The following is an article about not only Holli Morton, chairwoman for the Josephine County Republican Party, but our party as a whole. It was written by the Josephine County Democratic Party without a name, dated 11/1/2024.
Written by: Candy Kaiser 11/24/2024
DEMOCRATS: One thing we’ve observed about extreme right-wing Republicans…they lack introspection. That’s evident in Josephine County Republican Party Chair Holli Morton’s letter in the October 2024 Sneak Preview (page 26) trying to convince us the party she leads isn’t extreme.
REPUBLICANS: In response to the assertion that the Josephine County Republican Party lacks introspection and is attempting to downplay its extremism, it’s essential to recognize that political perspectives are inherently diverse. The term “extreme” is subjective and often reflects differing viewpoints. Our party is committed to upholding conservative principles, which align with the values of many in our community. We encourage open dialogue and self-reflection to ensure our actions and policies serve the best interests of all constituents. Engaging in constructive conversations allows us to address concerns and work towards common goals, fostering a more inclusive and understanding political environment.
DEMOCRATS: She “Holli” believes progressives have given her party this label because it opposes progressive policies. This isn’t true. Everyone knows the Republican Party opposes progressive policies. In a functioning political system, the two parties, Republicans and Democrats, provide a check on each other’s more extreme ideas, pushing people toward a middle ground.
REPUBLICANS: Our stance is clear: we stand by our principles unapologetically. If opposing specific progressive policies, such as placing feminine products in boys’ bathrooms, restricting medically irreversible procedures for children, or keeping inappropriate materials out of children’s view in public libraries, is labeled ‘extreme,’ we accept that label. We uphold our values, including our constitutional rights under the First and Second Amendments, prioritizing support for veterans and law-abiding citizens over policies that encourage illegal immigration. Our aim isn’t to shift toward a middle ground that compromises these core beliefs but to advocate for policies that resonate with our community and ensure a safe, prosperous future for everyone.
DEMOCRATS: However, when one party dominates a community and stifles the opposition with fear, there is no check on extremist policies, as we have seen with the effort to undermine our local newspaper, use lame excuses to give away a county park, close down popular programs like 4H and Master Gardeners, undermine the voter-approved library district and mentally torture a group of people for years because they want to preserve a pristine part of the county’s forestlands from logger’s chainsaws.
REPUBLICANS: The Josephine County Republican Party has a strong presence in our community simply because a majority of our residents are registered Republicans—we are, indeed, a red county. Suggesting that our party’s influence creates unchecked ‘extremist’ policies implies a need for policing political views, which begins to sound alarmingly like support for a police state.
It’s also worth noting that local newspapers regularly critique our positions and actively challenge our policies and perspectives. The claim that we are ‘undermining’ the press simply doesn’t hold up.
As for issues related to programs like 4-H, Master Gardeners, the library district, and county parks, these are the responsibilities of our County Commissioners, not the Republican Party. These matters are central to an ongoing recall effort against one Commissioner, and each accusation has been publicly addressed or resolved. For further details, please refer to https://oregoneagle.com/josephine-county-commissioner…/
DEMOCRATS: In addition, Morton calls climate change “pseudo-science,” denies the severity of Jan. 6, 2021, has denied Joe Biden won the 2020 election and supports, at the head of their slate, a presidential candidate who lies, threatens Americans who don’t agree with him, admires dictators, has been found guilty of 34 felony counts, faces several charges brought, not by Democrats but by Grand Juries that implicate him in truly treasonous acts, was impeached by the House of Representatives twice and whose previous White House staff condemns him as unfit to be anywhere near the Oval Office. That is extreme.
REPUBLICANS: Republicans care deeply about our environment, yet we believe the climate agenda often pushes policies that have more to do with control than practical solutions. The earth’s climate has always gone through cycles of change, and we recognize that many of the phenomena we’re seeing today are part of its natural evolution. While we support responsible stewardship of our planet, we don’t believe mandates like switching to electric vehicles or banning fireplaces will make a meaningful impact. Instead, we advocate for balanced approaches that protect both our communities’ environment and livelihoods.
