What is a “True Republican”?
By: BJ Lawson
It appears that my candidacy has ruffled some feathers within the local Republican party. I find that a shame, as I have been a registered Republican since I was 18 and consider myself a thoughtful and committed American who honestly wants what’s best for our country, my family, and my children.
I considered party affiliation carefully before deciding to run for office. While I don’t agree with 100% of the North Carolina GOP Platform, I agree with 90% of it. In my opinion, one of the most important lines in the GOP Platform is from the preamble:
4. We honor the original meaning of our Constitutions and the inalienable [sic] rights of the American people as recognized in the Bill of Rights and the North Carolina Declaration of Rights.
This statement is reiterated in Article III, Individual Liberty:
1. We embrace the vision for America established by our nation’s founders — the authors of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the North Carolina Declaration of Rights.
The word “Constitution” appears numerous time within the GOP Platform, and reinforces my desire to go to Congress as a Republican committed to restoring a Constitutional federal government.
Unfortunately, politics being what it is, there are those who would prefer to distort my beliefs instead of engaging in an honest debate about these critical topics. The message below was sent to a list of Republican party activists, and forwarded to me by a friend and supporter. I’ve copied the full text below for convenience, but wanted to respond to specific “allegations”:
BJ is a Libertarian.
I am not, and have never been, a Libertarian. I have been a registered Republican since I was 18 years old. I disagree with the Libertarian party’s positions on abortion and open borders.
He told that to Paul Stam himself.
I never told Mr. Stam that I was a Libertarian. While sitting down to visit Mr. Stam, he gave me the “World’s Smallest Political Quiz” that asked me to define the role of “government” (without specifying federal, state, or local) in specific economic and social situations. My answers were based upon my running for federal office, and upholding the U.S. Constitution. Because there is no Constitutional role for the federal government in the issues presented, I answered as such and thus scored as a “libertarian” (small l). However, some of the issues may be proper roles for state and local government, as determined by the people. It is essential that we as a nation recognize the difference between the roles of federal, state, and local governments. Mr. Stam is an attorney, Republican leader of the NC State House, and was Chair of the NCGOP’s platform committee, so I am sure he understands this critical issue.
He also told Bill Carraway he could not support the NCGOP Platform. He told Dan Cote the same thing.
I said no such thing. As I said above, I agree with 90% of the NCGOP Platform, to the extent that we follow it.
He told Martha Jenkins he didn’t know if he was in the right party and he might run as an independent.
My comments to Martha Jenkins were out of frustration with her taking me to lunch and telling me not to run for Congress. How can we have a representative form of government if the “party” decides which candidates should run for office? I am, and remain, a Republican. I have no intention of running as an Independent. Additionally, I find it interesting that my own District 4 chair is overt in her support of my primary opponent, even though the GOP’s rules would suggest that those in positions within the party should not show favoritism in party primaries.
Here is the full text of the email that was sent to local Republicans. I hope that each voter in the Fourth District will focus on the issues at stake in this election, and not make this a personal, negative campaign.
BJ
Please pass this information on to your contacts. We need to make sure that the candidate we support is a “true Republican” and will support the Republican Platform. From the information contained on this web site below, BJ Lawson is supporting the Libertarian platform– and Ron Paul. There is also evidence that the organization is trying to take over the Republican Party and use it to deliver the Libertarian candidates into office.
Here are some interesting threads of information from the website noted below::
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=86982Please read this link, and if you have time, scan the whole thread. Certain sections have been highlighted below:
- “We need to get him (BJ) into congress so he can run for president in 2012.” page 2
- Besides, if we don’t have people like BJ in Congress how will RP get his domestic agenda through as President?” page 2
- “what is the feedback from Republicans in the area? are they receptive/supportive? is the message getting across?” page 3, followed by “Again, it’s early, but I’d say that it’s very receptive and the message is getting across…. Also, BJ has already made some great inroads with local movers and shakers and other people of importance.” page 3 (He’s talking about us!! Because Republican groups are inviting him to speak).
- From a Lisa James who says she’s in the 4th District: “True. I told my husband that barring a straight up voting scandal, Dr. Paul will take this state. But wouldn’t it be awesome that as he goes into the presidential office, that an army of Ron Paul like pro liberty candidates like BJ are elected into Congress.” page 6
- OH yeah! We gotta take this guy down!” (Referring to Augustus Cho) page 7
- “While you people are at it, become precinct leaders.” page 9
There are many more quotes here that show what Ron Paul and his supporters are all about. I’ll end with this one.
