How many times during this never ending campaign season have we heard the expression, “he’s not conservative enough?” Let’s make it completely clear about the use of terminology, and how candidates deny who they really are and what they stand for.

Conservative: “​Tending to ​emphasize the ​importance of ​personal ​responsibility and ​traditional ​values and to ​oppose ​depending on ​government for ​social ​services.”

This was once the philosophy of many Republicans, but today anyone who believes in the simplicity of this principle is labeled a ‘liberal.’ If Ronald Reagan were alive today, he would be attacked from the right and called a Democrat.

Rubio remains too far to the right, but compared to his competitors he is a moderate conservative. I doubt his stated beliefs; he is a panderer whose ambitions are greater than his experience.

Donald Trump speaks to conservative principles, but the Republican Party constantly rejects him because he says he would work across the aisle.

Then there’s Ted Cruz. He is definitely not a conservative. His extremism has moved the Republican Party too far to the right and is a danger to the American way of life. Cruz is a ‘reactionary.’

Reactionary: “A ​person who is ​opposed to ​political or ​social ​change or new ​ideas.”

This is Ted Cruz. His politics are regressive, and the reason why our government is no longer a Democratic Republic. Not since Joseph McCarthy has a right wing politician been so destructive. He refuses to acknowledge the need for social change which would move our nation forward. Cruz rejects ideas from others as he displays his intentions to move our nation into the past and reject all progress made for the working class in the last 60 years.

‘Not being conservative enough’ is a badge of honor. It means that you believe in America and our form of government. It means that you would deliberate the issues and find a way to reach compromise. It means that you reject the policy of just saying ‘no.’

Because of Ted Cruz and his supporters, the Republican Party fails to reach 42 percent of Americans who call themselves Independents. Cruz has been the leader of the TEA Party which is nothing more than a group of obstructionists. Their allegiance is to their creators, the Koch brothers, and not to the American people.

Reactionaries have placed a black mark on the term ‘Republican.’ There was a time in our recent past when we had two parties who had slightly different policies, but worked together for the benefit of the American people. The GOP must change its label; Republicans exist in name only today.

There are three distinct groups in the GOP; reactionaries, conservatives, and a few moderates. Only the latter can be honestly labeled ‘Republican.’

Cruz is proud that he is the most unpopular person in Washington. He rejects the principles of our founding fathers and seeks to move our nation towards a plutocracy. He does not represent the American people. He proclaimed that he is a Christian first and an American second. Our president must reject his or her personal beliefs and maintain neutrality in support of all of our nation’s people.

A nation cannot survive if it rejects change. Without a progressive attitude our country will fade into the past. Our only hope is to elect legislators and a president who will represent the majority and deny special interests continued control of our government.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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