Weekly Opinion Editorial
NOSE HORN!
by Steve Fair
President Trump uses the term, "RINO,' on a regular basis. RINO is an acronym for Republican-In-Name-Only. It's a derogatory label to describe politicians and activists who allegedly do not hold to true Republican values. It is often used to disparage politicians who are viewed as too moderate. Some moderate Democrats are branded DINOs by their Party, but you seldom hear that term.
Name calling and branding political opponents with a label is nothing new. Two-time presidential candidate Thomas Dewey, who ran against FDR and Truman, did not oppose FDR's New Deal programs, but just promised that Republicans would run them more efficiently. Dewey and his allies were branded 'Me Too' Republicans, because they agreed with the Democrats. 'Me Too' Republicans were the majority among GOP elected officials and won the Party's presidential nomination up until 1980, when Ronald Reagan upset the applecart.
This week, President Trump posted on Truth Social Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is a RINO. Stitt, who is Chairman of the National Governor's Association (NGA) had released a press release regarding an upcoming governor's weekend in Washington that President Trump said was inaccurate. Trump had disinvited two Democrat governors and Stitt released a presser saying that Trump had agreed to invite all the governors. Trump posted: “We will soon have a Governor in Oklahoma who knows how to accurately write a Press Release to the Public, in this case, to state that I invited, not happily, almost all Democrat Governors to the Governor’s Dinner at the White House. Stitt, a wise guy, knew this, but tried to get some cheap publicity by stating otherwise.” Immediately, two candidates for Oklahoma governor in 2026 (Keating and Drummond) jumped on Trump's bandwagon, saying they agreed Stitt is a RINO. Three observations:
First, everyone who disagrees with Trump is not a RINO. Blind loyalty is a dangerous thing. The president demands blind loyalty. In today's toxic political environment, anyone who expresses a differing view from Trump is branded a nose horn. Each citizen has the right to place their registration with which ever political Party they desire. They don't have to agree with any or all of the tenets of a Party. Some in the GOP want the Party to impose excommunication, like churches, for the RINOs. If an elected official doesn't pass a litmus test regarding the platform, they would be booted out of the Party. Exclusion, not inclusion. In today's GOP, disagreement with Trump's views are considered heretical and worthy of banishment and shunning. Group think rules!
Second, much of the RINO talk is political theatre. Stitt, who is term limited, shrugged off Trump's comments, saying Trump doesn't really mean it. To the uninformed, who believe everything they see on the news, grandstanding politicians sway public opinion by caricaturing another's position. That seems the be the case with Trump and Stitt. Sensationalism and exaggeration rule!
Third, graciousness is dead in politics. You can make the case it never existed in the world's second oldest profession. Clearly humility, patience, kindness, gentleness, steadiness and self-control are now considered traits of cowards, and yellow bellies, aka RINOs. The inability of the GOP to agree to disagree has hurt America. Instead of working together, the Republicans fight more internally than against the Democrats, resulting in nothing getting done. Name calling and insults rule!
Today's definition of a RINO seems to be: "anyone who disagrees with Trump." The fact is, many branded RINO are principled people who care about the direction of American and the GOP. Many have been active in politics before Trump entered the arena and will be around after he is gone. These nose horns are pro-life, pro second amendment, fiscal conservative, traditional Republicans who don't blindly follow any man. They aren't 'Me Too' or RINOs. Those calling them RINO are likely the real RINOs.
THOSE CALLING CONSERVATIVES RINOS MAY BE THE REAL RINOS!Click the headline to read this full article, THOSE CALLING CONSERVATIVES RINOS MAY BE THE REAL RINOS!, at FAIR AND BIASED
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