Note: The following came in from a Wyoming Democrat. While we attempt to share work that reflects the WDP platform, you may come across some words that are not exactly what WDP would have written. Perhaps you will agree with and value what you read below, perhaps not. Your mileage may vary. -ed.
Dear Wyoming Democrats,
This letter is primarily directed to those of you who are considering switching parties for the primary election. Please do not switch! Remember how well that worked when some of us, including me, switched to vote for Liz Cheney?
Wyoming is already in danger of becoming a one-party state. Not good! The Freedom Caucus frowns on RINOs, although the political situation in Wyoming is creating more RINOs. Many people switch because of the primary system. But by switching, you are just playing the Republican game. Once you switch for the primary, you are not allowed to switch back until after the general election. How many of you would remember or bother to switch back? Our numbers would drop and Democrats would lose more of what little strength we now have.
I have heard several RINOs say they are Eisenhower Republicans. The GOP of Eisenhower is dead! The party of Trump is not the party of Eisenhower. Here are seven simplified planks from the 1956 Republican Party Platform. Ask yourself, does this sound like the party of Trump?
- Provide federal assistance to low-income communities;
- Protect Social Security;
- Provide asylum for refugees;
- Extend minimum wage;
- Improve the unemployment benefit system;
- Strengthen labor laws so workers can more easily join unions;
- Assure equal pay for equal work.
Obviously, this is not the party of Trump. Thus, I implore you: Do not switch!
A friend recently shared a letter a friend of hers wrote to registered Republicans in Florida. I have the author’s permission to share it with you in its entirety.
Dear Registered Republicans,
Where did the party of free trade, low tariffs, and support for globalization and NATO go? Where’s the party of fiscal restraint? Where did the party that increasingly melded social conservatism with “live and let live” respect for others go? Where’s the party that emphasized civility, norms and constitutional process? Where’s the party for states’ rights and against federal overreach? Not one of these principles – not one iota of these principles – is embraced by the Republican Party today. So where is the Republican Party? Gone.
Trump’s so-called Republican Party is hostile to free trade and supports tariffs and protectionism. GOP leaders are less concerned about deficits if spending supports their MAGA priorities. They’re “anti-regulation” but willing to regulate corporations and industries they think are “woke.” They want to impose Christian nationalism on citizens of all faiths. They aggressively oppose and demonize the LGBTQ+ community, and explicitly reject diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Republican Party has abandoned its core ideology. What’s worse, it seems bent on destroying the values of pluralism, justice and democracy for which the US has always stood. So, if you are a registered Republican because you believed in the principles upheld by the traditional GOP, you need to break up with the Republican Party today, until you can wrest if back or start a new one. If knowing full well that the Republican Party is now Republican in name only, you choose to remain a registered Republican, that’s on you. That means you either are or will be suspected of being (your political affiliation is public information) a bigot, a racist, greedy for billionaire tax breaks and/or cuckoo for coco puffs. It’s your choice.
So, Wyoming Democrats, if you are thinking of switching , please don’t. Consider sharing the above letter with Republicans you think might be willing to switch and become a Democrat. I, for one, am proud to be a Wyoming Democrat!
Lynette Murray
Vice Chair of Big Horn County Democrats