What seems like eons ago from today’s world of technology, Shakespeare penned the kindling words, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Of course, the Bard was also responsible for an anti-Semitic portrait in Shylock, cementing contemporary Jewish stereotypes. Similarly, we must carefully examine the implications of preceding actions before we blindly write them off as the “right” side of history. Some of our colleagues might insist that the Republican Party is synonymous with conservatism, forever and always; however, when we notice the definition of conservatism as “the belief in limited government,” we will detect a faint aroma reminiscent of something fishy. Along these lines, we have concluded that Mr. Kelly’s understanding and depiction of the Republican Party in its current state and its historical development leading to it appear to be flawed and that his brief facts are in need of further context.

With an 11th grade knowledge of American history, we all know that the Democratic-Republican party was formed by Thomas Jefferson. Better known as the “Democrats,” Jefferson’s party consisted of strict constitutionalists (although, the argument could be made that they were not privy to the authenticity of this statement). They believed in a Federal Government limited by the powers they were explicitly endowed with in the lettering of the Constitution. After a short lived bout with the Whig Party, the Democrats were relatively unchallenged at the executive level until the issue of states’ rights threatened to tear the country apart. From the political dissent that ensued, many “third” parties that emerged at this time, of which “Free Soil Party” was one.

This party’s large membership would later be absorbed and constitute the Republican Party. While it is true that they took the name “Republican,” the similarities with the­ — values — based party ends there. Lincoln, while nominally a Republican, was an ardent Unionist, meaning he believed in a large government. Coincidentally, this view is not the only thing held by Lincoln that might befuddle his modern “conservative” champions: Lincoln was also involved in a romantic friendship with another male politician that have led some historians to allege that Lincoln was our first gay president.

It is true that much of the African-American population sided with the Republican Party in its early years, especially as the conservative Democratic Party clung onto the few, meager political bones thrown to them after the Civil War. The turning point of U.S. politics can be seen with the rise of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his incredibly liberal agenda.

Like liberals today, FDR believed in a strong, central and involved government. Amidst the Great Depression, Democrats saw a need—especially in their traditionally poor, white Southern base — for welfare systems and government aid. African-Americans, who were suffering as much, if not more than whites, migrated en masse in their first elected exodus to the Democratic Party.

As with politics today, the opposing party compensated for what their opponents lacked: the Republican thus promoted its “bootstrap” ideology, and became known for its association with the “American Dream,” as it is today.

This brief step through time, which would have probably been more entertaining had it been narrated by a certain bow-tied professor, demonstrates to us that if Mr. Kelly is certain that Republicanism is rooted in conservative dogma, he would be voting for Ron Paul.

Mr. Kelly fails to account for the historical shifts in political ideologies that the Republican and other parties experienced. Clinging to a reductive and essentialist attitude, he argues that this party (a political organization) is synonymous to conservatism (a political philosophy), disregarding the varying and sometimes conflicting political attitudes within the same party.

To be clear, to write about conservative ideals and to pursue a Republican objective is acceptable — we live in a country where freedom of speech is a right. This is not the issue; hold to whatever political affiliation you want (or don’t, that’s fine too). However, let us note that while you have a right to your own opinion, you never have a right to your own facts.

Bekah is a sophomore majoring in art history and women’s and gender studies with a minor in history.

Samuel is a sophomore majoring in women’s and gender studies.