Much has been written in The Press about both the local and national Republican Party, and its internal battles for control.

To put it bluntly, these "internal" battles have become full-fledged wars between the two factions - the GOP establishment and the fringe conservative Republicans - many of them converted Libertarians. Calling themselves "true" conservatives, the Tea Party, or whatever, this vocal group seems to believe that the only way to "save" the Republican Party is to destroy those who have worked within the system for many, many years.

One doesn't have to be a brain surgeon to realize that these public spectacles are doing nothing but damaging the GOP and its chances for victories in 2014 and again in 2016. Democrats must be joyful every time they see or hear the GOP party leaders rip into one another, accusing their colleagues of lies, cheating and (the worst possible action) being liberals in disguise!

In 1965 The California Republican Party's leader, Gaylord Parkinson, gave the GOP its 11th Commandment: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any Republican."

Ronald Reagan took the commandment with him to victory, as a governor and later as a presidential candidate.

Parkinson said that "Henceforth, if any Republican has a grievance against another, that grievance is not to be bared publicly."

There's one thing both moderate and conservative Republicans have in common - they throw the name Ronald Reagan around. As a former member of his administration when he was California's governor, I cringe when I hear a Republican praise Reagan and in the next breath attack a fellow-Republican who has a different view on an issue.

These verbal attacks are designed to destroy opponents. Sometimes they have succeeded in defeating a candidate, and sometimes they have failed. But, the result is always the same. Our party comes out of these verbal encounters weaker, never stronger. Our nation suffers because our elected officials cannot stick together to fight the liberals effectively. These internal battles have stalled our elected officials in Washington, D.C., and to make matters worse the originators of the attacks boast about it on radio and television talk shows. Rather than working to defeat Democrats they spend their time, effort and money defeating strong Republican leaders in Washington and at the state level.

As a young member of the Reagan administration, working as press secretary for the Lt. Governor, I learned that the 11th Commandment was to be honored, and today, many years later, I cringe whenever I hear or see one publicly attack another.

Unfortunately, many blame the media, but media exists to report, not create news, and it is ironic that ultra conservatives, who despise media, use this vehicle to demean members of the Republican Party.

"Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of Any Republican."

We witnessed in the last presidential election what can happen when the GOP publicly attacks one another. Our candidates not only destroyed themselves, they succeeded in destroying the Republican party chances to take back the White House.

By the time Gov. Romney was selected, he was already defeated, the brunt of weekly attacks in a series of debates that reflected unfavorably upon our Grand Old Party!

I always wonder if the outcome of the 2012 election would have been different if our candidates, their staff members, and the party loyal would have held the 11th Commandment close to their lips. It just seems a little dishonest for someone to publicly talk about their great religious faith, and then attack a colleague and then work to destroy his character.

"Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of Any Republican."

Playing to a base of ultra conservatives, many of our campaigns are doomed to fail in general elections. Our far left conservatives friends are determined to make social issues the center of their platforms, and in doing so alienate many good, decent independent voters who want the same things the GOP wants - lower taxes, good paying jobs, a strong military, a good health care system with a strong private sector.

By publicly attacking opponents, our tea party friends, for example, have increased their chances to win primary elections. Then, not content on having a voice in Washington, the far left is now hell-bent on destroying the leaders of the GOP in the House.

Our Party is so split in Washington it cannot even move forward on the Republican agenda. How can it, when almost daily there is a Republican on television, attacking a colleague in his/her own party, rather than attacking the Democrats? It is virtually impossible to defend all of this public infighting as good for the Republican Party, or the nation.

"Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of Any Republican."

Already we are witnessing the public attacks on our potential presidential candidates, those who might disagree with the far left on specific issues. It's a fine line between disagreeing with a candidate on his positions, but quite another when the attacks become personal in nature.

Tragically, these attacks come from those who call themselves Reagan Republicans.

It would do these individuals well to look at Reagan's record, before they align themselves with the one many call the greatest president of the 1900s. This was the man who compromised with the Democrat leaders, saved social security, gave amnesty to Mexican immigrants, understood that sometimes it was necessary to raise taxes, and avoided battles over personal social and moral view. And, he remembered to keep his negative views about fellow Republicans private, avoiding any urge to voice them publicly.

"Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of Any Republican."

President Reagan truly did set the path for victory.

He was a great statesman and leader.

I believe it was easy for him to transition from films; television and union work into politics because he always was a man who tried to see the best in others, and was not known as one who spoke ill of his colleagues or associates.

As the years pass since his death we now face a time when we grasp to the memory of this great man. To not recognize him first as a kind and decent person does him a great disservice. I saw that in him firsthand. He truly believed in the good of man.

The leader of the California Republican Party and President Reagan did - without even knowing - give us the roadmap to future political election victories:

"Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of Any Republican."

Earl Parker, a resident of Twin Lakes, is semi-retired. He served as press secretary to the Lt. Governor of California in the Reagan Administration, directed political campaigns and worked in public relations for the private sector, and as a consultant.