Editor:
I didn't leave the Republican party -- it left me. I can pinpoint the year, 1979, when the "Moral Majority" (religious fundamentalists) took over the Republican precinct meetings across the nation. At the time, I was a Republican district secretary in Anchorage, Alaska.
I had done volunteer work for the Republican Party for about three years, and was stunned to see an invasion of my neighbors at a precinct caucus who had never before been involved in politics.
I was nominated for precinct committeewoman but was soundly defeated by all those with their "list" of people for whom they were to vote. Of course, their issues were "moral" (abortion, anti-gay and lesbian, television violence) to them.
The Republican Party strategists saw in the rise of religious fundamentalism a large group of people who would do anything for them if they believed that their party was more "moral" than the other (Democrats).
Somehow, "morality" has come to be narrowly defined. Having a choice on abortion is immoral, but corporate avarice and greed (promulgated by almost no regulation) is not.
Television and computer games that show violence or sexual themes are immoral, but a preemptive war that has killed thousands is not.
Social Welfare is looked upon as almost immoral, but corporate welfare is not.
The Republican Party used to be a fiscally conservative party, and not involved in private social issues. It's gone 180 degrees the other way. The only budget surplus years in the last 48 have been in 1960, 1999, and 2000 (the last two were during Bill Clinton's administration, a Democrat!).
I'm supporting "common sense" Democrats in this election: Gary Trauner, Dr. Chris Rothfuss, and Nick Carter. At least they will answer questions like those put forth in "The Wyoming Sage," published by AARP of Wyoming.
None of the Republican candidates answered the "issues check box" questions like if they would work across party lines to support bipartisan solutions on health care and financial security, whether they supported a balanced Social Security plan, whether they would increase consumer choice for people needing long term care, whether they would support providing family caregiving initiatives such as respite, etc.
Please join me in making a change in Washington. Vote for the Democratic candidates.
JEANNE LESKE, Casper