April 1, 1998

Most of what I've heard and read from our friends in Houston's media outlets concerning Saturday's Republican shindig at Hofheinz Pavilion leans toward descriptions as "extreme" and "far-right-wing."

Having been at Saturday's convention as a delegate myself, I can assure political moderates and liberals that you won't much like a lot of the platform planks we voted in.

I'll guess that when the state convention begins June 12, the platform being considered by delegates will be characterized as "ultra-conservative," and folks across the state will again buy the TV-sound-byte notion that the party is controlled by extremists.

I only have one question for those who consider themselves Republicans but shudder when they read the platform planks calling for a ban on homosexual marriage, a Human Life Amendment and for U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations: where were you guys?

When I attended our precinct caucus March 10, a grand total of 10 people showed up. Our precinct COULD have sent something like 33 delegates to the senatorial convention; as it was, the 10 of us who showed up were "in" as a delegate. Most of our group could certainly be characterized as very, very conservative; several of those attending certainly shaded their political views with strong religious beliefs.

Now, considered that the same situation happened in precincts all across the county, and all across the state. Is it any wonder that most of those who will be attending the state convention will be characterized as members of the "far right" wing of the party?

As noted, most of those folks attending precinct and senatorial district conventions — like myself — have strong political views. I'll assume the same thing happens in opposite fashion in Democratic Party precincts; those with strong liberal views show up, moderates and conservatives stay at the house.

We certainly don't always agree completely with one another; I was characterized as a "raving liberal, encouraging people to drop out of high school" for arguing in favor of allowing people who earn GEDs to join the military service (that plank passed, by the way). But in general, we do hold relatively-similar views on many issues.

Point is, those who are going to do the most moaning and groaning spent the evening of the March 10 precinct caucuses and Saturday's senatorial conventions doing other things. I won't characterize non-political activities as unimportant, but why complain about not having a voice, if you don't take advantage of your chance to have a voice?

In the past, I was certainly among that moaning-and-groaning crowd. I couldn't believe some of the things the parties and politicians were doing, and felt powerless to have any influence, aside from the occasional scathing column.

Now I know better.

Having lots of money isn't a requirement: I spend a grand total of about 20 bucks this weekend, mostly on campaign buttons and bumper stickers. Being "important" isn't a requirement: the 18-year-old kid seated next to me Saturday became eligible to vote just before the March 10 primary, but his voice and his vote carried just as much weight as mine or anybody else's.

If you want a say in the political process, you have to participate.