Today, RI Republican Chairman Mark Smiley has an OpEd in the Journal telling us what the RI Republican party is about. Its focus is on freedom. He went into detail about how it was the Republican party who worked to free the slaves. Abraham Lincoln was a Republican and it is widely believed that Lincoln worked to end slavery. Republicans also supported the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote. The points made in Smiley’s editorial is one about freedom. I also would gather that he wants people in Rhode Island to have an open mind and give the state’s Republican party another look. Don’t simply go with all their preconceived notions and actually learn about the stances the party is advocating.

However, I also wonder if the party insiders are willing to do that themselves? Do they have an open mind? Are they willing to take a look at the issues and the stances of their candidates and not simply go with their preconceived notions? Are they simply already set in their ways? Or can they have an open mind as well?

It doesn’t make sense for them to expect others around the state to have an open mind when it sounds like many within the party aren’t even doing that themselves. How can they expect people to at least listen to the ideas about what may be best for the state, if they’re not willing to listen? Or will they?