Changing parties

by Bill Moore, From the Right, November 4, 2013

Recently Jason Thigpen announced he would no longer challenge Representative Walter Jones in the Republican Primary.  He announced he would challenge Jones in the Election since he was switching parties to become a Democrat. He cited his reason for the party switch was the extreme nature of the Republican party since it has been taken over by the Tea Party. He claims the party has become one of hate and non tolerance.

I find it interesting he would attack the Tea Party for their extreme beliefs yet decide to join the Democrats with whom he has little in common .

Looking at his platform on-line and comparing it to both Tea Party and Democratic positions we find:

• Thigpen states he believes Government does not create jobs, business does.  That is a belief supported by the Tea Party and opposite of Democratic beliefs that state you did not create that business the government did.
• He believes we must create a business friendly environment and cut back on government regulations. Something the Tea Party supports and the exact opposite of the Democratic beliefs. Democrats are all for more regulations and have no faith in business
• Thigpen says he wants to lower taxes in order to stimulate the economy and encourage investment to create jobs. The Tea Party has that idea as one of its tenets or has he forgotten the Tea stands for Taxed Enough Already. Democrats want to raise taxes and has publicly stated this is a jobless recovery.
• He also claims to be a big supporter of the Free Market. Another basic tenet of the Tea Party. His new party believes in tight control and regulation on the Free Market.
• He states he believes in accountability and transparency for government spending. Something the Tea Party has embraced since its inception. His new Party has similar statements but using his words for government " less talk and more action" the Democrats fail. From claiming to be the most transparent  Administration ever the fact is the Democrats are the exact opposite. They have consistently lied on everything from Foreign Affairs, to Health Care and in fact make most if not all decisions away from the public eye. Some Transparency.
• Thigpen claims he is a strong Second Amendment supporter as are Tea Party members. Yet his new party is a major supporter of curtailing gun ownership where possible.

I find it interesting Thigpen accuses the Tea Party of "hate and fear mongering". It was not the Tea Party or Republicans that ran ads saying the Republicans want your grandma thrown off a cliff. Nor was it the Republicans or Tea Party that ran ads saying Republicans want old people dead and want to take away your Medicare and Social Security. It was not the Republicans or Tea Party that labeled people as Homophobic if you supported gay rights but not gay marriage. Nor was it Tea Party/ Republicans that labeled people anti - Hispanic if they supported legal immigration but not amnesty until the borders are secure.  Another example is abortion. You are anti woman if you support any limitation on abortion rights. That includes partial birth abortions or setting a time about 4 months or 20 weeks where a baby could no longer be aborted.  If you believe in the sanctity of the vote and want to prevent any abuses, you are accused of being anti-minority. I find it interesting Democrats want gun control even if it only saves one life, yet oppose the voter ID law as too few frauds to require action. In all cases stated above it was not the Tea Party or Republicans that is throwing the hate and fear mongering but the party he has now embraced , the Democrats.  Nor is it Tea Party and Republican supporters who shout down Speakers on campus and other public places when they do not agree with them. In general, it is the Tea Party that comes prepared for the debate and will engage someone with different beliefs in an informed debate rather than booing until they are forced to leave.

He claims the Tea Party has caused division in the Republican Party and refuses to support anyone who does not "Walk the Line". Let us look at that for a moment. It appears that the Democratic Party is always in step "walking the line". You do not hear of debates within the party over major issues. Ever recently hear a Democrat come  in favor of:

• Lowering taxes
• lowering regulations
• Any limitations to abortion or gay rights
• Strong national defense
• securing the border before dealing with illegal immigration
• protecting voting rights

Regardless how you feel on these issues the point is the Democrats have either driven opponents to this platform out of the party or silenced them so they are afraid to speak out. Yet this debate continues in the Republican Party. Based  on that alone who has the bigger and more inclusive tent.

Thigpen also claims the Tea Party Shut down of Government was the final straw. He forgets to mention his new party refused to negotiate, made the shut downs as public and painful as possible (WWII Memorial, Commissaries, to name a few)  and in fact wanted the shutdown to be used for their political purposes.

The one thing I do agree with Thigpen on is the thought people should  be able to disagree and still have dinner afterwards. Although I agree compromise is both necessary and how we have survived these hundreds of years, there are certain points or core beliefs that cannot nor should not be compromised. If supporting the Constitution and demanding it be enforced evenly so Government does not get special rights, then I guess that makes the Tea Party extremists.

After reading the above, I wonder how Thigpen could change sides and join a party that is polar opposite to most of his stated beliefs. I wonder if he is prepared to compromise on his core beliefs as he expects Tea Party people to do so. Given all this I wonder if Candidate Thigpen changed parties because he believe the Democrats are closer to his views or because he did not think he could successfully primary Walter Jones and decided he had a better chance to beat him in the general election as a Democrat?

Either way I want him to know The Republicans/Tea Party has a big enough tent to welcome him back should he reevaluate his position.