When There Was A difference between the Republican and Democrat Parties.

By : Ron Edwards

Establishment Republicans Target Tea Party Candidates

My Dad used to tell me that in Unity there is Strength. So it is rather disheartening to witness the current state of affairs within the Republican Party today.

At one time, particularly during the 1980s and 90s there was a clear and present difference between the Republican and Democrat Parties.

Former President Lyndon Baines Johnson, promoter of the War on Poverty and Great Society programs (Wikipedia Photo)

The Democrat Party was the party of big government stalwarts like Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D) of Ohio and President Lyndon Baines Johnson, whose War on Poverty and Great Society Government Programs have wasted over $19 million and countless lives in the losing battle against the ravages of poverty in America.

It was the party of Jimmy Carter who overthrew our Iranian Allies and opened the door for the fundamental, brutal Muslim leadership that has turned that nation into a threat to world peace and stability.

The Democrat Party was also party of so-called solutions that have decimated the American black family, city centers, and our military. And, of course, Bill Clinton was “the first black president.”

Conversely, the Republican Party of the 1980s and 90s became famous for the optimism of The Gipper, Ronald Reagan, whose sunny personality and love of God and country so permeated American society that it was truly a new day in America. The Republican Party old guard of stodgy Country Club Republicans, who did not want to make waves, gave way to what became the longest period of economic growth and prosperity in history.

Then a kinder, gentler persona prevailed under President George Herbert Walker Bush, who stripped all nuclear missiles from our Navy submarines that were flying over coasts to protect us. He also ended 24-hour surveillance flights up and down our coastal regions.

But, overall the economy still remained prosperous and by far the world’s biggest.

During the 1990s Republicans like Newt Gingrich were strong enough to work out a groundbreaking Welfare Reform Package with a popular liberal Democrat President. Due to the efforts of Mr. Gingrich, millions of Americans were afforded the opportunity to experience the path toward self-reliance via the famous Welfare to Work effort.

Though there may have been a few similarities between the two parties, there were numerous major differences such as taxes, the military, foreign policy, etc., just to name a few.

But in more recent years, many Americans have become concerned about a Republican Party that has drifted away from the conservative principles that fueled the great economic boom of the 1980s.

In recent years, Republicans have compromised with their counterparts in the Democrat Party. Each compromise was always in the direction of what Democrats wanted but was not necessarily good for America.

While some Republicans like Congressman Trey Gowdy (R, SC-4) and former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin (R) called for the securing of our border with Mexico, most Republicans, like Senator John McCain (R, AZ), have sat by and allowed the border to remain wide open as the Democrats have wanted all along.

There are other and perhaps better examples but time and space do not allow me to list them all. But things were so bad for the compromising Republicans in recent years, it was believed they would be demoted to second party status rather easily.

The Gadsden Flag often used by grassroots Tea Party organizations

But then patriotic Republicans and others who were sick and tired of America’s speedy drift toward the political left became energized and formed Taxed Enough Already. Taxed Enough Already became known as The Tea Party, a grassroots coalition of concerned sovereign citizens who insisted that our government rediscover the Constitution and govern according to its statutes.

The effort of those in the Tea Party movement energized the Republican Party and helped it maintain its position as a worthy alternative to the far left leaning Democrat Party. However, there are those in the Republican Party, such as Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R, KY), Senator John McCain (R, AZ), and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) are not very fond of grass root Tea Party participants or fellow office holders like Senator Ted Cruz (R, TX).

From my perspective, this attitude of the establishment, good ole boys of the Republican Party is both divisive and downright foolhardy, as well as hypocritical. Remember how certain Republicans would advocate for expanding the big tent of the Republican Party?

Not so in Virginia, where establishment Republicans responding to the invisible hand of Congressman Eric Cantor (R, VA-7) tried to “slate out” conservatives from local Republican conventions and meetings this past winter and spring.

For the Republican leadership to turn on those who are affiliated with the Tea Party is akin to shooting oneself in the foot because it both hurts and impedes your ability to walk forward.

If Mitch McConnell and others are more willing to attack the Tea Party than stand up to those who are systematically working to dismantle our exceptional way of life, then do not be surprised if they and the Republican Party are reduced to office holders of insignificance.