talkpolitics | Note Found In Vandalized Classroom: "A Republican Was Here."

Boston Herald.com

When the teacher, Paul Clifford, returned to his classroom Monday morning, he discovered that a collage depicting the history of the labor movement was missing. In its place, someone had left a bumper sticker reading: 'Working People Vote Republican.'

Caucus members also apparently looked inside a closed cardboard box near Clifford’s desk that contained copies of the U.S. Constitution donated by the American Civil Liberties Union. Clifford later discovered a note left behind reading, 'A Republican was here. What gives you the right to propagandize impressionable kids?' according to an account in the Portland Press Herald.

A public school in Maine allowed a contingent of Republicans to meet in their classrooms over a weekend. The result was a rifled and vandalized classroom and stolen materials.

It’s nice to know that the Maine Republican Party had the grace to apologize:

Villagesoup:

The Maine Republican Party does not condone the destruction of property nor does it encourage the lack of tolerance that these people demonstrated. Over 900 other people attended these caucuses without incident and I hope that the actions of few do not tarnish the image of many. We appreciate the hospitality of the staff from the King Middle School and hope to work with them again in the future. We sincerely apologize to the faculty and student body at King Middle School.

The problem is, that same contingent rooting around and looting the classroom – the Knox County Republicans -- is influential enough to have replaced the Republican Party Platform with one more to the liking of Tea Party activists.

In short, the vandals are the ones writing the party platform in that state.

But they're just a fringe group right? I mean, just because they're actually writing the Maine Republican Party platform doesn't mean anything. Right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

a-new-machine.livejournal.com

To be fair, the construction of the platform is hardly the most important thing parties do. While it's a sign of the growth in power within the central bureaucracy, it doesn't necessarily reflect the majority of voters. It's like primaries - this sort of internal party maneuvering generally only draws the super-involved, super-interested individuals, who tend not to form a majority of the electorate come election day. And in the American democratic process, variations from platform are the norm, and toeing the line 100% is the exception.

But then I wager you already knew that.

From:

paft.livejournal.com

anm: While it's a sign of the growth in power within the central bureaucracy, it doesn't necessarily reflect the majority of voters.

It reflects the direction of the party.

The Republicans can't keep saying "oh, those people are just fringe extremists" while pandering to them to the extent of rewriting their party platform to suit those "fringe extremists."

A place to discuss politics without egomaniacal mods.

Note Found In Vandalized Classroom: "A Republican Was Here."