Thomas A Benigno
Former elected member of the Republican Central Committee
Last week I learned about a meeting at the University of Pacific, hosted by a political professor or consultant from the College. The topic was to be on the Civility of Politics —meaning being polite & courteous— by the standards of the College.
It seems that every time we get bogged down on one topic or another, professors come out of the woodwork with their answer to all questions. I really believe that most professors get so involved on both sides of the issue or the party posing the question, that they get mixed up in their philosophy. If you’re a teacher or professor in any school, you’re going to support the side that pays you.
My point is: if you don’t support the unions or organizations that have thousands of members, you’re going to be targeted by them.
Getting back to Civility… this has been ramped in the last 10 years of politics. As many of you know, I ran against a fellow Republican twice and was criticized by my fellow party members for doing so. My response has been: he went to the left and I needed to make him straighten up. He didn’t and was beaten in another election and again in another district. The far reaching ramifications of the decision to run against him had to be done.
But the civility of the manner in which I was attacked by my party never has been cleared up. It was just an attempt to keep me out of the races by members of the Central Republican Committee which I no longer attend. They now call themselves the South San Joaquin Republican Central Committee, headed up by a few diehards and some new wannabe Republicans. I have used the word many times as cannibalism by the Republican Party. So as we can see there is no civility in any political party because it is being controlled by Big Money.
Will it ever change at this point? I don’t think so. Maybe a third party might help but not a party that uses the Republican platform as the TEA PARTY does.
Wrapping up this article with a choice of good words such as “let’s just learn how to get along” won’t do. The ability for one party to support each of its members won’t work anymore. Many talk show hosts are beating up on their guests, as did O’Reilly when Obama appeared on his show.
We really need to get back to the business of solving problems in America before we go out and waste taxpayers’ dollars and lives on these wars. Now even that statement will bring on the headhunters, who will say “you are un-American” if you don’t want to see America go to war to protect our so-called interests.
Back to the topic of civility, I doubt if it will ever be part of politics again with all the big money donated from corporations to candidates to run for office.
That’s the way to hit them, make them answer the questions they are ASKED.
Posted by citizen's voice | February 18, 2011, 1:10 am