By Chris Carmona
Each generation faces the same choices, hope or despair.A conservative movement based on the values and ideals of the Constitution is what allows and encourages each generation the opportunity to embrace the possibilities that are derived from the concept of hope.
Recently the Republican Party of Texas passed a platform that, in my opinion, neither advocates for the encouragement of more people in the process nor invites others that are involved to remain so in the quest to provide others fertile opportunities that await them.
I am saddened by the recent events at the convention that took place over the weekend. There is currently a misconception that Texas Republicans have implemented new laws, but the reality is that the recent platform changes at the Convention are not law, nor do they have any effect of being law and thus are non-enforceable.
Republicans have a solid and consistent history of being the party that embraces the ideals and concepts of individual liberties and free markets. As many have suspected, it is very difficult to agree 100{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} with the platform not only because it does not accurately reflect what the covenants of Republicans stand for, but because it does not accurately reflect the values and beliefs of the Republican Party as whole.
As a Young Republican, we are not just the Future of the Party, but we are the Present and we are not being accurately represented at the convention or at elections and that is a burden that we will have to live with, accept and work towards as we grow the party now and in the future. We, as a group, must engage more like-minded people in the process so that we are not left with something that we are dissatisfied with. The process is in place, and we must work vigilantly to mobilize more people to not just be active voters, but to be active in the process as a whole.
I am confident that with the recent events and changes to the platform, our recruitment efforts have been aided and we will begin to see more Young Republicans and those alike becoming more involved in the process as a whole and holding others accountable when we fail to engage more people willing to stand up and advocate for true values of the Republican Party.
I believe the tantamount virtue for growth and opportunity is to advocate for and to embody human dignity and respect. As a man that I greatly look up to once said, “the purpose of a truly great party is to provide principled leadership, superior ideas, and a compelling cause.” I question whether or not the recent changes to the platform exuberate the urgency of a compelling cause. Our current platform doesn’t match the vision needed for urban engagement and what’s needed for today’s issues to rid the inner cities of poverty and government dependence. We have to be willing to go wherever people are in this country. It is impossible to invite people into our party if we’re not willing to go into their neighborhoods and shops and union halls. Not willing to go into their churches or synagogues, or into their ghettos or their barrios, or into their college campuses, or into their senior citizen halls of America, but more importantly, we have to implement a platform that supports this method of growing our party through inclusion.
While our freedoms are being trampled on and we are turning our heads to the continual spread of poverty within our urban cities, we as Republicans still feel the need to focus on ideas that are far from superior, but foster divisiveness. Our leaders sit quietly as we use the participation of the delegation as reason not to be more vocal. We fear electoral repercussions if we say the wrong thing and the wrong faction from within ceases to support us, so we remain quiet and can then say that we can only advocate for the voice of those who have spoken.
Well, this leader, cannot sit back and watch the party I so love and advocate for continue to stray away from compelling causes and focus on planks and resolutions that are out of touch with what advances this great state of Texas. That is why, with my campaign I have focused on compelling causes and ideals that the Republican Party platform should embody. Compelling causes focused on protecting the rights of women victims and granting them greater access to justice. Compelling causes focused on advocating for parental choice in education and the granting of opportunity scholarships. Compelling causes focused on empowering communities to be the salvation in times of need, not the government. Compelling causes focused on creating opportunity districts to eviscerate poverty in our inner cities. It is not enough to say we want to win, but we have to be worthy of winning. Limited government, individual freedoms, personal responsibility, and the right to become your own destiny lies within not only the heart of what a Republican is all about, but lies within the soul of what an American is all about.
This was an eye opening experience on just how much work still remains to be done to ensure that we maintain our prominence as the party of salvation, hope and opportunity for all walks of life who seek the chance to achieve the American Dream. I will remain steadfast and unwavering in our core principles that protect all Americans and Texans alike from threats to our Constitution and believe that as we grow stronger we will have more people joining us to continue the work that our predecessors laid before us in building and maintaining the greatest State in the Country.
God Bless Texas,
Chris Carmona
Candidate, Texas State Representative, District 148
National Committeeman, Texas Young Republican Federation
Republican Advocate