Dear editor:
Let’s cut through the nonsense. In Wyoming, we’re proud Republicans, it’s that simple.
But lately, there’s been this tiresome trend of branding folks as “RINOs,” or trying to lecture them about their so-called "lack of integrity."
Organizations like Honor Wyoming have gotten caught up in this name-calling game, and to be frank, I believe it hurts our party and our state far more than it helps.
People come to Wyoming for the wide-open spaces, the straight talk, and freedom. If we’re not careful, we’re going to lose our honest, commonsense approach that makes Wyoming so great.
What’s really going on, in my opinion, is a debate between libertarian and conservative beliefs. We’ve got a lot of Republicans with strong libertarian beliefs. I’m not here to slam libertarianism.
They believe in freedom and so do we. But let’s not pretend that conservatives and libertarians are the same.
Conservatives believe in honoring our traditions, respecting our communities, and applying firm government power in a disciplined, measured way.
Libertarians tend to want as little government as possible in just about every area of life and the near elimination of all taxation. That’s fine, we can have that discussion.
But we can’t just let those differences blow up into some giant labeling war. Calling someone a “RINO” because they hold a different position on a particular issue is flat out ridiculous.
Yes, some of our Republicans might occasionally vote in favor of a tax, or government power, or vote in a bipartisan way. Big deal. That doesn’t make them radical leftists.
No Republican is out there waving a big socialist banner. People are complicated. Policy is complicated.
Look, the Democrats are falling all over themselves because they can’t get on the same page. Internal divisions, identity politics, and a refusal to recognize common ground have eroded their capacity to govern. That’s their problem. Let’s not imitate it.
The last thing we need is a fractured party where half of us are trying to run the other half out of town. Wyoming is stronger than that.
Our ranchers, our miners, our small business owners - they know how to work together even if they don’t always see eye-to-eye on everything. We must keep that tradition alive.
What makes our state great is how we stand up for real conservative values: law and order, fiscal discipline, personal responsibility, and respect for the Constitution.
Sometimes we disagree on how to apply those principles. And that’s how it should be. Instead of throwing a fit when we disagree, why not hold an honest debate?
Let’s engage each other without the nasty labels. The minute we start playing the purity game, we’ve lost – our communities have lost. We’ll turn into exactly what the other side already is - united by nothing but resentment and victimhood.
We’re Republicans first. We ought to act like it. Stand strong, talk straight, and remember who we are. Debate and discourse isn’t beneath us – it’s who we are.
Sincerely,
Norberto Orellana, Gillette
