I am a Conservative.
Republicans are members of a party. And though I may vote Republican, I consider myself a conservative. Parties have agenda, ruled by the need to raise funds. They often sell out their beliefs in the never ending search for campaign dollars. I’ve seen this over and over again during my lifetime. And it’s not just one party or another. They all have proven that they’ll abandon their core beliefs if it aids in raising funds. Members of parties often lose their way.
Many Republicans are also Conservatives. But not always. The term “RINO” – Republican In Name Only has a brother, and that brother is “CINO” – Conservative In Name Only. Calling yourself a Conservative seems to be in vogue these days. Mostly due to the Tea Party. However it’s very easy to identify a CINO – there’s plenty of them in Congress; though fewer thanks to the efforts of the Tea Party.
I will vote the way my Conservative gut tells me. By observing and listening. And while I can’t imagine myself voting for a Democrat, I could potentially vote for an Independent. I vote according to my Conservative conscious…not because there’s an “R” after the name. If you believe in the sanctity of life; if you believe in living within your means; if you believe that the best government is the smallest government; if you believe in State’s rights; if you believe that government is a tool of the people and not the other way around; if you believe taxes are to be used to carry out the will of the people and not the will of bureaucrats…you may be a conservative.
I have always voted Conservative. At times that candidate has also carried the Republican R. That does not mean I needed the R to vote for them. My parents raised me Right. They taught me to think for myself, value, my rights and respect the rights of others. I's a shame that when I talk to most people they talk about conservative values, but then you ask them how they voted and they voted liberal. They seem to abandon their convictions inside the voting booth.
I wish I could say I've always voted Conservative. I was raised by Democrats, and didn't know or care one way or the other when I turned 18 and was able to vote. My first vote was for Jimmy Carter. Why? Because I didn't understand, my parents voted Democrat, so I thought that was the right thing to do. I learned, like much of the country, from the Carter administration. I then educated myself on liberals, progressives and conservatives. From that point forward I made informed decisions and never voted for a liberal again. For that I owe Jimmy Carter a great big thank you.