Who is not a RINO?

[Likely Voter]

In the last election we saw Mitt 'severely conservative' Romney run to the right of both Gingrich and Perry on immigration, showing they werent true pure conservatives. This election season we have seen Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie already branded as tax raising, Obama loving RINOs. Rand Paul may be beloved to some but of course he is anti-war and anti war on drugs and probably a whole bunch of other things that won't past the purity test. And then you have Marco Rubio who is pushing for amnesty for them illegals, much worse than giving them in-state tuition. Bobby Jindal has criticized members of his own party, saying Republicans need to stop being 'stupid'. Jeb Bush has been squishy on plenty of issues. Rick Santorum voted for plenty of big deficit busting spending bills.

In the new world of RINOs and purity tests, who is a 'real' conservative anymore? Who can pass the purity test without someone attacking them from the right?

Or is Ted Cruz the only one?

[CountryClassSF]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

[MaxQue]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Ted Cruz isn't born in the US, through.

[CountryClassSF]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Ted Cruz isn't born in the US, through.

Constitutionally, he's still natural born because his mother was American born and thus he inherited citizenship upon birth.
 
Unlike the current occupant of the White House, there is no controversy surrounding his place of birth.

[Old Man Svensson]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Ted Cruz isn't born in the US, through.

Constitutionally, he's still natural born because his mother was American born and thus he inherited citizenship upon birth.
 
Unlike the current occupant of the White House, there is no controversy surrounding his place of birth.

You cannot be serious. You cannot tell me you're about to try and revive that argument.

[Morning in Atlas]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Ted Cruz isn't born in the US, through.

Constitutionally, he's still natural born because his mother was American born and thus he inherited citizenship upon birth.
 
Unlike the current occupant of the White House, there is no controversy surrounding his place of birth.

You cannot be serious. You cannot tell me you're about to try and revive that argument.

Exactly. If you're a birther, than you have an inherent problem with the fact that a black man can be President of the United States. I'm sure if Barack Obama was a white Democrat, then birthers would be brushed off as a bunch of crazy conspiracy theorists. Hell, even if he was black or named John Smith or your average WASP name, it'd probably be brushed off as conspiracy. Instead, since the President happens to be a black man with a foreign-sounding name, the validity of his birth is being questioned. Same applies for Ted Cruz and the Dems who think he isn't a valid citizen either. Cruz and Obama are as American as you and me, and both sides need to deal with it.

[MaxQue]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Ted Cruz isn't born in the US, through.

Constitutionally, he's still natural born because his mother was American born and thus he inherited citizenship upon birth.
 
Unlike the current occupant of the White House, there is no controversy surrounding his place of birth.

You cannot be serious. You cannot tell me you're about to try and revive that argument.

Exactly. If you're a birther, than you have an inherent problem with the fact that a black man can be President of the United States. I'm sure if Barack Obama was a white Democrat, then birthers would be brushed off as a bunch of crazy conspiracy theorists. Hell, even if he was black or named John Smith or your average WASP name, it'd probably be brushed off as conspiracy. Instead, since the President happens to be a black man with a foreign-sounding name, the validity of his birth is being questioned. Same applies for Ted Cruz and the Dems who think he isn't a valid citizen either. Cruz and Obama are as American as you and me, and both sides need to deal with it.

There is Democrats saving than Cruz isn't a valid citizen?

[CountryClassSF]

But the term "WASP" isn't racist or elitist and condescending. Ha.

[Old Man Svensson]

But the term "WASP" isn't racist or elitist and condescending. Ha.

Even if it is, it does not excuse the far more mind-blowing racism exhibited in the very concept of birtherism. I've not been a fan of Obama for years, but his incompetence and authoritarianism are nothing special. We've seen it all before him in nothing but white men.

[fezzyfestoon]

It all has to do with Americans' penchant for labeling people and separating them into categories. That coupled with their undying belief that they are always correct means anything different is wrong. Especially in our increasingly black and white political landscape. It's intellectual laziness exacerbated by dangerously exploitative political rhetoric.

