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Why are you a Republican?

Posted: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 1:44 PM
Filed Under:

By John Brecher, msnbc.com multimedia producer

Click play to see a variety of people at the Republican National Convention explain why they are Republicans.

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Comments

Why are we republicans? Because we care only about ourselves. Now get a job and do something with your life. No free hand outs in our party!

William Burns in the great state of Florida (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:40 PM)

I am a Republican because it much easier to tell god fearing, gun-rubbing, warmongering, creationist believing conservatives, what to do with thier mind, body and souls than those damn liberals.

David Bittes (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:40 PM)

I always wanted to be a Republican, but I never had enough money.  I think the past 8 years has made me glad I'm poor.

Candace, Charleston, SC (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:41 PM)

You don't see msnbc asking democrats "why are you  democrat?"  So what's the big deal!  Leave it to the media to stir up drama and caos.    

Christina, Salt Lake City Utah (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:41 PM)

while no doubt a skewed sample (I mean, who goes to these things?), that was still pretty demoralizing...considering these guys have been the majority for 8yrs.  

and how about that perspective on freedom implementation...that had to have been dubbed from a legalization interview on Haight Ashbury or something...

Brad, Seattle (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:41 PM)

Definition of a Republican:   arrogant, old money, backward thinker.   If you are not one of these, then you are a Democrat!  


Andrew, St. Louis, Mo (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:42 PM)

I'm republican because we're the party who gives us more freedom... unless you're not like us, unless you're a minority, unless you're gay, unless you're not a fundamentalist crazed religious nut, unless you're not white, etc. etc. etc.

Joseph Chicago IL (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:42 PM)

Wow, not one person in this video demonstrated a capacity for rational thought or a grasp of reality. All they do is parrot the lies and half truths that they hear on talk radio.

Count me as one independent that's now leaning HEAVILY  towards Obama - Biden

Jack, San Diego CA (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:43 PM)

You know for all the right wing christians teaching people to fish; the bible accounts for the very first social program. Under God's law you were to leave the edges of the fields for the poor, the widowed and the traveller. Is the only thing they believe from Genesis creationism? How about the rest of the chapter or the rest of the book for that matter.

Aaron Blankenship, Durham North Carolina (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:43 PM)

Republicans represent everything that is wrong with America - perpetual war, environmental degradation, a complete lack of respect for other nations and their resources, big benefits for the rich, no benefits for the poor, and the list goes on and on.

Gretchen, ex-pat until Democrats take back the White House (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:43 PM)

absolutely mind boggling.
now I understand how Bush got elected.

Mary Joy, Phoenix, AZ (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:44 PM)

I am a Republican because I am a college educated, retired professional engineer.  We think for ourselves and generally use logic to come to an intelligent well thought out conclusion.  We are not sheep and don't follow the lemmings off the cliff! we feel educating ourselves and working hard will allow us to move up economically and in society.  We hate it when a bunch of non-technical idiots tell us what to do especially when it comes to energy and monetary policy! The same fools that approved ethanol! I've worked hard and saved my whole working life and now have a comfortable retirement if the taxes don't take it all before my time on earth ends!

Jim, Las Cruces, NM (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:44 PM)

OK I think I've had enough.  Why is it Democrats, like the ones here, resort to snide comments.  Do you truly think your being funny?  For nullandvoid, while a Republican was in office during the attack, a democrat was in office when it was planned.  There is equal blame to go around.  Shouldn't the hate stop within the country and we start to come together?  No matter what dem's think there will never be just one party.  Only McCain has shown even a willingness to reach across the aisle.  Obama hasn't and it seems Dem's don't want him too.  To what gain is this thinking???  How is it you think yourselves above people who are reb's??  Explain without hate bombs please...

And stop thinking this video is being shown here as an example of what MSNBC saw.  This network stopped being impartial probably 20 years ago.  They picked people that were not exactly the most eloquent to represent the Republican point of view.  For a week, I watched your convention with an open mind.  All I heard was hate, blame and Socialistic ideas.   (before you disagree that Obama is not a socialist here is a definition:  refers to any of various economic and political concepts of state or collective (i.e. public) ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods and services, some of which have been developed into more or less highly articulated theories and/or praxis.  In a Marxist or labor-movement definition of the term, socialism is a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done with the goal of creating a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community.

Bob in San Diego (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:44 PM)

I'm Republican because I , Have Religon that says life is important. Don't kill baby's, I am pro Gun i believe We have right to protect ourselves. I haven't heard any more Bombs going off  here since 9-11 have you. I Value our Flag. And I value our gov. of the people not by some gourp who says we wnat the UN to lead us. X-Democrate since Ronald Reagon Zapppp! Ben  

Ben f Graves (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:45 PM)

It's amazing how these intellectually-challenged fools even found their way to the convention.  AAAAHHH....I can only dream of what it would be like to live in ignorant bliss.....

