Garden State Patriot

As scary as it is, I have been watching C-Span for most of the day. One of the big issues in this debate is abortion. As I mentioned in my post below, the Stupak Amendment was being brought up to stop taxpayer funded abortions from being in the final bill.

However, politically the right move for the GOP was to vote AGAINST the amendment. This way pro-life Dems would not want to vote for the larger (and more dangerous) healthcare bill.

But National Right to Life pressured Republicans. They told them that even a ‘present’ vote would be considered a ‘no’ vote, thus affecting their rating from that group. Only one Congressman, Rep. Shadegg had the guts to vote present. The rest of the Republicans went along.

Additionally, earlier today in the debate Rep. Boehner, in a heated exchange with Charlie Rangel, asked for reassurance that the amendment would be in any final bill. No such commitment was given. So, even with the passage of the Stupak Amendment it may well be meaningless.

Now, pro-life Dems will be able to freely vote for the bill. The vote is due fairly soon. And if it passes by a small margin with the support of pro-life Dems it is the Republican’s own fault.

And it’s also the fault of a one-issue, myopic group - National Right to Life.

Cross-posted at Conservatives with Attitude!

As a conservative, we are accustomed to the Left hurling vicious, one-liner attacks our way.

Sexist. Homophobe. Racist.

These are always the default arguments for Leftists bereft of any logical thought and an inability to put forth a coherent counterpoint to conservative views.

However, I have to admit. The one attack that irks me most is being called racist, for nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing. Nor is it true of most people I have conversed with in my life who share similar views. Conservatism, as it were, is a color-blind ideology.

Thus, when someone like Alicia Menendez, daughter of our fair Senator Bob Menendez, pens an article baselessly accusing Republicans of not caring about Latinos I can’t help but be angered. Not just as a conservative, but as an American who wants nothing but prosperity for all citizens.

You see, the real race-baiters are people like Alicia Menendez who do not treat people as individuals. Rather, Menendez prefers to segment us into groups and then pit us against one another; all, of course, with one aim - gaining political power.

For demogogues like Miss Menendez, pointing to the widespread appointments of Hispanics throughout the Bush Administration will not matter. Pointing to the appointment of Alberto Gonzales as the first ever Attorney General, fruitless.

You see, to Miss Menendez, GOPers are anti-Latino if they do not send a representative to a meeting held by the controversial group La Raza; a group that favors open borders and amnesty and consists of Mexicans who believe that the Southwest territory rightfully belongs to Mexico. And, of course, no such current attack is complete without a mention of Sonia Sotomayor.

This inability (or unwillingness) to connect with Latino voters brings back sweet, sweet memories of 2008, when right-wing extremists alienated Hispanics by pulling the GOP rhetoric to the right on immigration. Last fall, the contenders for the Republican Presidential nomination, save John McCain, all declined invitations to a Univision-sponsored presidential debate. Here we are, a year later, and the GOP is still turning down invites.

I’m a progressive Latina—I should be throwing a fiesta, right? Democrats have an opportunity to lock-down the fastest-growing, most brand-loyal group in the country and Republicans aren’t even trying to compete. On paper, it’s great.

But regardless of which party Latino voters show up for on election day, our community needs Democratic and Republican lawmakers to care about our issues the other 364 days of the year. And if the GOP cannot get it together enough to send a high-profile representative to one of the largest gatherings of Latino leaders in the country, what should we expect when comprehensive immigration reform hits the House floor? More of the same rhetoric? Another no-show?

Just as the story of Sonia Sotomayor, a Puerto Rican, overlaps with the story of so many Americans, the concerns of Hispanic-Americans are shared by much of the country. When a community who voted for health care reform, economic revival and comprehensive immigration reform is ignored, we are all ignored.

That’s bad for Latinos, it’s bad for immigrants, and it’s bad for America.

Somehow, I’m sure, Democrat opposition to Miguel Estrada was not ‘anti-Latino’ in Miss Menendez’ mind. Another fact to be ignored in the quest for political power.

All of this would be of little consequence if this tactic were not effective. Unfortunately, all too many Leftists seem to buy into it hook, line and sinker. Ergo, you see vicious comments from her readers such as…

The problem is not that the Republicans don’t care about Latinos. The problem is they consider Latinos to be sub-human law breakers and either dislike or actively hate them.

Its not just Latinos that the GOP hates, they also hate blacks, gays, Arabs, Muslims, Canadians, Europeans (especially the French), Asians, and liberals. Did I leave anyone out? That’s basically the whole world and 70% of America that they hate. GOPers are one sad pathetic, bigoted, racist hate filled group of people.

The republicans and especially those like buchanan, limbaugh, hannity, coulter, and beck firmly believe that white people are superior to people of color – any color. They are terrified of losing their presumed preeminent position and therefore spew anger, hate, and racism. They have not yet come to grips with the declining demographics of the GOP base.

…to name a few.

Miss Menendez, let me tell you this. What is bad for America is not that the GOP doesn’t address La Raza. It’s not that Republicans or conservatives oppose your socialist agenda. What is bad for America is when you accuse fellow Americans of not caring a whit for their brethren, without possibly knowing what is in their hearts. What is bad for America – truly bad for America – is when people like you attempt to stoke the fires of race in order to promote your agenda.  For so doing, you ought to be utterly and unabashedly ashamed of yourself.

Cross-posted at Conservatives with Attitude!

With the past 2 elections having been downright disasters for the Republican Party, conservatives and moderates have been in a bit of a fight for the party’s soul and it’s future direction.

As a conservative, I firmly believe the party is best served when it stays true to conservative principles – and that acting like Democrats leads to our defeat. At the same time, I still welcome people like Rudy Giuliani in our “Big Tent.”

However, in my opinion, fiscal conservatism ought be a common denominator between the moderates and conservatives. In fact, violating fiscal conservatism is one of the key reasons for our losses in the past 2 cycles. That’s what makes the actions of Senators Specter, Nelson and Collins completely unforgiveable. As the party is just now attempting to get back to basics, these Senators are acting in the very fashion that has decimated the “Republican brand.”

Now, I think it is time to say enough is enough. If this bill passes due to their actions, then each of them deserved to be tossed out. This is even an opportunity for Michael Steele, the new RNC Chair, to make a clear statement: There are some things that we will not tolerate as Republicans and reckless spending is right at the top of the list.

The RNC ought to threaten not give a dime to any of these Senators the next time they are up for re-election. No one in the party should give them a dime either. They shouldn’t get one vote in their primaries.

These actions are not fitting of anyone who has an (R) come after their names. If you can’t hold the line on a monstrosity like this then we don’t want you in the party.

Cross-posted at Conservatives with Attitude!