Redefine, Rebuild

As of Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Robert Levy’s column “Is Our Compassion Prejudiced?” (Jan. 6) reached a new low, even for him. It is this kind of cheap exploitation of the human condition that has caused me to no longer want to be a Republican.

For him to politicize tragedies perpetrated on defenseless children is unthinkable. Then to throw racism into the same “stew” and headline the whole mess with the word “compassion”? He offers no commentary on the conditions causing our country’s crime, murder rampages, nor ideas to change, only a thinly veiled political vendetta.

Mr. Levy, don’t you get it yet? If you want success for your (and I hope, some day, my) Republican Party, you need to help to redefine, then rebuild it. And it might be a good idea to include “compassion” in that effort.

When you use terms like “Obama’s Chicago,” “racism exists,” “our post-racial president,” “Democrats must understand,” etc., you show what’s important to you even in the face of a horrendous national problem needing all of our best efforts to resolve.

There were good things in your column, Mr. Levy. It is a pity that you didn’t edit out the political snide and permit yourself to be satisfied with the good. That might have been a good start to rebuilding your party. Or maybe that was not your intention?

I am old enough to remember the hate-filled Nazi propaganda which introduced one of history’s most shameful periods.

Your column, while I know meant no such harm, did remind me of that time.

You see, we are products of our history, too easily reminded of its worst. Keep that in mind as you write.

Gil Taylor

Pinehurst

More like this story

JimRussell44 4 months, 1 week ago

Thank you for your excellent letter, Mr. Taylor.

dustyrhoades 4 months, 1 week ago

Apparently, quite a few people have joined Mr. Taylor in "no longer wanting to be a Republican."

*The Democratic Party has gained a significant lead with the American public for the first time since 2009, the year President Barack Obama took office.

After party affiliations were essentially tied from 2010-2011, Dems earned a 5 percentage point lead with Americans in 2012, with 47 percent (ironic, isn’t it) identifying with Democrats, while only 42 percent reported identifying with Republicans, according to new Gallup poll data.

With 137.3 million registered voters in the U.S., a 5 percentage point lead amounts to an almost 6.9 million voter advantage.

The quick shift over one year could be attributed to the various political disasters within the Republican caucus, including the legislative “War on Women,” the downgrade in the U.S. credit rating due to GOP debt-ceiling brinksmanship, and the infamous “47 percent are victims” comment from former GOP presidential contender, Mitt Romney, to name a few. (For an added bit of context, another recent poll showed that Tea Party support is at an all-time low of 8 percent of voters.) Most of the credit – or lack thereof – actually goes to the Republican Party itself. Democratic Party identifiers were essentially unchanged at 31 percent from 2011-2012. Dems did gain 2 percentage points from Independents who reported leaning Democratic.

The biggest change was a drop in support for the Republican Party. While Republican identifiers picked up 1 percentage point (within the margin of error), Republicans lost 4 percentage points among Independents. The change amounts to a net 3 percentage point loss for the GOP, leading to a net 5 percentage point advantage for Democrats.*

Mr. Levy is the spokesman for a party in decline. And if the ravings of his local supporters are any indication, a party unwilling to make the changes needed to stay alive.

It'll be a long and ugly death, but die they will if they don't change.

fatboy 4 months, 1 week ago

dustyrhoades3 minutes ago

Apparently, quite a few people have joined Mr. Taylor in "no longer wanting to be a Republican."

*The Democratic Party has gained a significant lead with the American public for the first time since 2009, the year President Barack Obama took office.

All that means is that the number of low-level, politically uneducated voters has increased.

MichaelFlorence 4 months, 1 week ago

And for Dusty

The number of unemployed on unemployment benefits has increased since 2008, and the highest number of food stamp receipents has increased, and the number of people on Social Security disability has increased, the number of people on welfare has increased, the number of people receiving public assistance has increased.

If all of the people are totally dependent on the Government for support who do you think they will vote for. A party that might try to grow the economy more, which would allow them to scale back these programs, or a party which only promises them more, more and more. Just a thought

dustyrhoades 4 months, 1 week ago

Keep flogging that "they're all stupid moochers" horse...and keep losing.

dustyrhoades 4 months, 1 week ago

by dustyrhoades

teufelhunden 4 months, 1 week ago

Mr. Taylor, Mr. Levy is not the only one who writes with such "finesse" around here. Works both ways.

teufelhunden 4 months, 1 week ago

Principles are more important to some than winning. Change is not always good.

