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Submitted by Dr. Brian Carr on May 21, 2012 - 7:15pm

 

Document located at

 

http://www.lubbockgop.org/documents/LCRP-2012%20Platform%20Final.pdf

 

     This past week the local Republican Party released their 2012 platform. Prepared by twelve men and one woman the 27 page document outlines the apparently shared belief in matters of local, state and federal politics. A broad review of various subjects is made and actions needed are offered.

     In examining the document’s narrative I wonder if the positions taken are in keeping with what local citizens who identify themselves as Republican actually believe. Having been born and raised in Lubbock and making it my home for over 55 years I am concerned to see the inflammatory and questionable evidence backed stances offered in the document. It may be that the local GOP has been hijacked by a more extremist faction of the party.

According to this document, if you are a Republican in Lubbock you believe that:

Affirmative action should be repealed

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 should be thrown out

The Ten Commandments should be displayed without any interference wherever it should be placed

We should oppose the recognition of and granting of benefits to people who represent themselves as domestic partners without being legally married.

That the definition of marriage is one of a God-ordained, legal and moral commitment only between one natural man and one natural women. (I’m not sure what a natural man or women is and the document does not offer any definition)

The issuance of a marriage license to a same-sex couple would be a felony

That the legislature should rescind no-fault divorce laws.

That you support Covenant Marriage (again no definition of this)

That you believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases.

That homosexual partners should be denied insurance or retirement benefits

That the Texas sodomy laws should be restored

That innocent human life must be respected and safeguarded from fertilization to natural death (this position would mean that many forms of currently used birth control would become illegal and that, if used, the individuals involved would be guilty of murder)

That advanced directives and other end of life decision by individuals would be outlawed

That the physically dangerous RU-486 “morning after pill” be made illegal

That you oppose any school-based clinics and/or youth impact centers located at, sponsored by, or funded by any state agency or public school district

That no homosexual should have the right to custody or adoption of a minor child and that visitation with minor children by such persons should be prohibited

That you support an immediate transition to a system of private pensions away from the current social security system

That you recognize that AIDS and HIV infection represent a threat to human health and you support declaring HIV a “dangerous, infectious, communicable disease”

You support amendment of the Americans with Disabilities Act to exclude from its definition those persons with infectious diseases, substance addiction, behavior disorders, homosexual practices and mental stress

You oppose any sex education other than abstinence until heterosexual marriage

You want to repeal government-sponsored programs that deal with early childhood development

You want to remind administrators and school boards that corporal punishment is effective and legal in Texas

You demand that bilingual education be removed from school

You support the instruction of “Intelligent Design” as a proper theory of origin in school

You support allowing Concealed Handgun License holders to carry concealed weapons on the grounds and in buildings of publicly owned institutions of learning

You support the right of citizens to open carry handguns

You urge repeal of minimum wage laws and prevailing wage laws

You want to repeal the Occupational Safety and Health Act and to abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

You want to do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring and/or developing nuclear weapons

     I am unsure how this document was reviewed but a sampling of Republicans who I asked to review the language felt ill-at-ease with many aspects of the position put forth. If indeed this is the view of the majority of Republicans in Lubbock then it is justified to be put forth. However, if many in the ranks of Republicans are distressed by the positions taken then they face a challenge to retake their party.