Republicans reflect on history, future of party
By RACHEL LANE, rlane@newsandsentinel.comArticle Photos
VIENNA - Local Republicans had a chance to learn how the GOP's history can influence the future of the party during the annual Wood County Republican Executive Committee Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday.
Author of "Back to Basics for the Republican Party," Michael Zak spoke at the dinner Saturday about the need to learn the history of the Republican Party and use the knowledge to help explain the differences in the ideology of the Republicans and Democrats.
"The Republicans began to defend the vision of the founding fathers... the legacy of our nation," Zak said.
The ideology of the party is free minds, free markets, free expression and unlimited opportunity for everyone, not just members of the party.
Zak said he started writing the book after searching for a book written about the Republican party that did not make fun of the party.
"I realized I couldn't (find a book) because all the history books written about Republicans were written by Democrats," he said.
The book has been available for several years. Since the presidential election in November, the book has become more popular.
Zak said almost all African Americans were part of the Republican Party when it formed. One of the primary reasons the party was formed in the 1850s was to oppose slavery.
While researching for his book, he "learned to appreciate more the contributions African Americans made to the early development of the Republican Party," Zak said.
Lincoln was the first Republican president but was the second man to run for the office as a Republican. Zak said Lincoln was one of the last popular political figures of the time to join the party.
Virginia Miller, treasurer for the Wood County Republican Committee, said people traveled several hours to hear Zak speak.
"We are extremely honored to have a national speaker," Miller said.
For more information about Zak or "Back to Basics," visit his Web site at www.republicanbasics.com.
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thinkfirst
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03-24-09 1:05 PM
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and last but not least. Unlimited opportunity? Which party constantly attacks school voucher programs that would give inner city kids a chance at a better education and therefore a better life. Which party constantly avoids accountability, the cornerstone of success? And finally, which party fought tooth and nail to block the Civil rights movement?
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thinkfirst
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03-24-09 1:01 PM
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Thatsjustme thinks the Republicans are against Free minds, markets, expression, and opportunity - think about this: Free minds? Which party has a stranglehold on the education establishment in this country and blocks any ideas that they don’t agree with? Which party prosecutes “hate crimes” based on what someone thinks rather than what they do? Free markets? Which party has destroyed our competitive edge through crippling regulation and taxes? Which party has nearly destroyed our financial industry by coercing banks into making C.R.A. loans that can’t be repaid? Free expression? Which party demands politically correctness and punishment for so called “hate speech”? Which party tries to control the airwaves and shut down any voices from the right? Which party violently demonstrates against events that they don’t agree with?
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Lizzard
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03-23-09 11:27 AM
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thatsjustme is engaging in projection again.
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mythravere
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03-23-09 10:06 AM
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DILLIGAS how about getting the facts before making an assumption about someones political leanings. I dislike both parties and would like to see the whole government kicked to the curb and start completely fresh. Left Right Left Right if everybody woke up and realized that supporting a political isnt the same as supporting a football team we may see some changes. But most people are content to pick a side and them wallow in the drama like a pig in the mud.
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thatsjustme
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03-23-09 6:56 AM
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This part of the article is unbelievable: "The ideology of the party is free minds, free markets, free expression and unlimited opportunity for everyone, not just members of the party." The republican party I know is diametrically opposed to three of the four tenets laid out here.
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DILLIGAS
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03-23-09 6:55 AM
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You hide your head to the fact that the bad economy was put in motion by your democrat dummie Bill Clinton. Being the typical democrat you dont want to accept that.
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mythravere
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03-23-09 6:14 AM
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Someone needs to write one of those dummy guide books for them and it will be titled "How not to run a country into the ground for dummies".
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