Please Bring Back the Big Tent

I was delighted to have joined the Coalition of the Chillin’. Because I thought that the filibuster deal was a victory for Republican. But more importantly, I also hope that the Coalition can bring back the “big tent.” What happened to the “big tent?” You know - the one under Ronald Reagan - the one where social conservatives, libertarians, neoconservatives, and various other strain of conservatism live in relative harmony.

This day, Republicans are frequently calling other Republicans “traitor” and “sell-out” whenever there are disagreement. The aftermath of the filibuster deal is a perfect example. Just look around the blogosphere, and no doubt you will smell the poisonous venom. The tent is getting smaller and smaller. Chill out, brothers. The GOP is an inclusive party. At no time in the history of the GOP, have everyone agree on everything. We never had political commissar to ensure we follow the party line. This is the Party of Lincoln not Stalin.

I am a faithful believer of market economy and a robust foreign policy (including supporting the war), but I am not a social conservative. Does my lukewarm attitude on a few issues such as defense-of-marriage, judicial nominees, and abortion make me a traitor; despite multitude of other issues which we share common interests. Why are we counting the issues of difference instead issues of common interests?