There was a recent article by Dick Meyer, Special to Los Angeles Times where he stated with confidence that it is a “great American Myth” that the nation is “polarized between ‘red’ and ‘blue’ camps that have fundamentally different values and moral outlooks.” He states the difference between parties is a “figment of our collective imagination.” He quoted others that said “Voters are not deeply or bitterly divided” even on issues such as abortion, immigration and gun control,” and that most voters believe “Americans should tolerate each other’s moral views.”

      Anyone involved in a large organization can find individuals in it that stray from the basic tenets of the organization. There are pro-life Democrats and prochoice Republicans. There are major gun control advocates that are Republicans and card-carrying life members of the NRA that are Democrats. Our current Republican president increased big government like a classic Democrat. Certainly neither political party has a monopoly on virtue or vice; both parties have corruption and scandals galore. The majority of members of both parties polled value God and family.

      These facts not withstanding, there are pivotal differences between the parties. The basis for joining an organization such as a political party would logically be based on the tenets of the organizations. You can see for yourselves in their detailed platforms (Google Democratic and Republican 2008 Platform) and in the tendencies of their representative’s voting records. This is what defines what the parties stand for, not those individuals that stray from the party line. The differences between the parties do, in fact, polarize those of us who have given careful consideration when choosing with which party to align ourselves.

      It is part of the 2008 Democratic Party Platform to support the right to abortion on demand, amnesty for illegal immigrants (wording reads “For the millions living here illegally but otherwise playing by the rules, we must require them to come out of the shadows and get right with the law” with the “opportunity to become citizens.”). It is well known the Democrat filibusters of conservative candidates for the US Supreme Court. The Democratic Party platform states that they honor faith (not God or our Judeo Christian heritage) and support gun rights but their wording is vague and emphasizes gun regulation and alleged First Amendment protection against religion. The voting records of most Democrat Legislators don’t support religion or gun rights. The 2004 Democratic Platform promoted homosexual rights, but that is absent in 2008. The Democratic platform promotes health insurance for all (more bureaucracy at enormous expense to taxpayers), yet Barack Obama’s proposed universal health care plan is considered impractical, unrealistic, and naïve by Hillary Clinton.

      The Republican Party Platform, in sharp contrast, upholds the Constitutional right to keep and bear arms not just for hunting and sport but for citizens to defend themselves. Regarding abortion, their platform states: “Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence,” the Republican Platform unabashedly asserts “the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm(s) that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed…” while it supports a human life amendment to the Constitution” and legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.” The Republican platform makes no bones about preserving traditional marriage as “a union of a man and a woman,” and of “reflecting the Judeo-Christian heritage of our country” by “safeguarding religious liberties” such as displays of the Ten Commandments and prayer in school. It boldly opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants. Regarding health care, the Republican Party believes that “the key to real reform is to give control of the health care system to patients and their health care providers, not bureaucrats in government or business.” The Republican Party promotes pride in and love for our country based on (amongst other things) our freedom, progressive human rights record and Judeo-Christian heritage, not shame and guilt that disregards our accomplishments and focuses on our imperfections and mistakes.

      The public perception, promoted by the media and Democratic Party candidates, is that the Republican Party is the champion of business and the wealthy, while the Democratic Party is the champion of the working class. Very clever on the part of Democratic candidates, since most voters are working class… but what a dramatic distortion. There was an excellent letter to the editor printed in the Daily Interlake 8/07, written by Bob Friedman. It described how he evolved from a Democrat to a Republican over half a century. He wrote about how the Democratic Party went from truly being for the working class, for worker’s rights to evolving into the dark side of union politics, radical negativism against our government, and leftward socialist leanings of big government “that restricts competition, initiative and accessible capital for innovative development” while it leads to “generations of dependency.” He said he was convinced that “the conservative policy of individual self-reliance, the need for good labor practices and restraint in government growth were more represented in Republican Party ideals” that promote “independence and self-reliance.”

      In judging the parties that are both plagued by graft, corruption and other scandals, the critical difference lies in the official stands and tendencies of the parties, not in those members that stray from the standards. Most if not all things can be boiled down to simply, is it right or wrong. A Democrat goes against his or her own party if he or she opposes any of the following - abortion on demand, acceptance of homosexuality as a healthy alternative, more taxes to support big government bureaucracy in health and social programs, affirmative action, amnesty for illegal immigrants. Or supports any of these - strong military, keeping God in government, conservative Supreme Court Justices, self-reliance and independence, and the inherent rights and dignity of every person. Under those conditions, does it make sense to stay with that party? To vote a straight Democratic ticket when you don’t agree with the platform? Democrats need to take a good look at their party’s platform and see if it fits with their morals, values and beliefs. And if it doesn’t, break with tradition and leave. Make a statement, take a stand.

Roland Horst