FAIR AND BIASED: THOSE CALLING CONSERVATIVES RINOS MAY BE THE REAL RINOS!

Sunday, February 15, 2026

THOSE CALLING CONSERVATIVES RINOS MAY BE THE REAL RINOS!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

NOSE HORN!

by Steve Fair

President Trump uses the term, "RINO,' on a regular basis. RINO is an acronym for Republican-In-Name-Only. It's a derogatory label to describe politicians and activists who allegedly do not hold to true Republican values. It is often used to disparage politicians who are viewed as too moderate. Some moderate Democrats are branded DINOs by their Party, but you seldom hear that term.

Name calling and branding political opponents with a label is nothing new. Two-time presidential candidate Thomas Dewey, who ran against FDR and Truman, did not oppose FDR's New Deal programs, but just promised that Republicans would run them more efficiently. Dewey and his allies were branded 'Me Too' Republicans, because they agreed with the Democrats. 'Me Too' Republicans were the majority among GOP elected officials and won the Party's presidential nomination up until 1980, when Ronald Reagan upset the applecart.

This week, President Trump posted on Truth Social Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is a RINO. Stitt, who is Chairman of the National Governor's Association (NGA) had released a press release regarding an upcoming governor's weekend in Washington that President Trump said was inaccurate. Trump had disinvited two Democrat governors and Stitt released a presser saying that Trump had agreed to invite all the governors. Trump posted: “We will soon have a Governor in Oklahoma who knows how to accurately write a Press Release to the Public, in this case, to state that I invited, not happily, almost all Democrat Governors to the Governor’s Dinner at the White House. Stitt, a wise guy, knew this, but tried to get some cheap publicity by stating otherwise.” Immediately, two candidates for Oklahoma governor in 2026 (Keating and Drummond) jumped on Trump's bandwagon, saying they agreed Stitt is a RINO. Three observations:

First, everyone who disagrees with Trump is not a RINO. Blind loyalty is a dangerous thing. The president demands blind loyalty. In today's toxic political environment, anyone who expresses a differing view from Trump is branded a nose horn. Each citizen has the right to place their registration with which ever political Party they desire. They don't have to agree with any or all of the tenets of a Party. Some in the GOP want the Party to impose excommunication, like churches, for the RINOs. If an elected official doesn't pass a litmus test regarding the platform, they would be booted out of the Party. Exclusion, not inclusion. In today's GOP, disagreement with Trump's views are considered heretical and worthy of banishment and shunning. Group think rules!

Second, much of the RINO talk is political theatre. Stitt, who is term limited, shrugged off Trump's comments, saying Trump doesn't really mean it. To the uninformed, who believe everything they see on the news, grandstanding politicians sway public opinion by caricaturing another's position. That seems the be the case with Trump and Stitt. Sensationalism and exaggeration rule!

Third, graciousness is dead in politics. You can make the case it never existed in the world's second oldest profession. Clearly humility, patience, kindness, gentleness, steadiness and self-control are now considered traits of cowards, and yellow bellies, aka RINOs. The inability of the GOP to agree to disagree has hurt America. Instead of working together, the Republicans fight more internally than against the Democrats, resulting in nothing getting done. Name calling and insults rule!

Today's definition of a RINO seems to be: "anyone who disagrees with Trump." The fact is, many branded RINO are principled people who care about the direction of American and the GOP. Many have been active in politics before Trump entered the arena and will be around after he is gone. These nose horns are pro-life, pro second amendment, fiscal conservative, traditional Republicans who don't blindly follow any man. They aren't 'Me Too' or RINOs. Those calling them RINO are likely the real RINOs.

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Why FAIR & BIASED?

FAIR- because that's my name and BIASED because the truth is we are all biased- either for something or against it. What's important is that our bias(opinions) are based on right- on absolute truth and not on changing values. What's right cannot change based on a change in circumstances. That is the basis for situational ethics.

Situation Ethics is a theory that is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end, as opposed to an action being intrinsically wrong. In the case of situation ethics, the end can justify the means. There are no absolutes. Your actions are guided only by your conscience.

A person's view of right can be subjective. But there is a way mankind can definitely know what's right and that is revealed in God's Word- the Bible. As His creatures, we should be biased toward things our Creator is for and biased against those things He is against. May God grant us the grace and understanding to know the difference.

PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they “support the man, not the Party.” But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they “support the man.”
Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.
From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.
Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.
First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation “defines” you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.
Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for “the man,” not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.
Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.
The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.
Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.
Party affiliation is important. Washington’s prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower “unprincipled men,” on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.

FAIR AND BIASED

Sunday, February 15, 2026

THOSE CALLING CONSERVATIVES RINOS MAY BE THE REAL RINOS!

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PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

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