The Oklahoman (editorial, December 13, 2010) has bestowed another derisive name to the strong conservatives or Tea Party Conservatives in the Legislature. The state’s once conservative newspaper calls us the “Ideologue Caucus.” Conservatives, I believe we should accept the title.
According to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, an Ideologue is (1.) “A Theorist, Dreamer, or Visionary,” and (2.) “an Ideologist.” An ideologist is (1.) “A specialist in the science of ideas: a student of the origin and nature of ideas,” or (2.) “an advocate or adherent of a particular system or doctrine (truth) of ideology.”
I like our new title. Yes, we are advocates of a particular system of ideology. It is called the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. We champion First, Second and Tenth Amendments among others. The Oklahoman could have called us the “Constitutional Caucus.”
And there is one more word from Webster that I would like to point out to the Oklahoman; it is the word—“Ideophobia,” meaning “fear or distrust of ideas or reason.” Could the Oklahoman be ideophobic?” Jus’sayin’…
Rep. Paul Wesselhöft
