Conservative vs. Republican

In the last few years, I've heard many people presume that the U. S. Republican party is where "conservatives" belong.  Then they espouse beliefs suggesting they have no idea how the Republican party was founded.  A quick refresher:  the Republicans came about in the 1850's to take a stand against slavery.  Economics issues and free enterprise were not enough.  They advocated social change.  It isn't the Republicans who wanted to conserve antebellum life.  They fought a war over the unacceptability of a racist society.  While most Republicans today are conservative in many areas, it isn't valid to assume they want to conserve outdated, racist agendas.

Here lately, I've heard from individuals who seem to think that about 30 years ago the two major U.S. parties just flip-flopped.  They might suggest that some ideas filtered around.  I've been wanting to pass around Ann Coulter's books to them.  The Republicans from their inception have been the party of racial progression and integration.  A few racists may have walking into the party in the last few years, coming to a place of agreement on other social issues.  They need to open their eyes and see for themselves if that's really where they want to be.  A racist would have a challenging time being a Republican.  Consider at Senator Byrd's record.  Consider the Dixiecrats of 1948.

There are many racists who also happen to be conservatives.  I think everyone can agree on that.  However, there are also racists who are liberals, anarchists, progressives, libertarians and independents.  There are racists everywhere.  Looking at history, it wouldn't be surprising at all, however, to find a racist in 2013 in the same party that once championed President Buchanan, President Lyndon Johnson, Senator Robert Byrd and Governor George Wallace.  Merely voting for President Obama doesn't erase a lifetime of racist ideas, actions and principles.  If anything, it makes one wonder how Obama could reconcile himself with a party of such long-standing opposition to individuals such as himself.