Republican In Name Only

RINO stands for Republican In Name Only, a disparaging term for a member of the United States Republican Party whose words and actions are thought to be too fiscally or socially moderate or liberal. It has since replaced the older term Rockefeller Republican to describe Republicans that have a more moderate or liberal slant.

Origins

The term RINO came into widespread usage around 2000 (but has been cited in newspaper stories as far back as 1992 http://www.wordspy.com/words/RINO.asp) and is used by conservative members of the Republican Party who oppose other members of their party who they deem to be too liberal. Those Republicans who are labeled RINOs counter that the conservatives who call them RINOs are extremists and politically naive to believe that conservative Republicans can be elected in moderate and liberal areas of the United States (i.e., Blue States).

Related Topics:
2000 - 1992 - Conservative - Extremists - Blue States

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The term RINO often comes into public discourse during Republican primaries. Many conservatives want the Republican party to nominate fellow conservatives (even if the moderate/liberal Republican is an incumbent) and to that end will publicly label the moderate/liberal Republican a "RINO".

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Some conservative organizations use the term RINO to help describe some of their activities. The National Federation of Republican Assemblies started the "RINO Hunters' Club" and the Club for Growth (which is mostly concerned with conservative economic issues) started the "RINO Watch".

Related Topics:
National Federation of Republican Assemblies - RINO Hunters' Club - Club for Growth - RINO Watch

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The acronym has led to the analogous DINO, a Democrat In Name Only, referring to those who are too conservative. The term Fox News liberal has also been used in this context. The two acronyms are, at the same time, puns on the popular English-language shortenings of the words rhinoceros and dinosaur.

Related Topics:
Acronym - Democrat In Name Only - Fox News liberal - Pun - English-language - Rhinoceros - Dinosaur

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Both terms are used by more ideological (politically speaking) members of either party to challenge fellow party members for their maverick or moderate positions. In some cases, the platforms of the members in question are not even necessarily close to the opponents—they just do not necessarily follow the party line in every case. Examples might include Senator John McCain, whose voting record is quite conservative on many issues, or Senator Joe Lieberman, who is in the mainstream of his party on many domestic issues.

Related Topics:
Politically speaking - Moderate - Senator - John McCain - Joe Lieberman

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