#3

Yes Sir,

Thank you for asking such a thoughtful questions.

As it pertains to question 1 the Party should focus its energy on retaking personal liberties. There has been a slow and steady erosion of our liberties since the Roosevelt administration. Our objective should be to retake those liberties, and in doing so, increase the entrepreneurial spirit that has made America great. Einstein did not arrive at his theories of general and special relativity on the mandate of a government bureaucrat. Henry Ford did not revolutionize the auto industry as a result of a government mandate. These were arrived at through individuals taking responsibility for their own destinies.

As it pertains to question 2, I think the most worrisome part of the Obama presidency is the blatant adherence to the socialist doctrine. Everything is a crisis. Everything is so important that there isn't even time for thoughtful consideration of stimulus packages, health-care bills, and the like. When in a crisis mentality, one cannot make rational decisions. Everything about Obama's presidency has been a crisis. It's disturbing.

As it pertains to question 3, these talkshow hosts (and I noticed that you did not include Michael Savage) bring up important dialogs. The party has to move to the right. We must be the party that embraces individual liberties, individual freedoms, and to the extent that these talk show hosts bring us to the right, that's perfect.

As it pertains to question 4, Republicans must reassert themselves as the party of racial equality. After all, we are the party who gave a moral dimension to the civil war. Up until 1934, every single African-American elected to Congress was a Republican. We have to capitalize on this. Liberty knows no color. We are the party of individual rights. We are also the party of women's rights. Of the 9 states that did not ratify the 19th amendment (allowing women to vote) 8 of them had Democrat legislatures. Even before the passage of the 19th amendment there were 26 states, all of them having Republican legislatures, that had state laws allowing women to vote. We have to reassert ourselves in this regard. We are the party of racial equality, sexual equality, and so forth.

As it pertains to question 5, I think Republicans need to reassert ourselves not so much as the party of "no", but as the party of "know". We are the rational voice. We are grown ups.

As it pertains to question 6, my own feeling is that the Republican Party has been little too dogmatic as it pertains to religion. I was personally raised Catholic, but I don't identify with that doctrine.

As it pertains to question 7, my own feeling is that it's OK for Republicans to address the race issue. When people think of "civil rights", they think the Democrats. This is totally incorrect. The 13th amendment (banning slavery), the 14th amendment (guaranteeing equal rights to all citizens regardless of color), and the 15th amendment (conferring the vote on the African-American) were milestones whose importance cannot be underestimated. When it came to the 14th amendment, every single Republican voted for that amendment, and every single Democrat voted against it. We have to understand that we are the party of civil rights. We are the party of women's rights, and we are the party of individual liberties.

Thank you for asking

Jeff Limón

Chairman

Benton County Republican Party (Oregon)