GOP Eyes Anti-Gay Plank

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/NewsContent/092303gopGays.htm

The Republican Party national platform is expected to include a condemnation of same-sex marriage and to support a constitutional amendment barring gay and lesbian couples from being wed.

"There is a lot of energy out there, a lot of concern about gay marriage," said RNC chair Ed Gillespie. "So it wouldn't surprise me if it were addressed in some form or fashion in the platform."



This is going to push more than a few people into the Democratic camp

[underpants]

1. No it's okay take a few more steps out on that plank......

Ker"*SPLASH*"

Yeah that's good.

[bigtime]

2. what goes through the minds of the log-cabin repugs anyhow?

I just don't get it. It's like deer joining the NRA.

[elfwitch]

5. Sick little Monkeys

I am always astounded by "conservatives" and their weird obsession with other people's sex and personal lives. Maybe it is because they don't have any of their own?

They care more about what somebody else is doing than trying to make themselves better people. Astounding!

To damn many busy bodies in this country.
"That shalt not bug thy neighbor!" is my policy in life.

[cherryperry]

3. So,

how do the Log Cabin Republicans live with this?

:crazy: :silly: :crazy:

GOP = Gay Old Party...pass it on; that should make the repigs so upset that they'll disintegrate and we can

forget all our cares
get happy
etc.
etc.

[CO Liberal]

4. I'd Look for the "Log Cabin Republicans" to Disband

I've never fully understood how they could be in the GOP anyway......

[mac56]

6. They would say they're in it to effect change from within -

but I wonder if in reality many of them are trust fund kids who haven't come out to Dad and Mumsie yet.

[LeftHander]

7. This is going to BE THE ISSUE in 04'

The party of Hate, Fear and War will make sure this is an issue.

Pointing like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" repukes will squeal...

"That person supports gay marriage"

Plan on lots of sickening ads showing gay people undermining the fabric of christian society.

The right couldn't win on Anti-Abortion for years....so this is the next logical step. Draw on all the homo-phobes and the "gay agenda" scare tactic...

I really have a problem with conservatives. I have yet to meet one truely genuine person. No compassion. Little care for people other than themselves. Money, money, money...more for me less for you.

[elfwitch]

10. "undermining the fabric of christian society"

I think they are doing this well enough on their own. They have taken the ideas of a nice Jewish boy who just wanted everyone to play nice and turned him in to a gun-toting, doctor killing, busybody asshole. Sad indeed.

[Zhade]

33. Wasn't Jesus gay?

I can hear the Freepers screaming from here... ;)

[cherryperry]

53. Well, actually, no because

he apparently was fucking Mary Magdalene, and who knows how many other followers of the time, so, he probably was bi...

[cherryperry]

52. I love you, Elfwitch! Shalom...

eom

[Fish Eye]

60. can I steal your phrase??

"The party of Hate, Fear and War"

looking for a good line in an opinion piece

[BattyDem]

8. Go ahead

add some more hatred and bigotry to your platform. Americans just love that. :eyes:

Bigotry's birthplace is the sinister back room of the mind where plots and schemes are hatched for the persecution and oppression of other human beings. - Bayard Rustin, African-American civil rights activist

[elfwitch]

12. Unfortunately...

It does seem that the people in the "RED" states live for this kind of crap though doesn't it? I just wish they would be bigots in the privacy of their own homes and churches.

[BattyDem]

17. Let's hope

the non-voters in the Blue States will finally get off their asses and do the right thing.

[elfwitch]

20. Blue States

Lets hope those like us in the Red states get off their bums and do something. :pals:

[Selwynn]

40. I'll get off my hump and do something.....

I'll move to a blue state! :D

[bushisanidiot]

9. Do it, you egotistical homofanatics!

I can't wait to see the LCR dump the repuke party.. that'll be, what? 12 more votes for the democratic party?? heh..

[marshmellow]

11. This movement must be stopped.

Those gay marriages are very scary, could do more harm than all the terrorists. From what Rush says, every democrat in the US is thinking about getting married to the same sex.

But mostly it will be used to dominate the media. Keep that issue front and center and remove more important issues from the front page.

[cherryperry]

54. Get your papers here!

Fellow Americans, the Jew Media let the cat out of the bag:

The Democrats are going to pursue a homosexual lifestyle and demand to marry. The only thing that can stop this is to ensure we win both Congress and the White House in 2004!

