Not All Local Republicans Are Racist
Yesterday GOP reader Elmer saw a straw man in my article about racist tactics being used by the local GOP. He assumed that I was broad-brushing all GOPers as racists. That’s just simply not the case– racism is currently being used as an all-purpose tool in Minarik’s kit, but I don’t believe for a minute that all self-respecting GOPers in Monroe County are buying Minarik’s bill of goods.
In fact, I expect those of you local GOPers who are rightfully disgusted by this, and realize the divisiveness of what the local GOP leadership is doing, to call out your leaders. You deserve better leadership than this, and since the GOP currently has a death grip on county control, we all deserve better leadership than this. You are key to this fight against these destructive tactics.
Why?
It’s simple. The local GOP machine cares about 2 things:
1) Core GOP voters (that’s you)
2) Wealthy donors
They have shown time and again they don’t care what Dems think, what the D&C Ed Board has to say, and certainly not about minorities.
Related posts:
I haven’t seen any evidence that the local GOP has any ideological core whatsoever. I think the myth that they are upholding some sort of culturally or fiscally conservative values breaks down fairly quickly when you look at their policies.
In Monroe County, Republicans have consistently raised taxes, while the Dems have stood in opposition. All the GOPers so quick to vilify David Gantt over the public defender thing can thank him for the fact that their not paying 9 cents on the dollar in sales tax.
The Republicans blocked public safety efforts to retain more DA’s, fully fund the crime lab, and even jerked around the same court deputies that they relied on to squash public opposition, when it came to renewing their contract.
When it comes to national security, the only legislator that served in the post 9/11 military is a Dem (Willie Lightfoot) and the only one willing to send her son to the military is also a Dem (Cindy Kaleh).
The local GOP continues to maintain their grip on Monroe County in part because Democrats continue to allow them to play the role of conservatives in any debate. Let’s not buy into that.
Let’s take that “1) Core GOP voters (that’s you)” off the list.
Good post. I agree.