The best way to promote the GOP might be to tell your own story

[ashok]

We all have reasons why we're Republican, but no sane person wants to hear a laundry list of reasons. Especially not on the Internet, where the conversation is dominated by rabid Leftists willing to use any sort of conspiracy theory and slander to get their way, and where libertarian ideas tend to draw a following merely by being hinted at, let alone articulated.

Point is - the emotional appeal of all political discussion on the Net has been one narrative so far: "Here's government, it's evil, oh look it's oppressing you."

We need an alternative narrative, and not one that bullies people to think one way or another, but makes the best case we possibly can for why we are who we are. I didn't vote Republican because I was "fascist:" I did it because I've seen numbers on the Democratic party demonstrate an absolute hatred for my country, and I know where this comes from. It angers me when friends willing to go to Iraq and Afghanistan on my behalf have their sacrifice mocked by a crowd that couldn't identify those places on a map, but I don't really know what to say to liberals, because in my experience, they're only doing what they've been taught to do. Back in Catholic grade school and high school, not to mention the state university I attended, I was taught 24/7 that everything the US did in Vietnam was wrong and Republicans hated people all over the world and loved money and Christian fundamentalists wanted to oppress everyone. That was history class, and in some cases, English class and even religion class.

I'm Republican because without a Republican party, we don't even stand a chance of having an educated country: it seems to me the way we educate is to create clones of ourselves as opposed to independent thinkers. I know I can articulate the better, non-America hating arguments for why we shouldn't be in Iraq or why families should be an entirely personal matter. Can my friends on the Left do the same for me?

Anyway - what's your story? Tell it below, please.

[Michael Brennan]

Very true. People need to know why we are Republican and not because of a laundry list of government problems but realistic reasons made from a personal view. People need to know that the GOP is here to stay and that we represent mainstream America.

[Jim Rock]

the reason why is changing everytime obama gets on tv---people know we not dead or they would not be attacking in such massive coordinated numbers. Have you seen both version of the same interveiw by Gov Palin? after seeing the MSNBC version youd never know it was the same interveiw just seen om FOX--with the interveiwer

our media isnt just being anti American now but they are censoring real important stuff out now. If FOX is turned off we dont have much left for getting the word out

[Michael Brennan]

Media follows the money, make it a ratings issue and the media will follow. They are simple tools we can use if we want it more.

[ashok]

Apologies for the rant that this post became - I really am looking to hear your stories about how you came to the GOP.

[ashok]

Thank you for an awesome response! Your story is really inspiring - I know I haven't worked nearly as hard as you have, but if I did, I would be the proudest grad of a school like U of M. That's incredible, virtually no one gets into those places nowadays.

[Jason]

Ashok said, "Point is - the emotional appeal of all political discussion on the Net has been one narrative so far: "Here's government, it's evil, oh look it's oppressing you."

For the Ron Paul supporters, it had absolutely NOTHING to do with emotional appeal, and EVERYTHING to do with his MESSAGE...his philosophies of limited government, small spending, humble foreign policy, and personal freedom. Give us candidates who support these conservative philosophies, or continue to lose in future elections. Stop acting like Democrats!

[Jim Rock]

this is from your topic intro

I was taught 24/7 that everything the US did in Vietnam was wrong and Republicans hated people all over the world and loved money and Christian fundamentalists wanted to oppress everyone. That was history class, and in some cases, English class and even religion class.
-------------------------------------------------

so true, Rep inherited a war from 2 Dem admins yet the libs try to make that Nixons War.
when I came home from my first tour people hated MY guts, I was there because of orders. One of my surgies 2 years ago it was at the VA in Portland and they gave us welcome home arm bands and cards and letters kids in the local churches made up and even little pins. This was given to all in country Vets in the hospital as our Welcome Home. Over 3 decades later. GOP assisted theVFW in this homecomming waiting for us and sure made me proud to be an American and Republican

[ashok]

That's awesome to hear! I think a lot more people need to hear that story for sure.

[Whitehorse (Robin Ray)]

Ashok, excellent discussion topic - one of the best I've seen. Some may recoil from the word testimony, however testimonies are powerful. Here's mine:

My mother's family were/are New Deal Democrats for the most part - not really "yellow dog" Democrats but just saw nothing else. My father's family were Republicans from West Tennessee. My father was older, so they were Republicans in a time when the Republican party in TN was mainly the East TN & "black person's" party. Mom is apolitical, Dad was a staunch single issue voter - 2nd amendment. Dad could be overbearing on this, to say the least. While I went to public schools, my parents made sure that I read from an early age & I had copious reading material. When Jimmy Carter ran in 1976, I was 10 & began taking notice of national news. I saw & heard what was being promised & thought this Carter fellow was a nice guy. I talked to my dad & he was very reasonable with me (different from the "tough" way he discussed politics with grown-ups) & told me why he thought Carter would not do well. Dad was right. I remember the malaise gripping the country during the latter part of Carter's years & the turnaround after Reagan's election.

I went off to college in 1984 as a young freshman undertaking pre-law. I have to say that our professors (MTSU) encouraged debate, however the atmosphere was definitely liberal/left. I remember hearing a professor say that the law doesn't mean what it says - it means what the court says it says. I thought that was wrong. I became involved in ROTC & saw things from the perspective of a soldier. (severe neck injury would keep me from going in) I had gone to church off & on as a child, but had never really joined. I did not finish in 4 years - fell in love, got married, & soon after had a lovely son - & had to go to work so we could eat.

Our family joined a church. I had left pre-law when I saw what lawyers actually did & stuck with political science, which fascinated me - history was a close, close second. It seemed pretty simple to me what worked & what didn't. I have to make a confession - I was 18 but did not vote in 1984, when I could have voted for Reagan. If I could turn back time.

Life was hitting me "all upside the head." I could see where the taxes were taken out of my paycheck, which could have bought more groceries & diapers. My wife was back in school & landed an internship with the state legislature, the Republican house leader. I got to see the inner-workings of politics & it is like making sausage. She was encouraged to run for state rep & did - lost, in the primary, but learned a lot from the experience. She was the first female Republican to run in that district, to our knowledge. We then had several life issues (illness, hospital stay, layoff, etc...) compound at once & I decided to write down what I believed & why I believed it. I had always called myself an independent to seem "cool" or just not be in the political fray. After pen to paper, however, I realized that the Republican party - specifically the conservative Republican party - represented my views. I began listening to Rush a bit earlier (on the day Anita HIll testified) & he was speaking what I believed. My wife was active in the Republican party as an election commissioner, so I volunteered for the party. That year was 1994.

In short, I didn't wake up one day & was a Republican. I did not become a Republican & then go find out what I believed. I found that the Republican party - the conservative Republican party - stood for what I believed in. It's not that I became a Republican - I discovered I was one.

[ashok]

This is great reading: hopefully more on this site will stop by here and take a look.

Can you or your wife write up something detailing what it is like running for office, and what people who attempt this should be aware of? The funny thing is I wouldn't even know where to start.

[Jim Rock]

there is a guy that visits this site preparing for an office run, you might want to electronically tag along with him, Michal Brenan

[ashok]

I really hope he chronicles and blogs about the process so we all can learn from him.

Hint, hint, people that run this site - creating media that talks about running and whether or not you want to do it or how the party attempts to recruit would be really, really helpful.