Republicans, this week, are busily deciding which “planks” to slap onto their rickety platform. They treat this process as a super-secret convention of policy leaders but, as such things go, the ship of state eventually springs a few leaks. By convention time, next week, there should be few surprises. Certainly there won’t be any in regard to marriage equality. Politico reports that the meeting on fighting “teh Gayz agenda,” which Republicans are fond of calling Protection of Traditional Marriage, was a predictably raucous one.
The question before the committee was whether or not to go with a shift in the general public’s opinion on marriage equality and relent on the GOP’s “traditional marriage” position as espoused in the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The proposed concession would be to “allow” civil unions for hetero- and homosexual couples (so as not to give gays anything special; it’s hard to imagine a heterosexual rush on the Civil Unions office). A thin group of supporters, notably the anomalous endangered species known as the Log Cabin Republicans, aggressively supported that move.
But, as Politico reports:
They were overpowered and outmaneuvered by social conservative groups like the Family Research Council. FRC President Tony Perkins, for example, is Louisiana’s male representative to the platform session.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach opposed the amendment on the ground that government routinely regulates behaviors like drugs and polygamy.
“We condemn those activities even though they’re not hurting other people, at least directly,” he said.
Indiana representative Jim Bopp called civil unions “counterfeit marriage.”
Just to not be posting something about Mitt Romney, because Oh MY Gawd that Guy! I’m going to be posting an innocent picture of former VP candidate and former half-term governor, Sarah Palin, along with the Former First Dude, Toad, who are very excited to be sharing a picture of themselves having just made a purchase at a chain restaurant.
See? There they are, each holding some warm bags of chicken because that is what they do. They have pictures taken of themselves inside fast food places. Because they’re regular folks, is what. And because they support businesses, is why.
Now, some people might contend that this is a political statement in favor of a business that does discriminate against people, that they’re using this business to show support of the larger “cause” of homophobia, and some might even go so far as to suggest that they’ve aligned themselves with the “chicken winger” cause du jour because it makes them seem relevant to a backwards movement against the freedom of a select group of people to make choices particular to their families and their lives, in support of what could be labelled hate speech against those people. And there may very well be reason to believe that not only is Sarah Palin a virulent homophobe, but she’s raised her own children to be, and her own grandchild is being raised to be as well.
But mostly, I think the Palins simply believe that there is essentially nothing that they can or should do anymore that isn’t digitally recorded and broadcast, whether it be dancing amongst the pseudo-stars or even buying sundered, deep-fried poultry bits linked to hate. Maybe some folks want to call that “family values”—but I don’t think that’s what you call saying some people aren’t valuable enough to make families.
I don’t care if she’s supposedly politically irrelevant—what she is taking a stand for isn’t, yet. But it ought to be. And she obviously wants attention—so here. Attention is paid.
The Boy Scouts of America has reaffirmed its longtime policy of barring openly gay boys from membership and gay or lesbian adults from serving as leaders. The decision, announced on Tuesday, came after what the organization described as a wide-ranging internal review, and despite public protests.
Apparently the decision came down from a super-seekrit committee formed in 2010 for, presumably, the purpose of trying to figure out how to keep the antiquated policy alive in a matter that they could justify. Since obviously it cannot be justified they just told the American public to FOAD, we’re sticking with our own version of DADT. And this is despite the fact that the Girl Scouts, the Boys and Girls Clubs and even the frackin 4-H clubs* all have anti-discrimination policies.
Well, voting with your wallet always helps. Do not support the Boy Scouts financially and do not buy their popcorn (or whatever it is they’re selling these days). And seriously consider if this is an organization you want your kids affiliated with.
* I am not a 4-H hater by any means. My only point is this is an organization that operates primarily in rural areas that you would expect to lean red and they are even more liberal than the Boy Scouts.
Sometimes wedge issues can give you the mother of all wedgies.
“Well, when these issues were raised in my state of Massachusetts, I indicated my view, which is I do not favor marriage between people of the same gender, and I do not favor civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name,” Romney said during a visit to Fort Lupton. “My view is the domestic partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights, and the like are appropriate but that the others are not.”
I have the same view on marriage that I had when I was governor. I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman.
...
This is a very tender and sensitive topic as are many social issues, but I have the same views I’ve had since running for office.
To the Members of the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts:
I am writing to thank the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts for the advice and support you have given to me during my campaign for the U.S. Senate and to seek the Club’s formal endorsement of my election. The Log Cabin Club has played a vital role in reinvigorating the Republican Party in Massachusetts and your endorsement is important to me because it will provide further confirmation that my campaign and approach to government is consistent with the values and vision of government we share.
I am pleased to have had an opportunity to talk with you and to meet many of you personally during your September meeting. I learned a great deal from those discussions and the many thoughtful questions you posed. As a result of our discussions and other interactions with gay and lesbian voters across the state, I am more convinced than ever before that as we seek to establish full equality for Americas gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent.
