Vancouver resident Ann Donnelly shares her thoughts on the efforts of the Republican party to win elections in Southwest Washington
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
I couldn’t agree more with Editor Vance in his plea for Republicans to unite to win elections. For want of 2800 votes, we lost the 3rd Congressional to the Democrats.
To win these races, we need not only all the Republican votes (including those hated RINOS) but we need Independents. We do not live in a red district. Far from it. The heart of our 3rd Congressional is the 49th District – need I say more?
Joe Kent is/was a great candidate with a stellar background and experience but he fell short with the moderate/liberal Republicans and the Independents. It is no disgrace to get those votes! To the contrary, it is essential. So we Republican activists need to stop insulting “RINOS” and try to get their votes on election day, and the same for Independents.
I know so many Republicans who are huge opinion leaders in the Vancouver business community who are denigrated as RINOS. They represent thousands of votes – many more than would have elected Joe Kent. Liberal Democrats are our opponents, not other Republicans.
Thank you, Editor Vance for your timely editorial.
Ann Donnelly
Vancouver
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One reason, I left the Republican Party – – – the hatred and name calling is beyond tolerable. “including those hated RINOS) but we need Independents” In my opinion Joe Kent is another election denier that wants to get kudos from Trump and is cozy with MTG. The demographics of Clark County are drastically changing. Many of us who are conservative, also have values where we don’t put others down for their beliefs and don’t support lying politicans. It is too bad that Jaime lost but Marie will do just fine.
So, what you are saying is that you left the Republican Party because you wanted Democrat light? If are comfortable, as you say, electing liberal Democrats you made the right decision.
I think the bigger issue is our own Republican National Party Leadership. Mitch McConnell and dark money PAC’s threw millions of dollars at a misinformation smear campaign against Joe Kent. Direct mail pieces distorting Kent’s voting record hit mailboxes daily. Frankly, it was disgusting. Then when Joe made it into the general election against all odds, McCarthy showed up for a photo op with him. Always a gentleman, Kent treated McCarthy respectfully. I keep hearing year after year that Republicans need to “unite”, and we will win more elections. Does that include Republican leadership that are treacherous? You don’t even have to look nationally to find RINO’s. Our own local Republican Party elected Kathy McDonald as Vice-Chair two years ago. Kathy ended up stepping down as VC, endorsing and working for the ultra-liberal Democrat Marie Perez. Yes Ann, RINO’s are out there. They are not the elusive unicorn. Fortunately, the patriots in the local Party (those who really BELIEVE in our platform) took back the Party and now we have a reset. Nationally, the patriots roasted McCarthy’s feet. He had to FIGHT for Speaker, and we are all watching to see if he keeps his promises, THIS TIME. He started out good by booting shifty Schiff from the Intelligence Committee. He should be nowhere around national security.
Ann is correct. The local party needs to learn the art of persuasion. They lack the ability to win people’s hearts and minds with facts. When they don’t win the argument or if someone doesn’t adhere to absolute lock step agreement, they are a RINO. It’s immature and frankly the thoughts of the mentally weak. If you have a person who agrees with 80%, that does not make a RINO. Additionally, some of the local party is so incredibly rude to people that it turns them to the side that isn’t. That’s human nature Anna – you may not call it principled but it’s reality. People don’t take well to being called names and insulted – they will turn away from you and what you stand for.
Finally, the party needs to stop invoking God when it suits them. Using biblical scripture as justification to be angry and rude is not the heart of God and distorts his words and intentions.
Steve, personally, I don’t name call. But I do “call out” names. For example, my comment about McDonald claiming to be a Republican and even sitting on our Party board, and then supporting the Democrats. Don’t like RINO…give it your own name. The Democrat Party platform includes abortion up to nine months, open borders and all that brings with it, culture rot, abusive taxation, more government intrusion at every stage of life. Shall I go on? The Republican Party is at war from within for the soul of the Party. You bet it is. We have stood by and watched our own Party compromise itself to the brink of the cliff. Imagine what the Founders would think of your argument that we should “all just get along”. No, that’s code for “go along”. Big Government Republicans are complicit with Big Government Liberals. I used to be on the “cheer squad”. An R behind the name was good enough for me. Not anymore, not anymore. I’m awoken.
I don’t disagree that squishy politicians have not have the courage to stand on principals. That being said, the party must be careful not to radicalize in the name of “cleansing”. The party in Clark County has taken this too far with their purity tests and have alienated and actually turned people against the party in the form of supporting other candidates or not voting for either. You can be awoken and still be a jerk that turns people off with those that mostly agree with you. I have not seen any comments that you call people names but I have seen you condone and support those that do.
