The following was submitted as a letter to the editor of the Lebanon Daily News.
 

Karl Kohr recently made comments in which he tried to assert that “liberal” Republicans are far better than any “conservative” Democrats.  While such a claim is typical of some within the Republican Party, the simple fact is that Mr. Kohr is completely missing the fundamental issue that exists at the core of the GOP at the federal, state, and local level: should the Republican Party be the home of conservatism or liberalism?

For those who came to political age during the Reagan Revolution, the Republican Party is supposed to be the institution that is the conservative standard-bearer.  It is the GOP that should be advocating lower taxes, less government, and moral absolutes.  Republicans at all levels and in all seats should be actively seeking to find ways to cut spending and reduce the tax burden on taxpayers and property owners alike.

Unfortunately, when “establishment” or “liberal” Republicans are elected to office, they do just the opposite of what Reagan advocated or what the ‘Republican Statement of Principles’ outlines. 

After all, how many tax increase received a “Yea” vote from Arlen Specter and “Chip” Brightbill?  How many blown budgets and out-of-control spending projects did Tom Ridge approve?  How many times have free speech liberties have been attacked by John McCain and Mark Schweiker?  Need we look that far from Lebanon County’s own courthouse to see how political corruption has shafted the taxpayer on multiple occasions? 

The simple fact of the matter is that Liberal Republicans – who embrace higher taxes, hail increased spending, and ignore moral absolutes - are destroying the conservative and liberty-inspired foundation of the Republican Party.  Indeed, were it not for conservative base of the Republican Party, the GOP would have remained a lapdog of liberal Democrats years.

The Republican Party is, by rights, supposed to be a conservative institution, which Liberal and “establishment” Republicans have tried to hijack.  And it is time that conservative, grassroots, reform-minded Republicans understand that the GOP is their party and they should be in control of it – once and for all.

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