I am not unaware of my opponent’s considerable record in the area of civil rights, or the commitment of Massachusetts voters to the principle of equality for all Americans. For some voters it might be enough for me to simply match my opponent’s record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will.
We have discussed a number of important issues such as the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which I have agreed to co-sponsor, and if possible broaden to include housing and credit, and the bill to create a federal panel to find ways to reduce gay and lesbian youth suicide, which I also support. One issue I want to clarify concerns President Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue” military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share.
As we begin the final phase of this campaign, I need your support more than ever. By working together, we will achieve the goals we share for Massachusetts and our Nation.
Willard is taking some flak from folks who observed the way he left the rabid neo-con he’d hired as a foreign policy spokesman twisting in the wind when the rabid anti-gay bigots in Willard’s party hung a “NO FAGS!” sign on the GOP clubhouse.
One of the several Sears mannequins deployed by the Romney campaign argued that Willard does TOO have the balls to push back against wingnut bigotry:
“Mitt Romney has confronted those voices of intolerance,” Fehrnstrom said. “He did it last October on stage at the Values Voters summit and denounced some of the poisonous language that is being used by some of the same people that had criticized Ric Grennel’s appointment.”
Yeah, when the talibangelicals go after Willard as a heretic for his Mormonism, he can be arsed to fire back. But when they go after someone on his staff for being gay, Willard regretfully accepts the man’s resignation. Face it, centrists: Martin Niemöller he ain’t.
In a development that pushes the right-wingers-are-always-worse than-you-give-them-credit-for conceit so far that we prisoners of the machines have begun to question the simulated world into which our consciousnesses have been projected, the “Conservative Dating” seminar at CPAC is being run by none other than some dude I never heard of but should have since he’s sort of internet-famous, and since I’m always in the market for guys that make me look good by comparison. This Wayne Elise fellow is the perfect wingman, provided you can plausibly deny later in the evening that you knew who that creep standing next to you at the bar was.
Elise runs a site called “Charisma Arts,” the best evidence I’ve seen yet that charisma is a hard science. It’s one of those joints where you can pretty much randomly click on any article, stab your index finger blindly at the monitor, and find something mockworthy, but heck, let’s go with this one.
Dealing with hot women is like talking to a celebrity. You know they’re famous. They know that you know they’re famous. To pretend you don’t know who they are is just going to make you act silly. Best way to interact with a celebrity is to admit they’re a celebrity, introduce yourself and move on to other topics of conversation.
“Hey, you’re George Peppard from The A Team. I used to play with your action figure. I’m Wayne Elise. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“I thought you were dead. Anyways, It’s good to see you. I saw you checking out that girl’s butt. Don’t worry. I’m not calling you out. It’s okay, I was checking her out too.”
Oh anti-gay activists, is there anything you can’t make intensely homoerotic? From Raw Story, which sounds super-gay all of a sudden, comes (ha) this far-out (hee hee) claim from the head (oh ho ho) of conservative Christian organization the Wretched Hive of Scum and Villainy the Family Research Council, which takes the official position that the hate better be the only thing swelling in you now:
Tony Perkins: Star Wars ‘surrenders to gay empire’
December 15th, 1973: The American Psychiatric Association declassifies homosexuality as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It was a big deal at the time; there probably should’ve been a celebration or something, but good luck trying to get a buncha gays to go out and party.
Anyway, that’s all well and good, but I wish the APA would get back to me about my proposal of a new classification in the DSM for men who have multiple cats and a Yorkshire Terrier, favor retro-kitsch decor, spend all year looking forward to Halloween, fuss over their facial hair until it’s just so, Rollerblade shirtless, and had major problems with the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but somehow aren’t gay, possibly due to atomic radiation or child abuse. I mean c’mon, there’s obviously something wrong with the ol’ noggin, yet here I am not collecting disability like a chump.
*yes, I realize this is not an accurate depiction of the spectrum of human sexuality, shut up
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/15/11 at 05:16 PM
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Inexcusable! The candidate’s new OS, Mitt Vista, has a patch specifically addressing the gaydar issue that plagued previous versions. Not to mention that in Concord, New Hampshire terms, that dude is fuh-LAMing.
Aw, now I’m all nostalgic. Overheard something about this incident earlier, and my first thought was “bet that was in New Hampshire,” though to be fair I always think that when something awesome happens on the campaign trail. I’ve heard about it being “the South of the North,” and that’s just not the case—it really is libertarian in the “leave me alone” sense, plus the people there, while lovely, aren’t what you’d call unfailingly polite.
Born in Keene, grew up in Stoddard, right on Highland Lake. Looked around the ol’ YT—and when you’re talking about New Hampshire, it makes sense to say that rather than “YouTube”—to find a clip that conveys the feel of the place. Slim pickin’s but there is this:
Pretty much sums it up, ayuh.