- “Every election in which we can get a RonPaulitician in office is crucial. ALL of them from local, county, state, and national elections. The Revolution is about taking the entire runaway, reckless government back, not just the office of the President. This has to happen regardless of the outcome of the 2008 Presidential race. This can’t be a one election effort, it has to continue from now on. Remember that every RonPaulitician we have in Congress is another vote against future Patriot Acts, unbalanced budgets, bad monetary and foreign policy, and illegal wars that affect each and every one of us. How do you eat an elephant? (no Republican party pun intended ) One bite at a time. (hopefully with many others helping!) The whole reason we are in this mess today is because Americans became apathetic, lazy, and were not paying attention to what was going on. Thankfully people are waking up finally but extensive damage has already been done. As for the 2008 Presidential race, Ron Paul has already won in that the R3volution has been begun, and the window for doing so peacefully is closing. If anyone is not looking at this as a lifetime commitment, then not much has changed from what got us in the place we are presently in.” page 10
Ron Paul makes no bones that he is a Libertarian. BJ is a Libertarian. He told that to Paul Stam himself. He also told Bill Carraway he could not support the NCGOP Platform. He told Dan Cote the same thing. He told Martha Jenkins he didn’t know if he was in the right party and he might run as an independent. One of his supporters told me that they would take over the precincts and spread through the groups like a virus.
We all need to realize what is happening here.
The only candidate to file in the 4th District so far that is a “true Republican” and supports the Republican Platform is Augustus Cho. He has served the Republican Party and has stated publicly time and again that he is a true conservative and supports the Republican Platform. All this makes it even more important for good Republicans to be sure to attend their precinct meetings to support the true Republicans and our Republican platform!!
January 15th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
It’s not big L libertarians that Martha Jenkins should be paranoid about, its little r republicans who have gone on the offensive to to take their party back from big R Rhinos — a dying breed thankfully.
P.S. Someone also needs to tell the NC GOP platform committee that our country’s Declaration of Independence speaks of UNalienable rights.
January 15th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I wouldn’t sweat it BJ. This kind of childish behavior will backfire on whomever sent out the email… I would love to know who sent i
Your message is positive, so you don’t have to send out secret emails…
January 15th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Welcome to politics, B.J. Stay strong and focused, don’t waste your time on the negativity!
January 15th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Jim — great point on the “inalienable” rights. I was also initially confused by the plural “Constitutions”, but I’m assuming it refers to the NC State Constitution in addition to our United States Constitution.
January 16th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Regarding the tone of the e-mail, the author needs to be reminded that the U.S. House of Representatives is the People’s House, not the Party’s House.
Registered Republican voters in District 4 will determine the “True Republican” that will sit in David Price’s old office.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:50 am
It’s a shame that the Republican Party has strayed so far away from a constitutionally limited federal government. It’s a shame that the Republican Party has become the War Party and the Welfare Party.
I find it offensive for folks in the party to allege that BJ isn’t “Republican” enough. Are they reading their own platform?
January 16th, 2008 at 9:39 am
That’s depressing - I am usually mocked and attacked by my “liberal” and Democrat friend for vocalizing support for Ron Paul. I see that hypocrisy knows no ideological bounds.
You’ve got my vote, BJ.
January 16th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I think some of these so-called “Republicans” need to have a reality check. I’m not so sure why they are afraid of a Ron Paul style Republican. I am a registered Republican, in Wake County, and not affiliated with the big-L Libertarians. I sometimes vote for Libertarian candidates, though, because the GOP often puts forward candidates that don’t match up well with their own stated party platform. Often the Libertarian party candidates match up better (with notable exceptions, as you mentioned, including immigration and abortion issues).
Taking a look at the Republicans in North Carolina, we have a sorry mess. We have quite a number of them who are entirely unelectable. Those that we do have in office often have a more statist leaning, completely out of line with the Constitutional ideals set forth in the party platform.
This is the sort of attitude that has alienated so many Republicans from the party. I briefly registered as a Libertarian because of what the Republican party has become. But I decided that I won’t let this great party be taken over by the neocons and statists. Like Ron Paul, I would like to see true conservatism return to the Republican party.
Maybe some of these folks who prefer a false sense of security over individual liberty, continuation of our poor fiscal policies, borrow-and-spend budgeting, and legally coerced morality and faith should consider starting their own party instead of hijacking ours. They have turned the Republican party into the party of big government, a dubious distinction formerly owned by the Democrats. Is this not a bright red flashing sign to the party leaders that they are backing the wrong people?