Understand that this is said by a person who aligns with you politically but will not support the local party due to the vulgar, rude and tasteless words and actions of many that lead it.
Steve, the local Party has new leadership. They are mature, steady leaders. Their direction is outreach and persuasive messaging and adherence to our great platform. They have been in the forefront of the culture wars for some time. I have seen people I agree with politically cross the line, at least in my opinion. I’ve called them out on it, while understanding it is their right to do so. I’m more alarmed at what so called moderates are willing to put up with and even defend. Trump had it right when he called it the swamp. There is no “cleansing” going on Steve. However, the conservatives in the Party are finally stepping up to the plate and swinging for the home run. I’m all for a strong united Party, rather than a weak, country club party. Let’s go after the Democrats that are destroying our Country!
I don’t disagree with your stand in being courageous and firm in our convictions. However, attacking those that disagree with us personally whether in our party or out of it does not win people over to our side. Im talking beyond politics right now and going to human nature. Once you insult the person, you have forever lost them. Attack the idea with gusto but leave any personal attacks out of it.
Once it’s personal, they will often oppose you even if they agree with you.
People are tired of the ugliness and it doesn’t matter where it comes from.
There are bigger battles at play here. Let’s not get to the end and have to be ashamed when God asks us “who did you slander in my name.”
Just because we fight for life and other issues we believe in does not mean we have the right to treat others poorly because we think we are morally superior. We should be a light to a very dark world and running those down that don’t pass the purity test does not inspire anyone.
It’s true what you say about personally insulting people to win a point. Not only does it not win a point, it shuts them down. Of course that is true. It’s also true that those who are the most hard scrabble in the ranks, don’t give a damn about that. They consider that person irredeemable based on trusting them and learning that they really are serial promise breakers and liars of the worst kind. I take a different approach, however I understand the fight that is going on now.
Justification for abusive behavior. and the reason I don’t support the local party. From what many have seen, anyone that doesn’t pass the 100% purity test is demonized. There is a group that has become radicalized, too bad you can’t see it.
Also, Ann D., you mentioned that big business people are turned off by Republicans for the ideological skirmishes in the Party. Maybe some are, but many are not. I attended a fundraiser for Kent where there were many high profile local business people in attendance. I think I saw you there.
Yes, and those were indeed some who would often join us. Huge thanks to Albert Angelo III, for example. But when they hear that people they respect are called RINOS, they shake their heads. that was a great event and underscores how close we came.
Reagan taught us that Conservatives can win and win big if we adhere to our principles and can articulate WHY we believe the way we do. This lesson seems to be lost on the Republican establishment of whom Ms. Donnelly seems to be part. This establishment believes that we should moderate our ideas and dilute our principles in order to court the middle. What Reagan showed us is that this is false. The middle will come to us if we offer them a clear, unambiguous vision of liberty, freedom, fiscal responsibility and limited government. By trying to be moderate to court the center/independents, we diminish the choice that we offer vs. the liberal democrats. The Conservative base feels betrayed and stays home on voting day, and the moderates historically fail to turn out in enough numbers to make up the difference.
Given the choice between Liberal and liberal-lite, the liberal will ALWAYS win.
There seems to be something wrong with taking a stand. Exactly how does one compromise on life? What is an acceptable number of illegal border crossings per day, week, month, year? What is the right age to introduce obscene reading material and pictures to your child? If a person cannot get passionate over these issues, what can you get passionate about?
The just get a Republican elected attitude is not worth time or money. We need Republicans that reflect our morals. To “get along” or persuade other Republicans you need to know facts not talking points. You won’t get into name calling or arguments IF you have the facts then YOU own the discussion.
There is nothing wrong with taking a stand. However, abusing others in the name of “righteousness” is not acceptable. Those that participate and condone it are equally guilty of abuse.
Don’t kid yourself, the Clark County Republican Party is full of bullies and abusers acting under the blanket of patriotism and cleansing the “not pure”
Bullies typically are weak and not very intelligent, which seems to be the case of many in the local party.
This is the truth. Well said, Steve.
Southwest WA is majority democratic and for good reason. The GOP party has ceased to exist. The massive laws the GOP across the nation are trying to pass that take away our rights, discrimination against anyone not a republican and attempts to erase our history are shocking and unacceptable. Whats left of the GOP with crazies like MTG, Gaetz and DeSantis will continue to tear apart whats left. The reasonable republican is hard to find and most have jumped a sinking ship to align with sane thinking minds. The MAGA / Trump crowd is self destructing which is expected given its based on hatred, discrimination, dictatorship and conspiracies that have created a level of violence towards democracy we haven’t seen since WW2.