I am a Republican Atheist, but I haven’t voted for a Republican since Christie Whitman because I haven’t been able to do so.I believe in gun rights, a small government, low taxes, and a strong military. I believe the unions can be just as corrupt as corporations, and I believe in “workfare not welfare”.But I can’t vote Republican, ever, because they have become tools of the Religious Right. They are, in my opinion, much more concerned about Intelligent Design, Faith-Based Initiatives, and making ME a 2nd class citizen than any of the issues on which we agree. I support President Obama, but I really had no choice but to vote for him as Senator McCain had promised more Supreme Court Justices like Scalia. That was a deal killer. It would be like a black person voting for someone who supports segregation — it doesn’t matter what else a candidate says, it’s just not going to happen.So here is my open plea to the incoming GOP President Michael Steele: Please give me my party back. Divorce yourselves from the corruption that is the Religious Right, and return to the values that gave you strength. Religion and politics don’t mix — please learn that. Please be a leader of change, diversity, and modern common sense. Please let me vote Republican, or at least let me give you serious consideration, in the next elections. There can be no change if you give us no choice.
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Let’s see, this person asserts:
then turns around and says
Hmmmmm. Now that’s a non sequitur if ever there was one. So, he believes in a “small government, low taxes and strong military,” yet he supports a president who’s attempting the largest expansion of government ever; who campaigned on stricter gun regulation and demonized our military… now that’s logically consistent. Who are you trying to kid?
Ha! It was obviously never yours to begin with!
You mean values that are inarguably CONSERVATIVE? — which are absolutely not the schizophrenic, narcissistic utopian ones you think you want.
Oh yeah? Then why are you trying to foist your religious agenda on the RNC?
What a joke of a letter.
Thanks for you post. I am a democrat (moderate) but I totally agree with you. The worst thing that the republican party could have done was get in bed with the religious right! It, in my opinion, goes against the traditional republican ideology! It seems to me if republicanism is about less government, then how can they justify having the religious right trying to push their bullshit ideas into the lives of others via politics (i.e. ban gay marriage, ban abortion under ALL circumstances, pushing abstinence only education instead of safer sex/planned parentholld, etc).
The republicans are gonna bury themselves for good if they don’t cut ties with these people. I think that even a large number of us dems can agree with that. Thanks again for your post, I’m glad to hear a republican speak on this instead of blindly going along with their party in spite of the damage that they are allowing the religious right to do to both the party and our country. Peace!
It’s the same idea, the wanting to make us second class citizens, that makes me wonder why anyone gay would vote Republican.
For the past 30 years the religious right has been a tool for foreign policy hawks, war mongers and voodoo economics raiders. What this thread is saying is “Gee I would like to support the Right’s destruction of our economy and foreign policy but …”
Who started this thread? If it was Dave then it is totally dishonest. Dave, tell me you didn’t write this.
During Hurricane Gustav, I noticed that McCain is a realist, he speaks in terms of facts (probability and predictability), and gives specific details (what needs to be done, what is being done, who the responsible parties are, etc), rather than in terms of superstition (there was no illogical “pray for a god to change this situation” or “this is gods testing people” or any other bullshit):
http://www.necn.com/Boston/Politics/-McCain-shifts-from-party-event-to-call-for-action-as-Gustav/1220213170.html
Oh, whoops, I forgot to comment on the subject matter. Beautiful letter, unfortunate that the person (along with many other people) didn’t vote for McCain.
Utter the words “Pro-life”, family values,defense of marriage, Christian nation, intelligent design, Bible-based, faith-based, Bible-as-literature, higher power, intellectual elites, spiritual warfare, Terri Schiavo, End Times Prophecy, Left Behind, Tim Lahaye, Phyllis Schafly (her son is gay), James Dobson (his son is divorced), Pat Robertson (loves African dictators), Jerry Falwell (who was given an enema and buried in a matchbox), Bob Jones University….and you have lost my vote.
I have always described myself as a conservative Atheist. Since I do not believe that the Republican party will ever get out of the pocket of the far right I can never support them as I have previously.
May I suggest that perhaps someone in the hierarchy of American Atheists form a new party and run for president next time around.
dw
great page….I love beware of nothing
…to run on the Constitution Party?
Please…what a joke. There is no way a true republican could ever support NObama…
Of course one need look no further then the source for this article…believing anything the New York Times publishes is on par with believing what NObama has promised…
By the way…another tax cheat for NObama’s cabinet? I’m beginning to think it’s a prerequisite…
Of course since NObama’s Chief of Staff has a daily conference call with George Stephanopoulos, James Carville, and Paul Begala, the press will give him (another) pass…
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/01/emanuel-carvill.html
Frankly, I’m a little perplexed. What necessity exists to label oneself a Republican or Democrat. While I think the idea of controlling the size of government is a very sound one, I am grateful for unemployment insurance which never would have happened without Democrats. Without it, it wouldn’t just be home foreclosures that put families on the streets.
