Charles Shiflett Column June 27, 2004

There Are RINO's Among Us

No, I didn't misspell it - RINO is an acronym for “Republican In Name Only” and Bartow County has a
bumper crop this year. For all practical purposes, there is no local Democrat primary this July. All of
the action is on the Republican side of the ballot and many Democrat voters are likely to cross over.
Some of the Republican candidates for office are RINO crossovers as well.

The GOP always welcomes those who truly have a change of heart and believe the ideals and platform
of the Republican Party are more in line with their core beliefs. However, running as a Republican just
because it increases your chances of winning in November is a no-no. The local GOP grapevine is
laden with gossip about who is and isn't a RINO.

Some RINO's camouflage themselves really well, while others are easily spotted. When you see the
campaign signs of a newly Republican candidate in the yards of long time Democrats, you may have a
RINO in your sites. When you check the voter records and see where one of this year's GOP
candidates has always voted in the Democrat primary - a RINO alert is in order. Of course, pulling
campaign disclosures and seeing where well-known Democrats are putting money in the campaign of
a Republican candidate is also a good RINO indicator.

It's possible the suspect candidate may not be a RINO at all. He or she may just be a political
creature even more despised by the GOP hardcore - a moderate Republican. When Democrats can't
sneak one of their own through under cover, they'll often line up behind the least conservative pick
available.

Republicans don't all march in lock step on every issue. However, take an opposing stand on some
issues and you might be voted off the island. So what constitutes a real Republican? According to
most rank and file GOP activists - to truly be considered part of the conservative faithful you should fall
within the following guidelines:

• You should be Pro-life. At the very least you should be against abortion except for rape, incest, or
physical life of the mother. To receive a “Georgia Right To Life” endorsement, you must be against
abortion with only life of the mother as an exception.

• You must be a supporter of Second Amendment Rights. Being a member of the National Rifle
Association helps, but being a member of the more conservative Gun Owners Of America really says
you're on board.

• Supporting a further reduction in taxes is mandatory. Support any type of tax increase and you might
as well hang a “kick me out of the party” sign on your back. Of course tax code simplification through
either a flat tax or national retail sales tax as a replacement of the income tax system should also be
part of your platform.

• Reduction of the size and scope of government is always a GOP position. Some elected
Republicans have gotten away with expanding certain programs over the years, but they get an earful
when they do.

• National defense is always a GOP issue - support the troops and support the weapons systems they
need to do the job even in times of peace. And Ronald Reagan showed us that willingness to use our
military would pay big dividends - so none of this French pansy stuff.

• A true Republican believes in the strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and believes our
founding fathers are probably turning over in their graves now at a judiciary run amuck. Conservatives
believe power should be shifted back to the states from the federal bureaucracy.

Sometimes RINO's do change their colors over time. Since Johnny Isakson was elected to fill Newt
Gingrich's old congressional seat a few years ago, he has moved a little further to the right - but ask
most members of the conservative faithful about Isakson and there's still a large measure of distrust.

Some say that issues like those above really don't matter when voting to fill positions like tax
commissioner, clerk of court, or board of education. But everyone who holds elective office is part of
the fabric upon which the whole political system is based - and a few years down the road some of
these folks may become state legislators or congressmen. At the very least they will have influence
with large segments of the population.

So to all you candidates out there running with the elephant pack this year, show us that the (R)
behind your name stands for Republican and not RINO. If you don't, the GOP grapevine is buzzing and
come Election Day you might be drowning your sorrow with some whine.