Obama2008 (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:45 PM)

Funny...does nullandvoid know that the hijackers were already in america plotting to destroy the twin towers when good ol Billy boy was in office...interesting how people forget these things.

blah blah blah (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:45 PM)

How can anything with a BRAIN vote Republican!

Hugh, Left Coast, USA (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:46 PM)

OH Man, I needed a laugh today, that did it for me. The redheaded chick had no idea what she was talking about!

zoey, Scottsdale, Arizona (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:46 PM)

My reason is simply because I got tired of the whiny "blame America 1st" mentality most liberals had/have.
As an immigrant to this great nation, I am aware of the rights & freedoms to exercise a view or opinion. My way of disagreeing with the libs was to go to the other side of the aisle, the right.
Doesn't mean I can't work w/ my lib counterparts, but I am wary of what they see as "America" & the amount of time many spend on complaining instead of doing. Call me of low intellect or a redneck or a Jesus freak, don't matter to me, you have the right, but definately call me a Republican & we'll be just fine.

henry sarria, Isla Vista, CA (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:46 PM)

Yep, and guess what. Pretty much half of the people in this country are stupid as these folks or even worse. That's why Fear & Smear works so well, and also why the Republicans can never win on the issues, because their supporters don't understand the issues anyway, they just know "Fear" and "Taxes" and that's it. Might as well be a bunch of Frankensteins running around going "Fire Bad!" at this convention, it's about as informative and relevant to the actual real world.

Kevin M, Los Angeles CA (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:47 PM)

Because I am extremely wealthy, and I do not wish to relinquish my wealth.

Patrick; Burr Ridge, IL (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:47 PM)

Using stereotypes and generalities paints you as a closed minded fool.

Bob, Santa Rosa, CA (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:47 PM)

I was a lifelong Dem until the past few years, was voting for more and more republican on a state level. The long primary forced me to look at my own party and I did not like the hypocritical values they now seem to represent. At least with the Republicans whether I agree with them on every issue or not I KNOW exactly where they stand.

Dems are Pro-Choice? Then why are they attacking this woman's decision to have a child at 17? She is an adult, in most states if she had committed a murder we would say she was an adult ready to accept the consequences of her action. The party is too wishy-washy- I can't make a difference if their views change and reasoning goes from one extreme to another.

As a Republican maybe I can get my local politicians to look at my views and what's important to me and why I may disagree with them. Maybe I can make a difference. That's not possible in the Dem party- they would just silence my vote if I disagree with them.

mel (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:47 PM)

I  am a Republican because of their values which  I feel is strongly missing with many  Democrats.

Who got us into WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam?  Democrats.
Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and Johnson......

I had close family  and friends in ALL Three Democrat Wars--- we have lived with the damage, the losses, and the hatred of those who are disrespectfully and protesters. This people who fought in those wars, did so not by choice, but because they were drafted to support this country.

Who got the budget balance in the Clinton's term, the republican congress....but who took credit...Clinton.

Who was a draft dodger?  Clinton.. Who ignored our troops in Iran but committed troops to Afganistan...Obama..



I don't care for George Jr., but admire John McCain.


Who was in charge of the Fed. Reserve, and knew about the housing bubble for several years, but ignored it?  Mr. Greenspan, whose wife Andrea Mitchell is a very well known Democrat?  Did Mr. Greenspan fail to tell the public for political reasons? Perhaps the news media needs to investigate there own.

Lynn Welker (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:47 PM)

Let me get this right - Republicans are for Life (unless, of course, you are black and in prison), liberty (except for those being tortured in secret prisons in Eastern Europe or held without due process in Cuba, or anyone who uses the phone, email, internet, and anyone who doesn't share the Evangelical beliefs they put into the crimial law), and property (except for the poor, or those with devastating illness in the family)?  And small goverment (except for the massive growth in domestic spending, international quagmires, and debts), and lower taxes (except that the $7 trillion in new debt over the past 7 years means 18% of each tax dollar now goes to pay interest, rather than tax relief or other uses).

Yeah, OK. I'm down with that.  

Dave, Richmond Va (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:47 PM)

I am a Republican because I want to keep all of the money that I can make. Ten million is not enough. If taxes go up I will not attain the financial importance that I dream of.

Only God can protect my fortune.

Jim, Bangor, Maine (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:47 PM)

It seems to me that most Republicans want to live in a First World country, but don't want to pay for it.  The  safe highways and cars they drive, the clean water and food they consume, the very air they breathe, all of this and more they take for granted.  The truth is that Republicans and Democrats will never agree on how to run a country.  Maybe splitting the country would be a good idea, if only because twenty years of Republican policy would prove to them all how bankrupt their ideas are (much like our Treasury under their president.)

