Why I’m Not Leaving The Republican Party

By Bob Quasius, Somos Republicans

Although two Somos Republicans leaders recently left the GOP, I fully intend to stay in the GOP as I believe I have much more influence with the GOP as a registered Republican than as an independent.

I’ve been a Republican since voting for Reagan in 1980. I’ve seen candidates come, and I’ve seen them go. Primary elections are a democratic process. If I don’t like a particular primary candidate, I will simply support another candidate, or no candidate at all. Leaving a fight simply hands victory to the opposition; I’d rather fight than switch. I live in relatively tame Minnesota, while those who left live in Arizona and Texas, states where nativism is much more visible and extreme, and “in your face.” Although I disagree with their decision to leave the GOP, I understand their personal situation and respect their decision. They remain as Somos Republicans leaders and I will continue to work with them.

I’m likewise very upset with Herman Cain over his electrified border fence with alligator proposal, and I have been very vocal in calling out Herman Cain and numerous other politicians who pander to nativists. These politicians, though a small minority of Republicans, have badly tarnished the image of the party of Lincoln. Just as Lincoln won over the “Know-Nothing” nativists of his era, we shall overcome today’s crop of nativists who seek to burrow their way into the GOP and make their extreme agenda the GOP’s agenda as well.

I do not believe for an instant the GOP itself has been hijacked by nativists, though the Tea Party wing of the party has been heavily influenced by the network of organizations founded by nativist and population control progressive John Tanton. These organizations propagate a wide variety of myths about undocumented immigrants, pushing some conservatives to extremes on immigration using the principles of the Overton Window, unjustly blaming undocumented immigrants for a range of problems with age-old myths, jazzed up statistics, and outright lies.

A recent PEW Research study shows a majority of Republicans including 49% of staunch conservatives support immigration reform, including a path to legalization. The vast majority of Republicans, including most who oppose immigration reform, are decent compassionate individuals who don’t deserve the negative image of Republicans that these nativists create with their harsh and often hateful rhetoric. I firmly believe that most who oppose immigration reform have been misled by nativists and can be won over with engagement, facts, and reason, and I am in a better position to influence them as a registered Republican.

Organizations such as Somos Republicans, now more than ever, are badly needed to push back against extremists within the GOP. Unfortunately the RNC has done nothing to date to moderate the tone of this rhetoric, which will harm our party’s chances to gain Latino support in the next elections. This fight is far from over…it’s just beginning.