January 16th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
” Remember that every RonPaulitician we have in Congress is another vote against future Patriot Acts, unbalanced budgets, bad monetary and foreign policy, and illegal wars that affect each and every one of us.”
And they put that on an email meant to discredit BJ??? People that read that will say “Wait. Isn’t that exactly what we want??? I’m voting for BJ”.
Go BJ!
January 16th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I thought this video on Reagan would settle the “who is a real Republican” issue.
Please pass this back the NC Republican leadership.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STLR6tFP4S4
January 16th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
BJ Lawson, you are one constitutional freak.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Hi Everyone!
Get used to it. One of neoconservatives real contributions to our party has been to bring our level of discourse down to that of liberal democrats. Which, of course, many of the neocons used to be, if they didn’t actually worship Stalin or Trotsky.
It used to be said of Stalin that he aimed his arguments not at your mind, but at your skull.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Doesn’t that just inspire people to start walking pavement, knocking on doors, and taking back the Republic?
January 16th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
How can I donate to this campaign?
January 16th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Ben, thanks!
https://www.lawsonforcongress.com/donate
… oh, and you get on the real-time donation ticker on the front page (www.lawsonforcongress.com) with a $20 donation. But we’d encourage you to max out, as well :-). As you can tell, we have quite a primary on our hands.
But we’re committed to staying positive, and focusing on the issues.
In liberty,
BJ
January 16th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I just donated
January 16th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Skip Stam gave me the same questionnaire when we attended a Huckabee gathering in Greensboro a few weeks ago. He asked me if I was a libertarian, and I said, no, but considering most of the things the Federal Government is doing today it is hard for a strict Constitutionalist not to sound like one. He conceded the point. Well, Skip and I go back over 30 years. He supports the view that the law must have a Biblical basis in order to be sound that Mike Huckabee is now putting forward. Personally, I think these two views should be wedded, particularly among Ron Paul Republican candidates here in the South. Take a strict view of the Constitution in allocating the division of authority between national and state governments, but support the view in general that if the Bible doesn’t forbid it, the State shouldn’t stop people from doing it!
January 16th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
If I lived in NC I would certainly vote for you. Looks like there are some people in your party who are afraid of the true republican platform; freedom. It appears they do not take much stock in their own NC Constitution. How did they ever get in office in the first place? Good luck to you Mr. Lawson, and may God be with you and with those true Republican Americans who support you.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
BJ,
You are exactly what our straying party needs to remind us of our roots and founding principles. It is an honor to have you represent the Republican party. Stay above the negativity, keep focussed on the goal and perservere my friend. Your family is a positive model of the American dream and we beleive in you! You’re a good man BJ Lawson.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Guess who said this:
“If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism . . . The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is . . . I stand on my statement that I think that libertarianism and conservatism are travelling the same path.”
Ronald Reagan said it, that’s who, in a 1975 interview with Reason magazine.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Can you please put up a donation link on your website? I want to donate, and I’m sure others do, too.
***
John — Just go to https://www.lawsonforcongress.com/donate
Thanks!
In liberty,
BJ
January 16th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I was a registered Republican for a long time but left the GOP when they abandoned the Constitution and became indistinguishable from big government, tax & spend Democrats. It is because of patriots like you and Ron Paul that I am re-joining the Republican party and have hopes that we will one day be the Grand Old Party again.
You have my vote!
January 16th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I’m unsure how they consider those quotes from ronpaulforums.com are meant to be negative. I consider them a plus for you. But I suppose I’m biased: I support liberty, and all candidates that do.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:59 am
We need to unite the libertarian, constitution and the vast majority of the republican parties along with the many who have left all parties long ago, not to mention the next generation that will be voting age in the next few years.
We need a movement so huge that no amount of vote rigging or media blackouts will be able to stand.
I pray America will last that long.
I support you all the way along with the hundreds to follow.
Life, Liberty, Property!
January 17th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Ha! Welcome to GOP politics. The state party has been corrupt for as long as I can remember (and I’m a former GOP activist and NCSU College Republican Chair). Their despicable tactics and desire for power (along with their support for war and big government, and their authoritarian, religion-based views on social and civil liberty issues) helped push me away from the GOP and conservatism altogether. I became a libertarian (and Libertarian) and never looked back. But you’ve got my support for the GOP nomination, BJ (and the general election, if no Libertarian runs).
January 17th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Well, I for one will be talking to Skip Stam about this. My guess is that his name is being used out of context.
Whether or not he is, I’ll be using this letter and BJ’s response to recruit new supporters. I love it when an opponent plays right into your hands. You can’t ask for a better advertisement.