Organize, my fellow republicans, this could be the death of our beloved country as we know it!

1. Win EVERYTHING in 2004;

and then

2. Kill the Jews!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

61. In fact that is what they will say and do

don't joke. They will portray us as the "gay threat" to the nation's security.

[ozone_man]

13. I would love to see Dean debate Bush on gay rights.

Dean passed civil union legislation in Vermont. As if there aren't gay Repubs. Well, maybe they will have to defect.

[elfwitch]

14. Gay Republicans??

Have you ever really met one? Or are they Urban Myths like Bigfoot?

[LiberalVoice]

19. Big foots not an urban myth. Bush told me so himself!

MU HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

[elfwitch]

21. Bush told me so

That reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw here in Dallas.
It says "Bush said it so I believe it!" :puke:

[Boomer]

23. Surrounded by Gay Republicans

Met one? I worked with several in my office in Northern Virginia.

One was a young lesbian who "married" her lover last year in a park ceremony. These two women actually had Bush signs all over their yard to support his presidential bid. The other was a young gay man who was also staunchly Republican.

Go figure.

I had more in common with the straight Democrats in my office than I EVER would with these gay co-workers.

At the very least I'm comforted that these incredibly ignorant folk won't be passing along their genes to the next generation.

-- Boomer

[Flubadubya]

26. How hysterical Boomer....

Welcome to DU! :bounce: :party: :toast: :hi:

"At least I'm comforted that these incredibly ignorant folk won't be passing their genes to the next generation."


However, don't forget... THEY RECRUIT!!! :evilgrin:

[ozone_man]

24. There probably aren't many, but yes, there are gay Republicans.

Maybe it's a gambit their willing to make to cast off those few in hopes of gaining some Democrat homophobes. But I think they'll end up losing far more of the liberal wing of the Republican party.

[qwlauren35]

28. Oh yes, they exist..

My sister's step-son and his partner are Republicans. It's all about the almighty dollar. And many years ago, I met a Log Cabin Republican. He really believed that sexual orientation should be kept private.

From my years in the South, this isn't so contradictory to any of the other vices that people keep under wraps, including drinkin, fornicatin', adulterin', incestin', etc....

For reasons I can't understand, people in the South seem happier to pretend that such things don't happen. And perhaps there is a fear that if homosexuality comes out of the closet, then some of the WORSE stuff will come out as well...

[cherryperry]

55. la la la la la la la

I can't hear you

la la la la la la la


:tinfoilhat:

[ronnykmarshall]

44. I've met some ......

..... not pretty.

[cherryperry]

56. You're keeping a

pretty high standard to meet,ronny, not many people are as purty as you in any walk of life...

:9

[Skittles]

15. Republicans side with hate

is that news?

[T Wolf]

16. this will NOT

be a negative for the repukes.

Just like Lieberman on the Dem ticket in 2000, they will gain more from their bigotry than they lose. In 2000, there were many more anti-semites than Jews.

In 2003-4, there are many more homophobes than GLBTs.

Though it stinks, it is smart politically.

[elfwitch]

18. You are probably right...

They gain people by kicking off fears through single-issue voting patterns. I have known a lot of Fiscal Republicans that vote that way only to save their money. Many of them disagree with the social policy, but vote for cash whoring purposes.

On the other side, you have many "poor" Republicans (my father-in-law is one) that vote on single social issues like gays or abortion. The PUKES rely on the callow. They only win by scaring the bejesus out of low-income WASPS.

[davidinalameda]

22. it will still piss off the moderates

it will make Bush look like he's caving in to Faldwell and Robertson, which he is

[Zhade]

34. Sadly, it takes far less effort to hate than to love.

NT!

[Selwynn]

41. I hear, but don't agree

I think the smartest political move would be to stay in the middle and avoid specifics for the republicans -- that way they really don't alienate anyone they already have.

Think about it.. how many democrats are there who are saying, "you know if the republicans just had an anti-gay agenda, I'd jump ship!" Probably not many. At the same time, they only thing taking a bold and vocal anti-gay agenda will do for them is alienate every moderate they have and stir up a small but fiesty part of grass roots 'merica. :)

[kayell]

45. There may be more homophobes than GLBTs

but there aren't more homophobes than people who are family or friends of GLBTs.

