I was a Republican for about 20 years. I actually read the party's platform when I was deciding with which party I would align. The Republican platform was very simple and comported to my ideals. Three things were important: the Government should exist to protect our borders, collect taxes, and provide for the national defense. None of this interfering with people's everyday lives.
I left the party in disgust when Ken Starr announced he would publish the evidence of the Clinton investigation on the Internet for the world to see. BEYOND APPALLING. This would include photographs of his private parts. This was done to humiliate Clinton in front of the world. I couldn't help but think, but his wife will see this, and one day his daughter will see it. It was the last straw for me I could no longer be linked with a party that conducted itself like this. I didn't want my name associated with them.
Of course, leading up to that disgust was seeing Henry Hyde personally walking up to hand over the articles of impeachment, knowing (because it had just been revealed by Salon) that he had had a mistress for over 20 years. (I have yet to figure out how anyone could be married to Henry Hyde, much less agree to be his mistress.) That was coupled with seeing Republican after Republican being excluded from becoming the new Speaker of the House after his party FORCED Gingrich out because each new candidate had too much dirty personal laundry.
And so I joined the Dems, and once I did, I realized that was the party where I had always belonged and just didn't know it until the 90s. I was pretty chagrined over Clinton's antics, but the Republicans' subsequent behavior totally overshadowed anything Clinton had done with Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office. And he was a good president. Since his departure from office, his continued good works with his foundation have made him an incredible asset to both our party and the Country as a whole. It is no wonder he is sometimes referred to as the President of the World. Everybody loves him (well most normal people)....
Sam
= new reply since forum marked as read
