Oppositions only emboldened when Republicans attack Republicans.
By Delores Pell
AUSTIN Texas (Texas Insider Report) Our family of elephants is like any other large diverse and opinionated American family; were
noisy 
and bossy. Yet we are generally proud of and love our other family members right? Certainly we know enough to recognize the
enemy is only emboldened when Republicans attack other Republicans.
But some members of the family are those you arent too fond of you say. Some of those folks hold views on social issues that some within our Republican (elephant) family deem to be almost moderate. Or even worse are they really elephants?
Other members of this large and diverse family spend as if theyre being fed donkey food and they have a voracious appetite. What are we to do with our family of elephants?
Certainly the argument between social and economic conservatives has always had the potential to divide this family of ours. We see it not only on the national scene but in our own political back yard of Tarrant County. In this conservative county the family feud is between the establishment" family members and the tea party" members.
They both accuse the other of not being real" elephants.
To me a California girl transplanted to Texas these family fights between the social and economic conservative family members AND tensions and fights between establishment and Tea party members of our family are counterproductive to what should be this familys collective goal electing Republicans to office period!
Yes our elephant family has its problems and family squabbles do occur. However I am of the opinion that these squabbles stem from the fact that our family is so diverse philosophically and so independent minded that we dont just follow the party line or practice group think".
Our family is the exact opposite of the lockstep Democrats and their united front in support of their failed socialist policies and president.
We on the other hand tend to think for ourselves.
The continued growth of our family means that we can maintain traditional Republican principles of limited government and individual freedom yet not be a single issue advocacy party. We should welcome and appreciate all of our large family for each member no matter how philosophically diverse brings value.
This big tent" philosophy is not just meant for non-traditional Republicans but also for the entire constituency within the family. This coalition worked for Ronald Reagan in 1980 and George W. Bush in 2004. However each family member needs to make an effort to try and understand others within our family and to realize that they are not the enemy.
The enemy is only emboldened when Republicans attack other Republicans.
Therefore let all of us in our elephant family not be fooled into assisting that most undesirable family next door the Donkey clan.
Delores Pell is president of the Republican Women of Arlington.
