned pregnancies put pressure on social services that are funded by the taxes you want to cut.
When you decide to start representing the ideals of regular average Americans that focus on day-to-day living, give me a call. I am always open to having a conversation, but I am tired of being told, by both parties, how I need to think.
*Actually, I would have considered Mitt Romney had he not chosen Paul Ryan. I had similar feelings about John McCain until he chose Sarah Palin as a running mate.