[cally]

25. Dems should take the offensive NOW

Start releasing 'news' about generous gay couples. Folks active in their community and doing community service. Just lots of positive stories about gay/lesbian couples.

I've thought for awhile that this GOP tactic was the latest Willie Horton tactic. I think Dems can win if they start now.

[Bake]

27. Pukes are never FOR anything; always AGAINST something

It's not that they're FOR tax cuts, it's that they are AGAINST taxes at every level. They're AGAINST gays. They're AGAINST minorities. They're AGAINST the woman's right to choice. They're AGAINST civil rights of all kinds. They're AGAINST everything. I honestly can't think of one single thing they are FOR, except for the death penalty (which, after all, is pretty much a "negative" thing, conceptually speaking).

I hope they DO put a little more hate in their platform. I think good people, decent people all over America have had it up to here with all this hate. I'm a heterosexual white male, but I'm sick of the gay-baiting, race-baiting, code-word-using bullshit that passes for the Repuke side of political discourse today.

I like to think (in my more idealistic moments, perhaps) that Dems are FOR positive things. Like, we're FOR The People. We're FOR democracy. We're FOR freedom. We're FOR equal rights for all people.

Bake

[Selwynn]

30. I noticed that too...

Same problem that brothers me about fundamentalist religon, as opposed to more liberal and progressive religious communities. I'd rather talk about what I'm for.

[Selwynn]

29. I really think this is going to backfire...

I agree that this is actually good for Democrats. There is a big difference between people who express personal reservations in a poll and people ready to stand up and actively support discrimination as a matter of policy.

The reason why this is good is because it will further polarize the parties -- we would pick up more moderate folks, and the Republicans would only further solidfy their hold on the radical and moronic far right. It's GREAT to have morons over there because inevitably they are so out of touch with reality that their positions become more and more laughable.

Please understand when I say what I'm about to say, that personally, as a matter of idealism, I am for full and public support and affirmation of all peoples, and especially gay, lebsian and transgender peoples in this current climate of intolerance. However, the smartest move as politicla strategy for R's would be NOT to takle this issue head on, but skirt it. If they say nothing, they keep their base, if the go on the attack, they lose the change of adding potential votes to their base. Where on the other side, D's are a little more free to speak out because if we speak out about the issues we basically keep our base, AND run the risk of luring voters away from a Republican party that is seen as slipping further and further into the laughability of the fanatical right.

[CaptAhab]

51. Re: "I really think this is going to backfire..."

I agree that this is actually good for Democrats. There is a big difference between people who express personal reservations in a poll and people ready to stand up and actively support discrimination as a matter of policy.

I'd guess that they wouldn't attack homosexuals outright, but would put the emphasis on "family values," something they've been doing all along. In private fundraising events, however, Whistle-ass will make sure to ignite fear and hatred towards the evil liberal gays.

I hope it is possible to counter the "family values" part of the Repugnican platform by highlighting the past of gangbanging Ahnold, who happens to be one of the party darlings, as well as the fact that the American Catholic Church, known for its propensity to cover up the crimes of pedophile priests, is also openly endorsing various GOP functionaries. Consider, for example, that Christendom College recently awarded Medal for Distinguished Service to God and Country to Rick "I hate gays" Santorum (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/4/prweb64099.php). That ought to be enough to kill off any kind of family values nonsense sputtered forth by Republican propagandists.

[David__77]

31. Message to gays and lesbians: Democratic Party is your home!

It's somply foul that so many lesbians and gay men would cast a ballot for a right-winger, or someone supporting the anti-gay party. We should be even MORE united against the GOP than Black people are. If people don't want to vote Democratic, they could at least support a left independent. But Republicans? Simply foul.

[soleft]

32. Aren't they supposed to mind the plank in their own eye

Oh, wait, no, that was a log, sorry.

[Zhade]

35. Didn't Hitler start by persecuting homosexuals? Just asking.

NT!

[cherryperry]

57. Actually, Hitler started with

ridding himself of political dissidents.

Then, he went off on gay people, people with disabilities, gypsies, and so on until he hit the jackpot with the Final Solution for the Jews.

[transeo]

36. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you

More of the same, and sadly, it will probably work. I'd like to think better of my fellow Americans, but given the last three years, I just can't. The GOP will scare people into thinking that homos are coming to recruit their children and force them into same gender marriages. It's so depressing. I need to raid Pickles' Xanax stash.