I support gun rights, because if you take away legal guns, then the only ones with guns are the criminals. And the founding fathers knew that a disarmed public is easily subdued by dictatorship.
I support the idea of a very strong military. As the saying goes, to keep the peace, you must prepare for war.
I support labor unions, without them there never would have been a middle class, and all us drones would be working in dangerous work conditions in sweat shops with no hope of a dignified retirement. Yes, like all human institutions, they have been infiltrated with corruption, but, they still serve a vital role.
The Republican party has always represented the interests of the rich and the religious. Without that constituency, it never would have existed. To expect a new black committee head to reinvent the party seems to me to be rather ridiculous. He was appointed to be the anti-Obama, just as Sarah Palin was chosen to be the anti-Hillary.
While I support you Dave, as a watchdog, keeping religion out of government, you have to realize, the bigger problem is big money in politics, and both parties are guilty.
I have an idea, why don’t we call ourselves independants. I do, and that makes me quite comfortable with calling myself a free thinker as well.
NeoWolfe
All ecconomic social-i-st policies require (1) an expanding population growth rate of new recruits, (2) a steady increase in the general taxation rate of the already recruited, (3) a raising of the beneficiary age limit, and/or (4) a way of getting rid of the old beneficiaries of the policy in order to allow for the alotment of that position to the new beneficiaries.
Ergo, the real reason why (1) the unions are always looking for new recruits to pay the union dues so that the old members can gain their contracted benefits, (2) the democrats are always trying to recruit more and newer voter groups, and (3) why social security fails when people start living longer lives and having less children.
Social-i-sm, much like religion, is a leach on the well-being of society.
I feel bad for you, David, I really do. But I don’t think Steele is your guy to save your party:
http://blocraison.blogspot.com/2009/02/one-where-i-dash-david-silvermans-hopes.html
Dave
You are the AA spokesperson. Do you really think this lie – “I am a Republican Atheist” – wont catch up wit you?
It seems our resident trolls include “No true Republican” in with the xians and Scotsman.
I’m with Neo on this one. I’m a democrat who supports gun rights, decent military strength, and the union helped my dad feed my mouth and provide me with health insurance.
I used to vote for a Republician-Senator Jonh Heinz. He was the best man for the job. Too bad he’s gone.
Does that make me a “no true Democrat?”
Bush has expanded the US government to what it is, LARGER than ever before, while getting rid of any oversight, leaving us in the mess we are in. We need oversight to watch the LARGEST government ever created. Also, Obama NEVER demonized our military, from what I remember, it was Republican military folks, old and new, that openly questioned, more than any Dems, the disaster Bush has gotten us into.
#2
If We the People were REALLY in charge, NONE of the past 8 years would have happened because no Supreme Court could assign to us an idi@t as a president.
The party’s are always gonna be for religion, the simple reason being power. If you were a president and openly confessed to being an atheist, think of how we are treated by society, let alone a president. Not only would the person’s integrity be questioned, but they would be ridiculed and lose hope of winning their election. To sit and hope for some support of your beliefs is simply ignorant, for the mere fact that “We” are “Immoral” and “Evil” people for believing in logic. If you want respect, and if you want to be accepted, go dress up as hairy potter and begin your worship of dumbledor (Spelling?) Politics are nothing but religion in a different light. Politics have always been woven with religious beliefs and ideals, and religious motives. As for an Atheist president, im sad to say not in this life, at least i dont see it happening. What i see is Obama ruining this country and making me an un-patriotic, ruiner of america, and the next to be elected continueing this untill i am forced to move my wife and child out of this country to avoid harrasment. OBAMA!! Can Someone say Adolf Hitler? Its the ATHEIST fault our country is this way, BURN THEM!!! Hate To say It, but Obama sure is looking a little fatheristic, isnt he..Never thought id see the day when i became the jew. Viva La Atheist Revolution!!
Alright – People tend to ‘label’ themselves with the affiliation they’ve been required to register as in their state. Being required to chose a political party is another issue entirely. Then let’s talk about the “Republicans’ – if they can please all the religous persons in their party by banning common sense things like gay marriage, really, why wouldn’t they? Do you really expect them to do what their republican citizens don’t approve of? Right or wrong, they’re doing what (most) Republicans want. As for personal beliefs, as a 20+ year out Atheist I’ve never fallen squarely in any party’s belief system. Why do I have to? I’m not a bad Atheist for believing some of the things I do (this bailout is bullsh**) and I’m not a better Atheist because I think gay marriage should be legal. Because if you believe that, then Christians are GOOD because of the ideals they believe in. These are simply our agendas, what we believe in. As are theirs. Accept the differences and let’s keep plodding along converting the pinheads.
