Meghan McCain's Big Tent

"I consider myself a progressive Republican. I am liberal on social issues. And I think that the party is at a place where social issues shouldn't be the issues that define the party. And I have taken heat, but in fairness to me, I am a different generation than the people that are giving me heat. I'm 24 years old. I'm not in my 40s, I'm not in my 50s and older." -Meghan McCain on Larry King Live Full interview here

In case you haven't noticed there's a bit of an ideological war going on for the helm of the Republican party. Conservatives versus moderates or to use Meghan McCain's term Progressive Republican, ever notice how liberals and moderates are afraid to be identified as such so they come up with neat names like progressive? I'm willing to give Meghan the benefit of the doubt though I mean after all someone who voted for John Kerry in 2004 and didn't become a registered Republican until her Dad (a moderate himself) started running for President she probably still doesn't have a total grasp on what it means to be a conservative. Now as a 22 year old Rush Baby I have a slight advantage here but I'll exercise some restraint.

First of all, the fact that you aren't lounging around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue should be your first clue that running as a moderate progressive squish Republican is not the way to win elections. Even when your Dad claimed to be a foot solider in the Reagan Revolution nobody really believed him. In fact the only time your Dad jumped up in the polls was when he announced Sarah Palin, apparently the only conservative that was allowed anywhere near the McCain campaign, as his running mate. Even after that some in your Dad's campaign had no problem turning Palin into a human speed bump and your refusal to even comment on Sarah Palin is pretty indicative of what you think of her and her conservative values. I know, I know your not a conservative you're a Progressive and totally more open minded except when it comes to mean people like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh.

"I was raised in an open-minded home. I was raised a Christian, but I was raised open-minded Christian -- one to accept people, love people, not pass judgment...I personally am pro-life, but I'm not going to judge someone that's pro-choice. It is not my place to judge other people and what they do with their body." - Meghan McCain on Larry King Live

You say you want a big tent party? Fine so do I but that doesn't mean I want to water down my principles and beliefs so it becomes Democrat Lite. With your definition of a big tent we wouldn't have a party we'd have a bunch of talking heads not talking about principles but spouting off flavor of the month policies that have no long term foresight. You want to build a big tent Meghan? Then stand for something! Reach out to people and say this is what I believe in and this is how it can help you! Stop equating conservatism to being judgemental. It isn't judgemental to say "Get a job and take responsibility for yourself so you can get of welfare and not be a slave to the government." You believe in being an open-minded Christian? Great so do I because Christ opened is arms to all sinners no matter how great the sin and forgives anyone who seeks His forgiveness but He also says don't keep sinning either we're supposed to strive to live better lives. So yes you can be pro-life and not pass judgement on women who have received abortions but that doesn't mean you just throw your hands up and say "Whatever works for you!" You encourage a culture of life by standing on your principles.

And stop making this a generational thing Meghan. Solid core values stand the test of time they might not always make you popular with the rest of the world but then again the rest of the world knows deep, deep, deep down inside that it's those principles that have kept them safe from tyranny. In the grand scheme of things this isn't a popularity contest Meghan most people who have a beef with you aren't really upset that you're the liberal media's new lap dog they're more irritated that you're talking about things you don't fully understand. You're selling out on something that you don't really believe in to begin with. So go ahead and peddle you "Progressive" agenda but don't be surprised when it gets thrown back into your face.

Auto Bailout Aftermath and what Ohio politicians did

In these early morning hours America and breath a brief sigh of relief as the Senate was able to kill the UAW Bailout (much to the chagrin of Chris Dodd and his fellow socialists). I'd like to focus this post primarily on what my home state Ohio did and did not do but Michelle Malkin has a complete list of those Senate and House Republicans that stood up and voted against the bailout and those who caved.
As for Ohio the out of the 13 Republicans three caved and voted for the bailout in the House it was Ralph Regula (regrettably he represents my district) who is outgoing and to be replaced by Democrat John Bocceri . Voting along with Regula was Rep. Steve LaTourette who represents the 14th District of Ohio (this encompasses the northern tip of Ohio). LaTourette is a memeber of the moderate and socially liberal Republican group Republican Main Street Partnership (oddly enough they claim to be fiscally conservative so I can't imagine why some of their members voted for the bailout). LaTourette won re-election this past cycle and I implore all in the 14th District to give Steve a ring and remind him what socialism is and why we don't want it.
In the Senate George "Kleenex" Voinovich voted for the bailout as well. He should expect a call from all of us reminding him that votes like this along with his past antics put his 2010 re-election on shaky ground. That's not to say I want to see a Democrat win, Sherrod Brown is enough, but a formidable candidate who stands on conservative values needs to be found to set up a primary.