[Sbane]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Ted Cruz isn't born in the US, through.

Constitutionally, he's still natural born because his mother was American born and thus he inherited citizenship upon birth.
 
Unlike the current occupant of the White House, there is no controversy surrounding his place of birth.

Obama's mom was a natural born citizen!!!!!!!!

[Middle-aged Europe]

Tom Coburn, Louie Gohmert, and Michele Bachmann would be examples of non-RINOs.

Marco Rubio has already committed numerous acts of treason by embracing left-wing immigration ideology. And Santorum is well-known for his Marxist leanings when it comes to economic issues.

[minionofmidas]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Ted Cruz isn't born in the US, through.

Constitutionally, he's still natural born because his mother was American born and thus he inherited citizenship upon birth.
 
Unlike the current occupant of the White House, there is no controversy surrounding his place of birth.

Obama's mom was a natural born citizen!!!!!!!!

The only "proof" we have of that is his word and the forgeries committed by the state of Hawai'i, a known bastion of Liberalism.

[pbrower2a]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Ted Cruz isn't born in the US, through.

Constitutionally, he's still natural born because his mother was American born and thus he inherited citizenship upon birth.
 
Unlike the current occupant of the White House, there is no controversy surrounding his place of birth.

Republicans need to get over the "place of birth of the President" stuff. Public records are definitive, lest we have legal anarchy. 

[Likely Voter]

OK well this got hijacked quickly and devolved fast into birtherism.

Back on topic...who is a 'real conservative' in the GOP anymore? Who cant be branded as a RINO?

[DINGO Joe]

Back on topic...who is a 'real conservative' in the GOP anymore? Who cant be branded as a RINO?

Birthers. 

[Maxwell]

Tom Coburn

Eh, I wouldn't say so. He is friendly with Obama and Schumer, so I'm thinking maybe a RINO. Also, he says there does need to be revenue in the equation, so yeah, total RINO socialist marxist.

Jim Inhofe isn't a RINO though.

[CountryClassSF]

Tom Coburn is chummy with Obama on a Chris Christie style level. He would not make a good candidate at the national level.

If these people can't differentiate themselves from the far-left, they aren't going to get the conservative base vote

[Cobbler]

Tom Coburn is chummy with Obama on a Chris Christie style level. He would not make a good candidate at the national level.

If these people can't differentiate themselves from the far-left, they aren't going to get the conservative base vote

Yeah, if we are friends with people who disagree with us, how on earth will people be able to differentiate us? [/teapartylogic]

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Cruz and Paul are 100% with me. On Obama CountryClassSF is correct.




Paul/Pence 2020

[Donerail]

[Maxwell]

Michele Bachmann was a Pro-Life Carter Democrat back in the 70s. No chance.

Gohmert or King may be the only two men with true purity rings.

[badgate]

Yeah, if we are friends with people who disagree with us, how on earth will people be able to differentiate us? [/teapartylogic]

We could ask for a show of hands

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

I do believe the Republican Party has been taken over by left wing liberals. Ted Cruz is a great conservative with a strong background.

The others are acceptable to me on 85% of issues. Ted Cruz, so far, 100%.

Ted Cruz isn't born in the US, through.

Constitutionally, he's still natural born because his mother was American born and thus he inherited citizenship upon birth.
 
Unlike the current occupant of the White House, there is no controversy surrounding his place of birth.

1. Obama was born in Hawaii.
2. You're an idiot.
3. I'm sorry, but I need to repeat #2: YOU'RE AN IDIOT
4. You're an Idiot
5. Even if Obama was born in Kenya, the same argument for Ted Cruz works for him. His mother was a natural-born citizen, so that makes him a citizen of the US.

[Donerail]

Michele Bachmann was a Pro-Life Carter Democrat back in the 70s. No chance.

Ah, but that only helps her. Being pro-Carter but then switching to pro-Reagan gives her a story about how she was personally changed by Ronald Reagan. The base loves that.