There is a really interesting article in the Kansas City Star today, which talks about some state candidates that have recently dropped the Republican Party and joined the Democrats. In this article, they highlight three candidates who have recently made the change and give the reasons why. What is interesting is the reason two of them made the choice:
Steve Lukert, Sabetha
Age: 58
[SNIP]
“I see the Democrats as more willing to compromise on issues in order to come up with more sensible solutions. I think about half of the Democratic Party is very conservative.”
[SNIP]
Cindy Neighbor, Shawnee
Age: 57
[SNIP]
“When I talk to them (Democrats), they don’t say if you disagree with us you don’t count.”
Every time I hear the Republicans attack the Democrats on issues and say “they have no unity”, I cringe. Thankfully the Democrats haven’t bowed down to that tactic because it appears to be hurting the Republicans. I have said this before – we are the most diverse nation on the planet and representing such diversity can not be done with only two parties. The only way to accommodate everyone’s different views is to allow some dissent within a party.
Let’s take the Iraq war debate. I have spoken to countless people regarding the best thing for us to do in Iraq. Some are Democrats and some are Republicans. I have heard different ideas from all these people from immediate pull-out to stay the course. When the debate came up on the Senate floor, Democrats were accused of having no “unity” once again because they had a couple different plans. What the Republicans want is only two ideas being brought forth, theirs and ours. For something as important as the war in Iraq, a full debate examining all possibilities is the lease they can do for the soldiers, Iraqis and American people, and that full debate means entertaining a host of ideas.
Another debate that shows this to be true is the recent flag burning amendment, which failed Senate by one vote. Three Republicans voted against the Amendment and fourteen Democrats voted for it. When that happened we didn’t hear the RNC complaining about a “lack of unity in the Democratic Party”, instead we heard that those three Republicans “cost them that vote”. In other words – either all Republicans must vote together or they are against us.
This “Republican unity” seems to have some other real problems. Take for example the recent rash of corruption inside the beltway and around the country. The Republicans seem pretty unified when it comes to taking money from people like Jack Abramoff. They continue to run their club and fail to address problems within their own party. Those problems lead to people like Randy Cunningham. Even when it was becoming more obvious Cunningham would go to jail, the Republicans never tried to remove him from his committees. They never tried to investigate or condemn him. That would show a lack of unity. Instead – they stood behind their criminal in lock step.
Now let’s compare that to how the Democrats reacted with Rep. Jefferson started getting in more hot water. They voted to have him removed from his committees and show that they will not let someone stay in power if they are under investigation. The Democrats showed a unity there – A unity to this country and the halls of justice. They also showed unity because they believe no matter what party someone is from; if they are under a serious federal investigation then they should be stripped of power until they are cleared.
Our government is “by the people, for the people”. When politicians take an oath of office, they do not swear to serve their party – they swear to serve the people. The Republicans want their people to only care about the party and their message of “unity”. I remember another party that preached the same line of “party unity”.
America is far from being black and white or red and blue. America is a country made up of many different people and those people have countless different ideas and beliefs. One person might not believe in abortion, but believe in a ban on gay marriage. Another could believe abortion is a woman’s choice, but also think religion is appropriate in school. The Republicans want to view this country as only two ideologies – Democrats see the gray (or purple) of our nation and that difference of ideas is what makes America great.
I hope the Democrats continue to disagree and the Republicans continue to chastise for it. The only thing I think needs to happen now is the Democrats need to capitalize on this idea. When Republicans accuse the Democrats of having no unity they need to respond “Where should our unity lie – with the party or with the people? We (the Democrats) believe in representing our constituents and not representing just our party”. If the Democrats are successful in showing how the “rubberstamp Republicans” and their continued allegiance to only their party is hurting America then November might be a little easier.