in my area. As long as they don't try to change the party platform to reflect their anti-choice PERSONAL beliefs, or other beliefs, there is nothing wrong with that. We are a big tent, and I would welcome her, her vote, and her support.

That's better, since she's anti-choice and I personally don't want to see women's rights sold out for votes.

But one can have different views on issues and still be principled in speaking out against racists, and endorsing candidates in both parties who are qualified, not racist, and have integrity over candidates who lack those essential traits.

She endorsed a Dem for a school board, who was very qualified and he's a very good guy; I've known him for years. The conservatives on the board picked a church assistant instead, just because of party.

I have heard republicans self identify as such. Does this mean they vote with their party on fiscal issues and against their party on social issues? Are they mythical like a unicorn? Have they been spotted like Bigfoot and Loch Ness monster, just not clearly captured on film? Does anyone know of a republican politician with such a voting record?

They must also sign a no new taxes pledge.

So you won't see anyone like that elected in modern times to national offices.

You sometimes do see Republicans who run for local boards without the endorsement of their party and who win.

We have a black woman Republican on a local school board who called out the district on not airing a Obama video for school kids, and who has voted like a Democrat most of the time, to cite one example. There is a male Republican on another local council who beat a party-endorsed Republican. He introduced a sweeping package to help the homeless and his reforms passed even with 4 Reps on that Council.

Part of the key to taking back America is in red areas, getting saner Republicans to run and beat the insane ones the party is putting up. Or run as independents and win.

Interestingly, our media outlet sponsored and moderated 3 candidate forums in 2016. In all 3, there were upset victories. Once people heard candidates directly (at our forum, or on video posted on out site later) there were a lot of surprises.

In one race, two conservative right-wing incumbents lost to a reform Republican and a Democrat challenger. The conservatives didn't show up at our forum; big mistake - they looked like cowards to all who came.

In another, a liberal black woman beat out a man who was also a Dem, first black female mayor in our large county's history.

In the third, two Republican Party-backed candidates lincluding an incumbent ost to a minority Dem and a moderate Rep (the one who introduced reforms to help the homeless.)

These upsets so surprised me that I hope we can do a lot more candidate forums. I know we made a difference in some very close races.

I encourage everyone to "be the media" and help organize forums. The first happened because candidates asked us to help get word out in an obscure race. We found libraries and colleges would give us free venues, and found donors to cover minor costs like videotaping the proceedings for posterity.