So, I wonder what they think a “true Republican” is and how close it is to the NCGOP Platform.
January 17th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
That email convinced me to vote for you and even to donate, more than I would otherwise!
January 18th, 2008 at 11:24 am
[...] you can imagine, the Republican establishment of North Carolina are trying to smear Dr. Lawson with the dreaded L-word. The GOP elites are putting up a primary opponent in this heavily Democratic district because the [...]
January 21st, 2008 at 8:23 pm
As the person who made the thread that is being quoted in the e-mail, and as a person who is also quoted in the e-mail, I admit at first this got under my skin a little, but then I remembered that our message is a positive message and we will always rise above these kinds of petty attacks. Still, it’s a real shame to see them occur, especially from people who are suppose to be the higher ups in the local Republican Party. I feel embarrassed for them. This is hardly the kind of behavior you should expect from people like them.
But, there’s no reason to sweat it. Their attacks show us that we’re the front runner and no matter what they say, BJ is more of a “true Republican” than they’ll probably ever be. Even the NC GOP platform proves that his views are the views of the NC Republican Party.
I am confident that BJ’s positive message and focus on the issues will lead us to victory because that is what North Carolinians and the people of the Forth District REALLY care about. We will rise above these smears and, in fact, we already have!
January 25th, 2008 at 10:00 am
You should take it as a compliment that the self-styled “real Republicans” try to smear you by calling you a Libertarian. I grew up a Goldwater Republican and now I’m an unrepentant libertarian, in philosophy as well as party affiliation (even though the State in our damaged Republic doesn’t allow me to register in that party).
I am curious. You say you agree with (only) 90% of the GOP platform, and much of the Libertarian platform. How much?
****************************************
“A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.” (Barry Goldwater)
January 26th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Brian - I haven’t studied the Libertarian platform in detail, but my primary disagreements are with open borders and unrestricted abortion rights.
My “platform” is ultimately the United States Constitution, and the philosophical framework of the Declaration of Independence!
February 4th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I think they’re scared of someone that actually respects Liberty and believes in following the constitution. They’re shaking in their boots that BJ will follow through with this race.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Brian,
I wish you luck with your campaign, but it is very disappointing to see you dis the Libertarian Party like this. You are applying a much higher standard to the text of the Libertarian Party, by nit-picking about two issues, when in fact there are a ton of issues that you claim to disagree with in the Republican Party .. CLEARLY you don’t agree with 90% of their junk do you?
1. The War on Terror, and interventionism IS a very big part of the Republican Party, whether you or Ron Paul wants to acknowledge that or not. True since WW2, Republicans were put into office to end some wars, but if you are going to ignore the present situation by looking backwards in history, back in the late 1800s, interventionism and expansionism was very Republican: they wanted to grab Cuba, the Philippines, Hawaii, etc. Non-interventionism is a CORE ideology of the Libertarian Party, and always has been.
2. The War on Drugs was started by Republicans. Nixon’s administration to be specific. Many Democrat voters hate Republicans because they see that party as “big government on social issues.” Of course, Democrats also like to infringe upon social rights, just the same as Republicans like to tax. Are you going to give the Republican Platform a pass on their infringement on social rights?
You know, I understand that it is practical to run as a Republican if you want to have reasonable chances to get into office, but believe me: kissing up to the party establishment at the expense of people who WOULD support you is not going to get you very far. Ron Paul does not do this, and I full-heartedly believe that Ron Paul would run as a Libertarian if it were viable.
About your disagreement with abortion: Note that Murray Sabrin was allowed to run a pro-life platform arguing that it is not a “victimless crime” since the fetus is a victim. The Libertarians will accept deviation from their mainstream platform so long as you have some good LOGIC to back up your policy. By the way, do you believe that a woman should be denied an abortion if the pregnancy is endangering her life or longterm health? Do you believe a teenage girl who is raped should not be allowed to have an abortion? This is not a simple issue, and extremists on either side are unreasonable; clearly pro-choicers should acknowledge that the government should NEVER be paying for this, as many Democrats argue.
Also, do you really feel that immigration is a higher priority item than our policy about conducting wars, or economic spending and taxation issues?
I would like to believe that any Democrat or Republican that I vote for, would be the type of politician that might someday shock the establishment by announcing “I am switching to the Libertarian Party” after getting elected. Not that it has to happen, but I want to support somebody who is going to infiltrate these parties .. not somebody who is going to get absorbed by the parties and start making compromises when he or she starts voting on issues.
