Birthers and the Republican Party
I was recently explaining to a friend that I didn’t leave the Republican Party — the Republican Party left me.
Want more proof?
Results of a survey conducted by Public Policy Polling of Raleigh, North Carolina reports that of 2012 Republican primary voters, 52% still either think Obama was born outside the United States or aren’t sure.
One particular friend tells me I’m guilty of characterizing the entire GOP with the positions of the fringe extremists. But this poll proves exactly my point: fringe, extremist positions are often held by a majority of voters in the Republican Party.
So to all Republican readers of my blog, I just want to congratulate you on the company you keep.
A recent poll by ABC / Washington Post says 14% of Republicans think Obama was born outside the country, while 7% of democrats think he was born outside the U.S. The poll you cite is of primary voters, a much smaller sample which is very inconsistent with other polls. I think the birther argument is ridiculous and maybe there is something insidious behind it. It’s tough to defend. However, if the true number is 14%, then I think its an argument adopted by fringe conspiracy theorists. I guess the way i’d evaluate this would be whether a candidate adopts these views. I couldn’t support a candidate that espoused the birther controversy, whether he/she were a republican, libertarian, or a democrat.
You’re talking about me in this post. I’m not sure I identify myself as a republican. I’m registered independent. However, I keep company with people like Ben Padnos. He’s a good dude.
I think there are good and bad people in both parties, but I love the passion for politics.
Steve – I certainly don’t blame you for being embarrassed to identify yourself as a Republican. Primary voters are the ones who will determine the next GOP Presidential nominee, so that’s hardly “fringe”. Rather than putting your head in the sand about the attitudes and make-up of the Republican Party, perhaps a more constructive approach would be to encourage these folks to start their own party because they’ve hijacked the GOP!