As for President Trump, we recognize that opinions on his leadership vary widely, but it’s clear that millions of Americans support him. In our democratic system, the popular vote and the electoral college reflect this significant support. We respect differing views and remain committed to representing our constituents’ interests.
DEMOCRATS: Morton and her merry band of the oblivious over at Republican Headquarters in Grants Pass live in a bubble created by their manufactured media that makes money telling them only what they want to hear. Morton says her party members are “afraid to open their mouths for fear of offending,” and this has compromised their First Amendment rights.
REPUBLICANS: Yes, we are individuals committed to our values, but we do not live in a bubble. Our headquarters in Grants Pass is open six days a week.
Unfortunately, many of our members have faced censorship and exclusion on social media platforms, where posts are reported and removed simply for expressing viewpoints that others disagree with. This has led some of us to hesitate before speaking openly—not out of unwillingness to engage but from a desire to avoid unfair silencing. Open dialogue should be encouraged, not stifled.
DEMOCRATS: Never mind that members of her “Holli” party walk from their headquarters across the street to the Courthouse every Wednesday and dominate public comment time at Board of Commissioner meetings, railing about the latest “progressive” thought they’ve unearthed somewhere. No one has ever threatened their First Amendment rights to spew whatever crazy conspiracy theory they’ve heard about on right-wing talk radio or social media. These are the people who cry about “bodily autonomy” when asked to wear a mask and get a vaccine during a pandemic to protect others, yet turn around and deny women bodily autonomy through their support of extreme anti-abortion laws.
REPUBLICANS: We are indeed fortunate to have our headquarters across from the courthouse, and it’s a privilege to participate in public meetings. All citizens are given equal time to voice their thoughts, and anyone can verify this by watching the live-stream meetings. The fact that more Republicans attend reflects our active engagement with community issues.
Studies have shown the dangers of masks and vaccines. While we are against mandated vaccines, we believe that everyone should have the freedom to make their own health decisions and that those who want the vaccine should absolutely have access to it.
On the topic of bodily autonomy and abortion, that decision now rests with individual states. Our party stands firmly as pro-life, as we believe in the sanctity of life. We respect that others may hold different views, and we remain committed to fostering open dialogue on these important issues.
DEMOCRATS: Never mind one of theirs sends nasty, threatening emails to the Chair of the Josephine County Democratic Party and the Mayor of Grants Pass. Never mind the lies Morton tells about Republicans not in her clique, trying to smear them as Democrats, as if being one of her 13,526 Democratic neighbors in Josephine County is a dirty rotten crime. Denigrating your neighbors this way is extreme.
REPUBLICANS: Without a named author for this piece, it’s difficult to address the specifics of the accusations. If the Democratic chair and the Mayor received messages they found offensive, they have the right to feel that way, though differing viewpoints or criticisms should not automatically be labeled as ‘nasty’ or ‘threatening.’ Labeling any disagreement as a threat is an extreme response in itself.
Regarding claims about Republicans who don’t align with certain perspectives, our party has always valued diversity of thought, even as we stand firm in our shared principles. The suggestion that being a Democrat is considered a ‘dirty crime’ is simply untrue. We respect our neighbors and their beliefs, even if we don’t always agree.
DEMOCRATS: If the Josephine County Republican Party can’t or won’t take some time and explore from within why people, including a lot of excommunicated Republicans, call it “extreme” then the community will have to do it for them, with their voices and their votes. Otherwise this party, that’s decided to back only its “most conservative (extreme)” members, according to a local podcast, will just continue to lean further and further right, excluding all but the purists, until it tumbles and fractures into ideological irrelevance.
REPUBLICANS: Excommunication typically refers to formally excluding someone from a group due to violations of its rules or beliefs. However, our party has never ‘excommunicated’ anyone—our bylaws do not permit it. Like any political organization, we make decisions collectively, often requiring a 2/3 majority vote on key policies. While some may choose to leave if they disagree with the outcomes, this is simply part of the political process, where votes sometimes go your way and sometimes, they don’t.
Our recent success in winning 11 of 11 endorsed positions reflects broad community support for our candidates and policies. We welcome open discussion and differing viewpoints as we continue to work for the values our members hold.