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Opinion
Jun. 21, 2009
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SHERMAN FREDERICK: Why I dumped Obama's party

SHERMAN FREDERICK
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I was on political easy street as a Democrat.

President Obama, the party head, is a political rock star in America and a near-god in Amsterdam and Cairo.

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    • Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is portrayed as grown too big to fail, and he's convinced everyone who's anyone in my home city of Las Vegas to join him on the Obama freight train to socialism. Next stop: Rationed health care, union card check and $10-a-gallon gasoline. All aboard!

    Democrats own Washington, D.C., as well as the Nevada Legislature.

    Meanwhile, Nevada's Republican "Luv Guv," Jim Gibbons, couldn't be on a more prolonged hard-luck streak. He's in the divorce from hell with the first lady, who for a time holed herself up in the Governor's Mansion; his staff regularly jumps ship; and rumor has it that the governor's dog has obtained a restraining order.

    And, lest we forget, Nevada's most popular Republican, Sen. John Ensign, shook the party faithful by admitting to a nine-month roll in the hay with the wife of his good friend.

    Nope, I don't think I could have picked a worse time to go Republican. However, because KXNT-AM radio's Alan Stock revealed my party switch last week, I feel the need to explain.

    First, I'm not trying to time anything. Enough was enough. Could stand no more. So, when it came time to renew my driver's license on June 9, I also gave the Democratic Party the pink slip.

    I pushed the DMV clerk the paperwork. She shoved it back and said I didn't have to fill out that form if my address remained the same.

    "No, I want to change party affiliation."

    "Oh," she said. "Had enough of the president, have we?"

    "Up to here. I quit."

    Republicans offer our only hope in slowing the Obama "change" juggernaut before the America of unbridled optimism and opportunity goes the way of the buffalo. I don't want my great-grandchildren growing up in cradle-to-grave government care, where only the privileged few may afford a car, or own a home, or get non-rationed health care.

    The only institution positioned to stop the progression of the Obama welfare state is the Republican Party, coupled with independent-minded Americans like me.

    Second, the popular myth that the Democratic Party is the party of tolerance and big-tent ideas is spectacularly false.

    A fiscal conservative such as myself is treated by Obamaniacs like a ringing cell phone in church. "Shhhh!" they say. The only debate among Democrats is how fast and how deeply to run up the national debt. Any Democrat who questions deficit spending or a limit to federal power is simply not invited to the party.

    And finally, I have reservations about abortion. Now, I know that there are many Democrats who call themselves "pro life."

    But being a "pro life" Democrat doesn't mean you're "anti-abortion." It means that you are "abortion tolerant." The rationalization goes like this: "Abortion is the law of the land. Abortion is wrong. But abortion must be supported and expanded."

    It's hardly an intellectually honest position, but all "pro life" Democratic office holders must toe that line. The moral dilemma is further compounded by the Democratic Party ethic that taxpayer money must be used to fund abortion, here and abroad.

    For those reasons and many more, I switched. Democrats are probably happy as hell to see me go. And for all I know, Republicans may be equally unhappy to see me coming.

    But at least as a Republican, I'm respectfully part of the discussion.

    Sherman Frederick (sfrederick@reviewjournal.com) is publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and president of Stephens Media.

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    Loren wrote on August 31, 2009 04:25 PM: Welcome to the party of thought. Though I read some sniffling Dems on here complaining about crony-ism. Power corrupts, who wants more Gov't power? The obvious escapes those who are not in the party of Thinking Americans..Conservatives, Republicans are your closest bet.


    Dave Hayes wrote on August 31, 2009 03:11 PM: Sherman, do you think you could start a newpaper here in Orange County? I hear the Register may be for sale. I would be the first to sign up for a lifetime membership.
    Love your articles.
    Dave Hayes


    JAMES DIAMOND wrote on August 31, 2009 02:11 PM: MR. FREDERICK, TODAY IS THE FRIST TIME I HAVE READ YOUR EDITORALS. YOU ARE MY "KINDA" GUY. KEEP THE DEMOCRAT'S FEET TO THE FIRE. ALSO THANKS TO SHAWN HANNITY FOR MAKING ME AWARE OF YOUR PAPER. IT IS A COOL BREEZE AFTER ALL THE HOT AIR WE'VE EXPOSED TO.


    Jane wrote on August 31, 2009 02:10 PM: Welcome to the side that THINKS! As a former Dem myself, I can't believe more folks just can't see what is happening in the country right now. I appreciate your columns.


    Lou wrote on July 27, 2009 11:57 AM: Mr. Frederick, May I respectfully suggest that you have jumped from the fire, back into the frying pan. Choosing the least evil of two corrupt parties is not a choice. I followed the family Democrat tradition for many years. Then, after Carter, switched to the GOP. Since then I've had the feeling that the best person for the job never gets a chance, so once again I have to choose the lesser evil. Two years ago, I quit the GOP and am now very proud to be an independent.


    Dee wrote on July 06, 2009 05:57 PM: Well Done! Another Intelligent person who has Finally seen the Light. Also, has everyone forgotten all about the JFK and Bill Clinton's Affairs? Cheating is disgusting no matter what "Party" is in power! And, how about Sarah Palin only being popular because she is "Nice Looking" and everyone notices her shoes...Isn't that why Obama was elected...because he is a Smooth talking Celeb lawyer type that has now aquired the Swagger of Denzel Washington when walking while on camera! Did anyone else notice that? He has NO experience either. Last but not least....Dem's think everyone is gullable and stupid. I sincerely hope they are NOT correct!


    Republicrat wrote on July 05, 2009 10:13 AM: How funny.

    You get fed up with the Democrats i.e. Communists so you switch and become a a Fascist i.e. Republican.

    Both parties or Socialist and follow the doctrines of Hitler and Marx.

    Two sides of the same coin.

    What major issues do these tyrants differ on? There is a 50 trillion negative in the Social Security "Lock Box." It has been supported and allowed by Reagan Republicans and Clinton Democrats.

    Both sides voted for the undeclared war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Both sides support the Marxist IRS.

    Both sides support a belief in a magic bullet.

    Neither side can define the value of tyhe U.S. dollar and so print up "notes" and call them dollars even though they KNOW they are not dollars.

    Both sides voted for the Corporation Bailout.

    Both sides voted for the USA PATRIOT ACT.

    Let me tell you something SHERMAN FREDERICK. You no more switched parties than if you had changed your name and thought you became a better person.

    Thanks for the laugh.


    Rich wrote on July 01, 2009 11:40 AM: Just wanted you to know I whole heartily agree. I made the switch from our last bad (worst) president, Jimmy Carter.

    Rich


    Luann wrote on June 30, 2009 06:43 AM: Sherm, who are you trying to fool? You are a dyed in the wool Republican, always have been. if there's any doubt, all one has to do is read the RJ editorial any day of the week.


    Jose wrote on June 29, 2009 01:13 PM: Bush was a terrible fiscal conservative who gave us a 500 billion dollar debt. EVERYONE thouight this was pathetic. Now, Obama tripled or quadruple that and want to increase government run of our GDP to be 50% similar to that of Germany. THAT IS SOCIALISM! Obama supporters only defense of his fiscal policy is to blame Bush. ENOUGH ALREADY!


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