RINO — Republican In Name Only.
It’s a term that has been used a lot of late. It’s used as an insult, with many saying a RINO is worse than a Democrat… as if that is the ultimate blow.
For many it is a new term, so I am going to help. Hopefully it will serve not only as an informational piece to the uninformed but as a refresher to others using the term.
A RINO:
– excuses the people who stormed the Capitol while villainizing “those people” who vandalize statues of defeated racists who so hated our country they declared war on their own countryman. (This one is tricky because there are a lot of folks who say the right thing with a wink, knowing in their heart that “those people” need to know their place.)
– easily waves a thin blue line flag, but blatantly disrespects law enforcement personnel and their commands.
– eagerly blames a planted minority of people for chaos while simultaneously painting “those people” with a wide brush that offers no room for nefarious factions that blend into peaceful, well-meaning organizations.
– claims to be pro-life but won’t wear a mask to protect the vulnerable in their community because it is their body and their right.
– agrees with deploying teargas and rubber bullets on American citizens, assuming they are “those people” or worse yet, sympathizers, to protect federal buildings, but stands by the storming of our county’s Capitol building.
– is willing to take part in vehicle parades that block bridges and long stretches of highway, sometimes with violence, while calling “those people” who march in city streets, “thugs.”
– eagerly latches onto the idea that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” for “those people” who destroy their own cities and neighborhoods, but rambunctiously cheer those who loot not their neighborhood, but the symbol of my country.
– claims to fear communism, but calls for martial law to impose their will.
– anxiously protects their First Amendment right to protest, coupling it with their Second Amendment right to carry a gun, then bemoans “those people” who choose to silently kneel.
– demands personal accountability but will preemptively pardon their own actions.
– circles a grieving community and belittles their loss, noting that “all lives matter” while demanding that a community stop to honor a fallen police officer or veteran.
– claims governance is best left at the lowest possible level, but wants to take control from the states, demand local cities do things their way and overstep local school boards.
– cheers for the military, but willingly dismisses the organized plea of all 10 living former defense secretaries.
– claims the sanctity of all life then threatens the lives of election officials who don’t see things their way.
– drapes himself of herself in the American flag, then berates the free and fair elections that it represents.
– fears socialism from “those people” while demanding those people give them $2,000.
– carries copies of the Constitution in their pocket, but claims a president doesn’t have the right to appoint a Supreme Court Justice nine months before an election. (By some chronological anomaly, one week before an election seems to be fine)
– No longer cheers for a country but blindly follows and fights for one man at the top.
I hope this has served to help define RINO for people. If anyone needs further clarity, feel free to contact me.
-Mac Cordell is a reporter for the Journal-Tribune.