RINO
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RINO is an acronym meaning "Republican in Name Only."
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[edit] Moderate (sic) Republicans
It refers to big tent Republicans who are more concerned about increasing membership than standing by an increasingly reactionary party platform. Accusations are sometimes made by the party faithful for good reason; they are also made to dissociate the accuser from rhetorical responsibility when it is convenient.
It should be noted that the House of Representatives, at least, is now "perfectly sorted," meaning that the most liberal Republican is still more conservative than the most conservative Democrat, according to all satisfactory measures of such things.
The term is more frequently being applied to moderate Republicans who don't follow the obstructionist policies of the current Republican establishment and actually don't vote along the conservative line very much. Wingnut sites like Free Republic frequently call for 'purges' in the party of all RINOs.
[edit] Republicans accused of being RINOs
- Olympia Snowe: As Senator, she held many socially liberal views, like being pro-choice, supporting stem cell research and being moderately pro-gay rights, which is expected since she is from Maine. She has frequently voted for increased environmental protection and gun control. She is more in line with the Republican party in regards to defense and economics issues, however, although she voted for TARP (which a lot of Republicans did) and the stimulus (she was one of three), and being in negotiations to consider supporting Obama's health care law. She supported America's involvement in Bosnia during the Bill Clinton administration and supported the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also supports tax cuts as a means to stimulate the economy, yet voted against the Bush tax cuts.
- Susan Collins: Also a Senator from Maine, she shares a lot in common with Snowe in their voting record — pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, etc. She's slightly more conservative, having voted for the Bush tax cuts and voted for stripping the right of habeas corpus from prisoners held on charges of terrorism by the US government.[1] Her and Snowe, who are together often called the "sisters of Maine," are frequently the votes needed by Democrats to break filibusters and pass important legislation. National conservatives hate them, yet if they were to nominate more conservative candidates in Maine you'd likely have a more liberal Democrat senator in the end.
- John McCain: Believe it or not, but McCain used to be one of the more moderate Republicans in the Senate, to the point where Fox News labeled him as a Democrat a few times. His 2008 presidential run forced him to sell his soul in order to pander though. For a long time he was against supply-side, but has since reversed that position. Wingnuts were also upset regarding his positions on torture and immigration. Still, he is far more conservative on domestic and foreign issues then he is liberal.
- Lindsey Graham: Socially, Graham is pretty nutty, but he has come in handy as an ally to Democrats on issues like torture, immigration and global warming. While he's despised by base conservatives, a lot of the Fox hosts seem to think he's hot stuff.
Mitt Romney: Anyone who thinks every person in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts deserves at least basic provision of medical care merits suspicion.Since 2008, he has made a radical shift to the right, wanting to destroy the entire Affordable Care Act (which was modeled after his own "Romneycare") and having complete flops on issues like abortion and gay rights. But that still wasn't enough for the my-way-or-the-highway wing of the Republican Party.- Sarah Palin: No, seriously. While Governor of Alaska, raised taxes on the oil industry, refused to engage controversial issues such as abortion or benefits for same-sex couples, and accused fellow Republicans of unethical dealings. But after all that, something happened during her second year in office. (Populism at work.)
- Shelley Moore Capito: pro-choice in West Virginia, a state where three of its Democrats in Congress (Manchin and Rahall, and ex-Congressman Mollohan) are pro-life. She has announced a run for the Senate in 2014, which has already attracted the ire of the Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, and Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund, all accusing her of being a big-spending liberal beholden to pork and "big labor."[2] Her actual voting record is pretty much in line with the Republican establishment.
- Chris Christie: For praising Barack Obama's relief effort in his state of New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy hit, as opposed to standing idly by and impeding disaster relief.[3]
- Rob Portman: A Senator from Ohio, for being the first sitting Republican Senator to support same-sex marriage. He came out in support after his son came out of the closet.
- Mark Kirk: Republican Senator in Illinois, Kirk was the second sitting Republican senator to support gay marriage. He also sides with Democrats on issues like abortion and gun control.
- Jeff Flake: Wrote the now-dead immigration reform bill with Marco Rubio, McCain, and Graham.
- John Kasich: Ohio governor who was called a RINO after proposing that Ohio take government money to expand Medicaid.
- Lisa Murkowski: Senator from Alaska who's pro-choice and has earmarked money to her state. Became the third sitting Republican senator to support gay marriage. Has personal enmity with Sarah Palin (above).
- Jon Huntsman: Has acknowledged the existence of evolution and global warming, took some moderately pro-immigration stances as the governor of Utah, fully supports same sex marriage, and was willing to work as the ambassador to China under president Obama.
- Joe Straus: Speaker of the House for the Texas House of Representatives. Why? His 2011 re-election as Speaker was opposed by Conservative Christians that didn't want the the House to be led by a Jew.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ Yes, this is American conservatism for you.
- ↑ GOP split resurfaces after Shelley Moore Capito announcement, Politico
- ↑ Chris Christie drops bomb on GOP leaders, CNN
- ↑ Not a joke.