Byron, Miami, Florida (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:47 PM)

TO DeeDee in Oregon.  I AM intellectual and I DO think for myself which is why I AM a republican.  I don't need Hollywood or anyone else telling me who I should vote for just because they are supporting this candidat or that candidate.  I'm not a lemming and I won't blindly follow anyone from any political party.  I've read the Constitution and I'm quite knowledgeable about what it says.  I know the process to elect our President and I also know the process to send forces to war.  THE PRESIDENT CANNOT DO IT.  It takes Congress to declare war and even if the President commits troops to foreign soil, the War Powers Act limits the time they can be there before Congress has to declare war or vote to withdraw the troops.

My choice for President will be the person I feel will best hold Congress responsible for inaction because it's obvious that those of us who voted them into Congress aren;t doing a good job  of holding them responsible for inaction...they keep getting reelected.  My choice for President will be the person I best feel will veto stupid bills sent before him that include millions of my tax dollars to study the migratory patterns of the California fruit fly even when it's attached to a bill that needs to be passed. (Line item veto would be a wonderful thing.)  My choice for President is someone who knows when diplomacy will work and when it won't and will recommend the appropriate course of action for Congress to act upon.

So, as an intellectual Republican, my choice for President has yet to be determined.  I don't blindly vote the party line.  I vote for what's best for this country based on FACTS and not from what Left or Right claims as fact.

Deb, Las Vegas Nevada (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:48 PM)

Borrowed from Jim Crawford:

 I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's freedom, ability, and opportunity, must be responsibly honored and protected.

   I BELIEVE in equal rights, justice, and opportunity for all, regardless of race, religion, creed, sex, age, or disability.

  I BELIEVE free enterprise and individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth, and prosperity.  

   I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

   I BELIEVE the proper, Constitutional,  role of government is to provide the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and that the best government is the government which governs least.

   I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible, and responsive government is government closest to the people.

  I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to proactively meet the challenges of changing times.

  I BELIEVE Americans value, and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom, and human rights throughout the world.

 I BELIEVE today, of the two national parties, the Republican Party most nearly represents traditional family values and Constitutional principles and is currently the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful functions of government.  

Tim (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:49 PM)

Seriously - I don't even know why I watched that because I knew it would bother me.  Why is it that the majority of them are always concerned about their own interests being protected?  Its the selfishness that 95% of Republicans have that bothers me.  Its always about "me" instead of "we."  You are a Republican because you want to be able to shoot your gun?  I am a registered Democrat and I don't care if you shoot a gun; just don't shoot it at me because I have different beliefs than you do.

Scott, Upstate New York (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:49 PM)

deedee i disagree i take it u dont read your BIBLE i am nor Rep or Dem i vote according to what the bible sayes    
if u want to know what i believe on this come and see me on paltalk

allen (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:49 PM)

They're there for the party (as in , celebration, gathering, not the Republican party).

Amie, Bayfield, CO (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:50 PM)

"I'm a republic because they know how to implement freedom".....hello Patriot Act?

Confused Dem, lost in a red state. (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:50 PM)

Do you not understand what is going on here?  The Liberal media has performed 100's of interviews of people at the RNC.  They decide to only show the ones that are the most extreme, crazy, and fanatical.  Most Republicans are not like this.  I am a Republican because I believe that this is a Nation under God, that we each have a right to persue the American dream without the threat of overburdening taxes.  I believe that we should be safe from terrorism and be able to protect our liberty and the liberty of our global neighbors.  The biggest reason I am a Republican, however, is because I believe that each citizen should be responsible for his/ her decisions.  If you have sex, you better be willing to live with the consequences whether that is a baby, STD's, whatever!  I am sorry, but the role of the government is NOT to bail us out when we get into trouble.  If we buy a house we cannot afford, we must live with the consequences.  If we make a risky investment and lose all our money, that is our own fault- we should understand the risks before making decisions.  This is why God gave us a brain!!  This is my rant, but it is truly why I am a Republican.

John Corrigan, Orem, UT (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:50 PM)

none of these people made any sense...that girl who loves her shotgun doesn't realize that democrats aren't agasint her participating in competitive shotgun events....its the the inner city drive by shootings democrats are trying to prevent.

manny (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:50 PM)

I am a minority and a Republican, because I don't like the idea of Democrats portraying minorities as weak and as victims of discrimination. Republicans are not about social welfare, class warfare and double standards. We are about working hard to earn a living and to achieving specific goals. I also believe in less government, balance taxation and strong military.  