Oh, if anybody recognizes the title of this post, please tell me what sketch show that was. It’s been driving me nuts and it’s unGooglable. Also, please explain how I have a distinct memory of knowing this guy personally except it turns out he died the year I was born. Scaaaarrry WOOOOOOooo oh right, memories are famously faulty. Eh, whatever puts Sandusky away.
Love ya, New Hampshire! Sorry your face fell off.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/12/11 at 10:08 PM
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While working a New Hampshire diner with a friendly GOP mayor, Mittens spotted an older guy in a red flannel jacket and Vietnam veteran hat. From WaPo:
“Vietnam veteran!” Romney greeted Bob Garon.
“I have a question for you,” Garon told the former Massachusetts governor. “New Hampshire right now has some legislation kicking around about a repeal for the same-sex marriage. And all I need is a yes or a no. Do you support the repeal?”
“I support the repeal of the New Hampshire law,” Romney said. “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s my view.”
Well, it turns out the vet was there having breakfast with his husband. The exchange turned into a “heated confrontation” according to the Post. It would have gone better if Romney were still taking the position he took back when he was running against Ted Kennedy and promised to be the LGBT community’s “best friend” in Washington. As Rick Perry might put it, “Oops!”
In its haste to make sure everyone knows they’re out of their fucking minds, the GOP-controlled Senate in Michigan has unleashed mayhem in its public schools.
Oh, they didn’t mean to do that (maybe). But pro anti-bullying bill SB 137 not only excludes gay and transgender kids from protection, it includes this exception [via The Michigan Messenger, h/t L,G & $]:
“This section does not prohibit a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or a pupil and parent or guardian.”
Now, you know and I know that these asshats thought they were protecting the 1st Am. rights of Christians who think they must shout “Faggot!” at school kids to make the Baby Jesus happy. However, what they have in actuality done is protect the 1st Am. rights of any coward who gets off on picking on someone who is different. (Provided he is absolutely sure there will be no repercussions.)
Kevin Epling, father of an East Lansing student who committed suicide because he was bullied for being gay nails it:
“This will only cause unrest in schools and give schools one more thing to deal with rather than trying to solve a problem. Also it is not a very well thought out ploy, as in some areas of the state the tables might be turned on the ‘anointed ones’ they seek to keep from being punished. This is just very wrong and the way it was done was wrong as well. It was bullying at its best.”
So. Say there is a student, or teacher or parent who has the deeply held moral/religious belief that all Jewish people are going to Hell. He now gets to stand up in the nearest public school and share his opinion in a loud clear voice and there isn’t a damn thing anyone can do about it.
Or say there is a student or teacher or parent who has a deeply held moral/religious belief that women who leave the home unescorted by a male relative are brazen sluts who should be whipped. Or perhaps someone believes that God really objects to mixed race couples. Or that people who eat meat on a Friday (or at all) are sinners. Or any of the other 9,999,999,999 fucked up beliefs that people cling to in order to feel superior to someone else. According to Michigan’s Senate, all of this is perfectly legal.
Of course, as Epling mentions, if a student has a deeply held moral belief that bullying is wrong, he is, by law allowed to tell some God-bothering twerp to get stuffed. Unintended Consequences, anyone?
Plus, I guarantee you thousands of snarky kids are culling through holy books looking for a passage that allows them to declare Geometry/Chemistry/Biology/History/English lessons are an affront to some deity or other. Hell, I know I would.
The bill still has to pass the House, but if you’re a teacher in Michigan (and you aren’t an asshole), you might want to consider a less stressful form of employment. I bet the local bomb squad is hiring.
Wahwahwah, poor little Ricky Santorum is being bullied by mean Saturday Night Live. This sketch, which parodied the format of the recent GOP presidential debate, which seated candidates according to their standings in the polls, put Santorum all the way out to a {gasp!} gay bar in San Francisco while Bachmann and the Newster shared the relative comfort of a broom closet. (Closet? Hmmmm. What are they gettting at?)
Little Ricky was NOT amused!
“We’ve been hammered by the left for my standing up for the traditional family and I will continue to do so,” Santorum said. “The left, unfortunately, participates in bullying more than the right does. They say that they’re tolerant, and they’re anything but tolerant of people who disagree with them and support traditional values.”
I don’t know, though, Ricky. At least it’s some attention. The donors haven’t been giving you much of it lately. Look for a resignation press conference, complete with sobbing children, any time now.
"[W]e wholeheartedly endorse the excellent Rumproast blog" -- Jim Newell, Wonkette
"Mind you, don’t let yourself be trapped dialoging with these guys: truth is their enemy; pyschological warfare and misinformation dissemination is their profession." -- TeaParty.org
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