“I am a Republican Atheist” – Um, we usually call those ‘Libertarians.’
So now that the RNC have found their token black guy to be their chairman, are they finally going to stop singing that ‘Magic Negro’ song? Probably not.
What a bunch of poseurs.
teop said:
“If you were a president and openly confessed to being an atheist, think of how we are treated by society, let alone a president.”
Not to interupt godless and his crying foul, the fact is it’s true, there is a majority leader in the legislature, Barney Franks, who is openly gay, but how many are openly atheists?
While Dave is right in what he is doing, keeping religion out of government, he has a tough row to hoe if he thinks he can ever keep it out of politics.
Great post, teop.
NeoWolfe
rainbows4dinosaurs:
Wow, that song really gets under your skin, huh?… and you should know it ain’t the RNC (aka DNC lite) who keeps playing it.
Yeah, you mean like Geithner and Daschle? — “good” Democrats who are just like us everyday, common folk? It’s soooo wonderful to finally have a party in power that represents the true values of all the law-abiding citizens in this country…
JCC
Geithner is an independent but was previously a republican.
jcc
RNC isn’t playing it, huh?
http://tinyurl.com/a2pvuu
http://tinyurl.com/a2xuh5
http://tinyurl.com/9mek9m
And then they all start sucking up to Rush, confirming his power over the remaining 25%. It’s going to be a long time in the wilderness, buddy… Uncle Tom figurehead notwithstanding.
While I agree that these guys getting caught owing back taxes is embarrassing and disgraceful, I also can’t help but find it interesting that a bunch of anti-tax activists would give a shit. I mean, isn’t finding ways out of paying your taxes considered a virtue in conservative circles?
rainbows4dinosaurs:
No, the RNC isn’t playing it publicly. Even all your drive-by media articles managed to get it right by correctly identifying only Saltsman as the one “responsible” — not the entire RNC. Even CBS confirms who’s playing it publicly:
But apparently the lackey, SeeBS reporter couldn’t manage to do one more Google search to give Paul Shanklin the credit he deserves for the song…
Ok, if you’re taking bets on how long, where do I sign-up? — things are shaping-up like ‘94 all over again.
No. Obeying the law is a virtue in Conservative circles — even laws we don’t happen to agree with.
JCC wrote:
Well I, for one, am going to take great delight in watching justice served at BushCo’s war crimes trials. The war crimes trials for Olmert should be satisfying as well. I’m glad JCC feels the same!
jcc
Oh okay. So they’re just closet redneck assholes (i.e. ‘Dittoheads.) Whatever makes you feel better.
Poor Paul Shanklin, not getting the credit he deserves. Maybe he should go on tour with Screwdriver, build a bigger fanbase.
http://tinyurl.com/acam59
I seem to remember that Jesus had a problem with gambling.
HA!! It’s a little soon to be throwing stones in that glass house, don’t ya think? Right after the most criminal, constitutionally-shedding administration in American history? Here’s a more accurate description of said virtue: “If you don’t like a particular law, just ignore the subpoena.”
Once again, that plank in your eye is grossing me out.
JCC
I have told you before. If you want to assure investigations and trials galore concerning all aspects of BushCo’s reign of terror then you knuckle dragging religious conservatives should mobilize and keep squawking. Please!
rainbows4dinosaurs:
My most sincere and humble of apologies; I keep forgetting the double standard that only liberals are allowed to do satire — anything done by anyone else is completely tasteless and vulgar.
Let’s see, if it only takes 500K copies to earn a “gold” record, what would 22 million a week deserve?
Yeah, that’s a vice I’m willing to take a chance on.
As they like to say in New Orleans, “yeah-you-right!” Seems Uh-bama’s had to do quite a few about-faces on matters of national security after (once again) reality slapped him up-side his skinny, big-eared, head.
Or better yet, pull a Hillary or Sandy Burglar and just play dumb (er, come to think of it, they didn’t even have to pretend) when your on the hot seat and all your cronies in the Senate will just give you a pass.
I’ll get rid of mine when you get rid of yours.
jcc
Poor baby. It must be rough being stranded in an ideological desert devoid of talent and originality.
It would deserve a fact check, and perhaps a laugh track. You’re really going to try and compare actual album sales with weekly ratings? Talk about satire.
Nice. Well l bet he’s better looking than you. Of course, we’ll never find that out with you being such a secretive, social media-shy coward.