June, Spring valley, CA (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:50 PM)

Just in response:
because most of them have a low intellect and can't think for themselves.. (Bush graduated from Harvard with a higher GPA than Kerry and most likely you)
Does that chimney sweeper know the Republicans were in office when the planes hit the Twin Towers?(The reason the twin towers were bombed was because Osama was upset that Clinton did absolutely nothing in response to the Cole bombing)
Bad foreign policy for the last 8 years has made us weaker and less safe than before. (If we're weaker, why haven't we been attacked here since 9/11??????? Also would you like to discuss how many times we have been attacked during the Clinton years?????)

Gunny (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:51 PM)

Thank you for sharing that video. It just confirms that the Republicans are ditto heads. Parrots that repeat what they are told, regardless of facts.

DJF San Diego (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:51 PM)

Why are they Republican,

1. Hypocrite (Sarah’s pregnant teenage daughter which is republican family value)
2. Crook (Stealing tax payer’s money through big Corporation)
3. Racist (Affiliation with KKK)

Sam, Minneapolis (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:52 PM)

Why are you guys hating on the party of Lincoln?  The GOP has kept the country safe, fighting the terrorists on their soil, not ours.  You think the Democrats could do even half as good?  Now we're talking about la-la land.

Brian in PA (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:52 PM)

This doesn't give any sort of insight into real reasons that these people are republicans. Unfortunately this seems to be about a matter of Republican VS Democrat and not Right VS Wrong. It is truly a shame we can not find one person to lead us who we can agree as a nation best represents us.

Crystal in Denver, Colorado (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:52 PM)

Now those are funny

denny,culver city, ca (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:52 PM)

Why am I a republican? Because of the comments from people like all of you. You are so blind it's scary. The planning of 911 took place during Clintons stay in office. The difficult times for the military over the last 8 years is due in large part to Clintons inability to act against threats and to let them build to the point that something had to be done. Foreign Policy experts had all agreed that there would be major political upheaval in the middle east over the next 20 years. The US acted quickly so that it would be fought on our terms and not dictated by someone else. In the absense of the law and police, if the guy down the street says he's gonna kill you and your family sometime in the next five years I bet everyone of you would kill him first. Thats all the USA did, it acted proactively. Every liberal I have ever spoken to refuses to admit there are absolutes and takes you on a journey of circular logic that will make your head spin. The only thing that unites all of you is your particular special interest that you do not want to see takin away. A perfect example of liberalism is the practice of political correctness that robs our right of free speech by stifling any opposition to the liberal agenda. Believe in the right to life you are a baby killer. Believe in the right to bear arms and you are a gun nut. Believe in god himself and you are a Jesus freak. I am a Republican because I believe that the government should stay the f*ck out of my life. All of you need to come down off of your high horses and realize that there are good and bad in both parties. Go ask some inner city moron why he is a democrat and see what kind of answers you get, I'm sure they will be doosies.

Ron Md (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:53 PM)

ps. Know you won't post our replies to your questions or maybe just this one because I called you on it, but the fem group I belong to has a censor watch on this site and how many McCain support replies you refuse to post or anti Obama. Yesterday's count was over 200 from members. I know I personally have posted over 50 replies in support of McCain or Clinton that were never approved over the past year.

mel (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:53 PM)

This is why.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24502967/

"apparently because liberals lack ideological rationalizations that would help them frame inequality in a positive (or at least neutral) light."

Ideological Rationalization (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:54 PM)

Low Intellect????? Uhmmm ... I wish we can pick a subject … almost any .. and compare … advance math, simple math, history, bible studies, science, engineering, languages (how many do you speak? – most of my republicans friends speak at least two … some of us understand 4-6).  How many books do you read a year?  1-4?  I guess not 50.  Please, don’t insult people, don’t call them “low intellectuals” just because they don’t agree with you.  I meet in a room full a PhDs every day, and we are all republicans. I imagine you can find a lot of very intelligent people in the democratic party, so I don’t think intelligence is a party thing.

Hector (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:54 PM)

I might be a Registered as a Republican, but Bush/McCain blew it for the past 8 yrs, so they don't get my vote this time.

Dan Los Angeles CA (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:54 PM)

The reason I don't like Democrats is they belittle the "bitter" people you elitist POS.

Mark, New York (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:55 PM)

i'm a republican because.... baaa baaa baaa

I love that last guy
"i'm a republican because there is a hole in the ground."

bwahahahahaaaaaa

PAUL TEMPE, AZ (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:55 PM)

From what I see, not many republicans responding tho that question.. Either they don't read or have nothing to say, just like their leaders.

deedee Or (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:57 PM)



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