Letter to the Editor-Clare County Republican Party

Dear Editor,

Conservatives in Clare County aren't silent – we're just no longer being heard.

Too often, sharing conservative views doesn't open a discussion; it shuts one down. Before we can explain our positions, assumptions are made and character is attacked. We're quickly labeled as racist, homophobic, uneducated, dangerous, hateful, or anti-immigrant. There's little room for questions or genuine listening – just snap judgments.

This leaves many of us here in Harrison, Clare and across the county defending our basic decency instead of our ideas.

Let me be clear and straightforward: Most conservatives didn't vote for a personality or out of anger. We voted for real results – policies that put America, our families, and our communities first.

We support secure borders and public safety by enforcing laws already on the books: ending catch-and-release, restoring control, and removing criminal non-citizens first. Recent 2025 changes have cut illegal crossings sharply and restarted removals. This isn't about cruelty – it's about protecting our neighborhoods, schools, and way of life in rural Michigan.

We want relief from the high cost of living squeezing working families – lower prices for groceries, gas, energy, and housing – by cutting wasteful federal spending, easing regulations, and holding big industries accountable.

We back energy independence to create jobs here at home, lower utility bills, and reduce dependence on foreign powers.

We believe in limited government that respects the Constitution—keeping power close to home in our states and counties, not in distant bureaucracies.

Explanations today too often lead to moral attacks rather than dialogue. Labeling disagreement as hate avoids real debate. True tolerance means listening, not assuming the worst.

You don't have to agree with these views. But when conservatives can't share our reasoning without being demonized, we're not just debating policy – we're weakening the trust needed for neighbors to live and work together.

Faith, family, and freedom are values that built communities like ours. They're worth standing up for.

Kelly Harrison

Chairwoman

Clare County Republican Party