Rino

[mountain]

So I guess I am a RINO and I am starting to get pissed at the way the Republican establishment is using this term in the pejorative. Here is what I believe, tell me if this makes me a RINO, Independent or a Libertarian or a combination.

I am pro choice
I am fine with gay marriage
I strongly believe that income equality exists but disagree vehemently with the minority leadership's (Sharpton, etc) method of action
I am fine with gun ownership with proper back ground checks but oppose guns and ammunition that can harm many in a short period of time (Ak-47)

I believe in smaller, more effective government
I believe in securing the border
I believe in health care for all but strongly oppose Obama Care and the way it was sold to our country
I believe in a flat tax or a modified version of our current code, we are taxed way too much
Political correctness drives me crazy. Life is tough, quit being offended by a manger scenes or a football team's name.

I am more likely to vote Republican but I will vote Democrat and voted for Obama in 2008, a vote that I deeply regret. I want a leader not someone who treats his constituents as if they were students in his classroom.

When I hear people (mainly conservatives) mention a RINO as if it were a disease instead of a political belief it drives me up a wall. I believe there are many more RINOS like me that feel the same way. Republicans claim to be the party of inclusiveness but I for one am having a hard time believing it. It's as if the establishment is trying to run us out of their party.

 

[akphidelt]

Don't agree with all of those, but sounds like stuff normal people believe. So that definitely means you are a RINO.

 

[Acebb]

You are probably pretty representative of about 35% of the electorate.

You may not be a true "swing voter" but you're close.

 

[Willie99]

So I guess I am a RINO and I am starting to get pissed at the way the Republican establishment is using this term in the pejorative. Here is what I believe, tell me if this makes me a RINO, Independent or a Libertarian or a combination.

I am pro choice
I am fine with gay marriage
I strongly believe that income equality exists but disagree vehemently with the minority leadership's (Sharpton, etc) method of action
I am fine with gun ownership with proper back ground checks but oppose guns and ammunition that can harm many in a short period of time (Ak-47)

I believe in smaller, more effective government
I believe in securing the border
I believe in health care for all but strongly oppose Obama Care and the way it was sold to our country
I believe in a flat tax or a modified version of our current code, we are taxed way too much
Political correctness drives me crazy. Life is tough, quit being offended by a manger scenes or a football team's name.

I am more likely to vote Republican but I will vote Democrat and voted for Obama in 2008, a vote that I deeply regret. I want a leader not someone who treats his constituents as if they were students in his classroom.

When I hear people (mainly conservatives) mention a RINO as if it were a disease instead of a political belief it drives me up a wall. I believe there are many more RINOS like me that feel the same way. Republicans claim to be the party of inclusiveness but I for one am having a hard time believing it. It's as if the establishment is trying to run us out of their party.

since you're using the expression RINO, you may be one. Let me elaborate

RINO is obviously a reference to the republican party, so if you don't agree with them on too many issues, you're obviously a RINO in many eyes.

Now being a conservative is not the same as being a Republican, although the GOP is far more conservative than the Democrats so that's where one will tend to cast his vote. A conservative is more about adhering to the constitution, while liberalism is more about changing the constitution to their modern day preferences, whatever they may be.

I'm more about a smaller federal government, low taxes, fewer regulations which usually do more harm than good. I'm about providing the freedom for businesses to grow which is what creates jobs. I think anyone who puts their faith in politicians is disconnected (said in the most respectful way possible)

I'm pro-life, but I realize abortion is widely accepted and I think it should be allowed without question (for adults) in the first trimester. I also think it should be totally banned in the third trimester when a "CHILD" can survive outside the mother's womb. The only exception being if the mother's life is in real jeopardy (consistent with the right to protect yourself)

I don't care much about marriage laws, although I do have some reservations about parenting. Homosexuals do tend to live a far more promiscuous lifestyle, and that's simply not a good environment to raise children, so screening has to be very prudent.

I support the legalization of pot and cocaine, but not drugs that are significantly more addictive and dangerous

I support the legalization of gambling

I totally oppose a federal clusterfuck like Obamacare, but if a state wants to pass such a law it's "their right" to do so.

I support an open and more liberal immigration policy. I think it's idiotic to argue we have to deport 12-20 million illegals (just not happening). But I do want to secure our borders, and I think it's incredible naive to talk about immigration reform without securing the borders first. Talk about a waste of time. That's akin to giving a person who's bleeding to death a heart transplant. WTF?

I believe in states' rights, with the federal government providing national defense, a postal service and infrastructure, but little else.


and I could never vote for a Barrack Obama, who is the polar opposite of me on the political spectrum. I prefer my politicians to have something in common with me, but I don't expect anyone to have everything in common with me

 

[BleedingPurple]

So I guess I am a RINO and I am starting to get pissed at the way the Republican establishment is using this term in the pejorative. Here is what I believe, tell me if this makes me a RINO, Independent or a Libertarian or a combination.

I am pro choice
I am fine with gay marriage
I strongly believe that income equality exists but disagree vehemently with the minority leadership's (Sharpton, etc) method of action
I am fine with gun ownership with proper back ground checks but oppose guns and ammunition that can harm many in a short period of time (Ak-47)

I believe in smaller, more effective government
I believe in securing the border
I believe in health care for all but strongly oppose Obama Care and the way it was sold to our country
I believe in a flat tax or a modified version of our current code, we are taxed way too much
Political correctness drives me crazy. Life is tough, quit being offended by a manger scenes or a football team's name.

I am more likely to vote Republican but I will vote Democrat and voted for Obama in 2008, a vote that I deeply regret. I want a leader not someone who treats his constituents as if they were students in his classroom.

When I hear people (mainly conservatives) mention a RINO as if it were a disease instead of a political belief it drives me up a wall. I believe there are many more RINOS like me that feel the same way. Republicans claim to be the party of inclusiveness but I for one am having a hard time believing it. It's as if the establishment is trying to run us out of their party.

agree with most of this.

 

[SheriffJoe]

mountain,

A RINO isn't defined by the issues, but a politician's conduct within the Republican party. RINOs attack conservatives more than they do Democrats. With friends like that, who needs enemies?

There's no question RINO is a pejorative, but it's reserved exclusively for the weasels inside the Republican establishment, not individual voters who may disagree on one issue or another. RINOs are the politicians who get elected saying one thing, then snuggle up with the enemies of freedom and do the opposite.

RINOs are worse than Democrats because they legitimize the leftist agenda.

When Republicans nominate RINOs and conservatives don't show to vote for them, Republicans lose. Case in point, President Dole, President McCain and President Romney.

These days with the Constitution under constant assault, conservatives want a fighter - someone who will take to it to the enemies of freedom who believe the government has a moral obligation to plan and run our lives.

 

[SheriffJoe]