JimRussell44 4 months, 1 week ago

fatboy, please define what a "low level" voter is.

dustyrhoades 4 months, 1 week ago

Principles are more important to some than winning

That's fine. Hold on to that attitude.

Republicans are always more competent at sitting on the sidelines and complaining than they are at governing, anyway.

teufelhunden 4 months, 1 week ago

I will. And its an attitude that will survive.

teufelhunden 4 months, 1 week ago

Governing? Getting pretty sloppy.

dustyrhoades 4 months, 1 week ago

gov·ern (gvrn) v. gov·erned, gov·ern·ing, gov·erns v.tr. 1. To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; exercise sovereign authority in.

fatboy 4 months, 1 week ago

JimRussell445 hours, 34 minutes ago

fatboy, please define what a "low level" voter is.

Someone who just votes because it's their right, but they lack the knowledge of what the candidate stands for. Case in point: When a group of women were asked why they voted for Jack Kennedy, they stated...."because he's handsome". We know why Obama got re-elected, don't we?

clarabelle 4 months, 1 week ago

you should change your alias to "fata$$" - much better fit............ honest!

dustyrhoades 4 months, 1 week ago

We know why Obama got re-elected, don't we?

Why do't you tell us, fatboy? At least have the courage to say it.

Yukonjohn 4 months, 1 week ago

I am glad I am no longer, nor will ever be a Republican. The only distance farther from me politically is the Democrats!!! Both parties have lost their direction. They are both 180 degrees off where they need to be. While the Dems are horrible, the Repubs will not win another Presidential election if they keep this losing platform that they want so badly!! Ole Ron Paul looks better and better the longer we go down this road.

JimRussell44 4 months, 1 week ago

fatboy, would you say that a voter who votes AGAINST a candidate is a "low level" voter?

Courseaire 4 months, 1 week ago

JR - I would say that.

JimRussell44 4 months, 1 week ago

Courseaire, good, we agree on something. Glad to hear it.

Toyboy52 4 months, 1 week ago

I never did understand why Dusty and others believe that Democrats or liberalism is on the rise. North Carolina has a Republican Governor and legislature for the first time in 140 years. There are more Democrats in States which are broke like California.

The fact is that people who depend on government like it. People who pay for those who depend on government do not want to pay for more. The dependent population is growing in states that are broke.Republican support is growing In places that are governed well. In the end, there are more people In states that are broke, so Democrat support appears to be growing.

I'm glad to be a Tar Heel and live in a state governed well and growing in Republican strength.

fatboy 4 months, 1 week ago

clarabelle14 hours, 53 minutes ago

you should change your alias to "fata$$" - much better fit............ honest!

Typical liberal respose...Name-calling. That's the way to make your statement. You have just been identified as one of the low-level, politically uneducated population. How's it feel to be in the majority?

teufelhunden 4 months, 1 week ago

Did Ed Koch really say that about Obama? By Michael Goodwin Published January 10, 2013 New York Post

teufelhunden 4 months, 1 week ago

fatboy-it's because of their empty quiver. That behavior has become their calling card.

Hembloche 4 months, 1 week ago

@ teufel & fatboy

"Typical liberal respose...Name-calling."

If you actually believe that it's only liberals name calling, I invite you to take a couple minutes of your time to pop on over to nation.foxnews.com and see the wonderful, heart warming things the "conservative" commentators have to say there.

But of course, you know that's not true, you just for some reason like to keep telling yourself it is.

JimRussell44 4 months, 1 week ago

I know I hate being ugly on these postings but I'm going to give what I get. Trying to be reasonable only works when everyone plays that way.

Courseaire 4 months, 1 week ago

You could always take the high road and ignore any ugly posting. You'ld be surprised how effective it is.

Toda 4 months ago

Wow ~ what an interesting exchange of darts.

Liberalism and conservatism are just one state of mind on how one feels toward the wealthy and their fellow man or woman.

I'm neither a liberal as most think, nor would I be defined as conservative; depends on who isn't paying the same tax rate, who opposes a Fair Tax where all pay the same on what they spend, and children and families living on the margins of our society. I can't help but wonder, how many devoted conservatives would feel compelled to apply for unemployment and food stamps to feed their families who didn't have financial help from family?

You might be on top of the income food chain today, and calling the bank to stay in your home tomorrow unless you have Romneys' money.

"Call your next case" ~ Late H. "Chub" Seawell" Attorney at Law