Conservatives Ruining a Good Party

* “Newsletter Authors Get a Taste of Their Own Caustic Ink” (March 30) just gives a small sampling of the petty divisiveness that goes on in the inner circles of the Orange County Republican Party.

It prompts me to comment on how embarrassing it is to belong to a party--with such proud forefathers as Abraham Lincoln, a party grounded in high-minded ideas of less government and more individual freedom--that seems proud of members that stoop to such pettiness.

It is the work of small minds who need to engage in such foolish combat when attention needs to be focused on how to keep this party from blowing into even smaller pieces.

And where does that leave those of more moderate persuasion?

Reading Times articles about how Tom Fuentes and crew try to talk candidates, most especially those who will not toe their ultraconservative party line, out of running for “the sake of party unity.” There’s no unity in the Big Tent and there is a sign over the door that says “Don’t come in here if you don’t think like us!”

Moderate Republicans have no political home in Orange County and few to vote for.

So while you conservatives waste time on your little gossip newsletters about each other and boycotting Boy Scout luncheons because you don’t like Roger Johnson anymore, there’s a health care plan in the offing that could negatively change the game for all of us and a governor’s race that could end up like the last presidential race--with someone elected who can’t wait for the government to fund all those abortions you hate so much.

So can we get on with it, please?

TERRI BAAS

Santa Ana