February 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Lawrence — Thanks for your comments, and my initials (BJ) stand for Bill Junior. Perhaps one day I’ll outgrow that :).
It’s not my intention to “dis” the Libertarian party any more than any other party. Ultimately, my platform is working for a Consitutional federal government. But I do like Thomas Jefferson’s quote on the topic of political parties:
“I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.”
–Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 1789. ME 7:300
I’ve been a Republican all my life, but I clearly disagree with some parts of the platform. Likewise, I have disagreements with the Democratic party, and the Libertarian party. I try to avoid labels at all costs, and focus on the issues.
Regarding the issues:
The War on Terror/Endless Occupation/Nationbuilding *is* part of the Republican party’s status quo. But that status quo leads to bankruptcy and economic devastation, evaporation of our freedoms, and destruction of our civil liberties. Some have the luxury of fighting against these forces from outside the Republican party. I have the task of fighting against these forces from within the Republican party. In either case, the survival of our Constitutional republic is an *American* issue, and not a partisan issue. I hope you’ll support my efforts to work for a free, prosperous nation that can truly be a light on a hill, even though I choose to work within the Republican party. How great would it be for the Republicans, Libertarians, and Democrats to be on the same side with respect to this critical issue?
The federal War on Drugs is also an unconstitutional abomination. I am no more supportive of the War on Drugs than I am on the War on Terror. State and local governments should be entirely free to decide how to manage the challenge of addiction, to the extent they believe it needs to be addressed by the government.
Regarding abortion, my view is fairly nuanced based upon my medical training. I absolutely believe that abortion is not a victimless crime. The unborn baby is the victim. As a physician, I’ve seen too many stillbirths during my training stints on labor and delivery — what sort of OB would comfort a mother who just lost a child by saying, “Don’t worry, it’s just a fetus”? On the other hand, if the mother’s life is truly in danger (which is an extremely rare occasion), that’s a decision where the government shouldn’t be in the room. That moral decision is between the woman, her physician, and God. Since I believe that life begins at conception, one must also recognize that there is a window of time where we don’t know if conception has even occurred. On that basis, emergency contraception in the wake of tragic events is less of a legal issue for me and more a spiritual and moral decision where again, the government shouldn’t be in the room.
Regarding immigration, you should check out Roy Beck at NumbersUSA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyTmClBU7nA
I’m a big fan of sustainability. Our current de facto open borders policy is objectively non-sustainable.
Finally, I have no intention of “kissing up” to the party establishment. Even if I was that type of person (which I’m not — I have to look my kids in the eye), there aren’t enough of them to matter at the ballot box. Here’s the sad truth for the Republican party in my District:
Wake County - Pretty evenly matched between Republicans and Democrats
Durham and Orange Counties - For the number of voters who vote in 75% of the major elections for which they are eligible, the Democrats outnumber Republicans 4 to 1. Yes, 4 to 1.
Yet the GOP establishment in Durham and Orange counties are generally fairly hostile towards my candidacy, using all sorts of backroom and laughable “covert” tactics including encouraging young folks to “spy” on my campaign. (Hint - want to know where I am? Look at my Events calendar. Want to know how much money I’ve raised? Look at my home page.)
What are they protecting? A social club? It isn’t much of a political party.
Lawrence, we need to pull together on this as free Americans. Find the best candidates you can, support them, and work for change. Better yet, run for office yourself!
BJ
February 15th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I think this is absurd. It is all a bunch of lies, half-truths, and fallacious reasoning. It is ridiculous. I hope that you got this out to the Republican community.
February 16th, 2008 at 12:59 am
The Libertarian party came into existence in the first place, because many Republicans were disgusted with Nixon’s policies, particularly his devaluation of the dollar. Any true Republican should be doing their level best to return their party to its roots, and bring the Libertarians back into the fold.
-jcr
May 5th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I listened to Augustus Cho’s attack ad against JB Lawson this morning and have decided to support Mr. Lawson. It became obvious that Mr. Cho is another republican who will be controlled by the national republican party. The same party that will in all likelihood, will have the RINO John McCain as their presidential candidate. I am voting for JB Lawson, a true conservative and Constitutionalist.
September 16th, 2008 at 4:26 am
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October 12th, 2008 at 12:06 am
How sad to see that it is seen as a negative to be labeled as a libertarian (big or little L). The Republican Party owes much of its foundations to libertarian and conservative principles. I too am not a Libertarian, in the political party sense, but a libertarian as BJ Lawson is - a historically true Republican. Wake up party leaders.