:hi:

[soleft]

38. Transeo!

:hi:

[DisgustedTX]

37. Poppy & Junior both enjoy boys it seems

http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2003/02/1570946.php

:evilfrown:

[Voltaire99]

49. Hatred and fear = Great distractors

Is your economy going down the toilet? Do you know people who have lost jobs? Does the rest of the world despise us for our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? Are your civil liberties under attack?

Quick, lookee over here - evil homosexuals!

[LoneStarLiberal]

39. This Makes Sense For Them

The Bush/Cheney team really needs to rally their base considering they have played so many of their cards wrong that nearly each of their bases (except big business) has been alienated to varying degrees.

Playing the conservative Christian card with this issue shores up several leaky issues for the Bush/Cheney team with one fail swoop: Judiciary, advocacy, abortion, and family. Here's how it breaks down:

Judiciary: One of the things the wingnuts have been increasingly vocal about is nominating another Scalia to the Supreme Court and nominating more Rehnquist clones to the Federal bench. While the White House has certainly done their share of nominating corporate whores and haters of individual liberties, they so far have held back from giving the Flat Earthers the nominees they want. Making anti-gay politics a plank of their political platform will appease this group somewhat and allow the White House to push more moderatly conservative judicial appointees.

Advocacy: Another thing the wingnuts have been whining about for some time is a White House that is less political and more intolerant. If they are going to vote for a President then they want him to be as publically intolerant of homosexuality, abortion, and other religions as they are of the same things. Making this a party plank and pursuing the odious idea of this being made into a constitutional amendment will once more placate this vital part of the Bush/Cheney base for election.

Abortion: Surprisingly enough the issue of gay marriage has blown straight past abortion as the key issue of the 2004 campaign for the Flat Earthers. A strong stance on this issue will let the Bush/Cheney team off the substantially sharp hook on abortion to a degree.

Family: What discussion involving gay marriage and Republicans could ever be complete without talking about family? None, that's what. Whether we like it or not, a slight majority of Americans want to maintain the heterosexual monopoly on marriage for a variety of reasons. All of these reasons play into Republican hands and they will undoubtedly be rolling out all the barely concealed hate propaganda in all its glory.

There is a simple solution to most of their bigotry, too: One of the foundations of the few logical arguements you will hear from conservatives is that the government should not sanction homosexual marriage. I agree. I don't think the government should sanction ANY marrage at all beyond keeping records. Do away with the marriage tax permanently: END FEDERAL AND STATE SANCTIONING OF MARRIAGE. In one fail swoop you play to fiscal conservatives, libertarians, and the general conservative zeal for rolling back government. You also open the doors for gay marriages since it is no longer a matter of state or federal sanction.

[Selwynn]

42. RE: last paragraph

R's would never go for that. More than they want "smaller government" they want the ability to control what you do with your life. They would never reliquish their chance to make something they hate "against the law." They're not going to go for simply getting the government out of marriage when what they actually want is a government enforced narrow definition of marriage.

Republicans = smaller government is a complete and utter myth. They want a huge and restrictive government for the people, smaller government for multi-billon dollar corporate machines.

[LoneStarLiberal]

43. Good Points

I would never fall into the fallacy of believing that the Republican cause is really only about smaller government.

However, in their attempts to use this issue to rally their base, I think that this approch could nicely split some of their other base groups, i.e. libertarians who care more about smaller government and far less about religious issues.

[Jonte_1979]

46. ...And this would be different from its current stance in what way?

Are they finally going to make Fred Phelbs GOP chairman?

[cherryperry]

58. Good one, Jonte!

Fred Phelps will be the next GOP chairman...pass it on...

[Trek234]

47. People will stay republican

I went to dinner at a gay couples house about 3 weeks ago.

We talked briefly about politics and I asked what party T (for privacy reasons) belonged to. He told me "actually I'm a pretty strong republican" in all seriousness. I sat there staring at him for about 3 seconds because I half way expected him to start laughing. He was serious, however.

I don't understand how a gay person who has ANY desire for equal rights could strongly support the republican party. I would have asked him, but I figured it would only lead to some kind of heated conversation that would be better to avoid. So I just changed the subject.

[cherryperry]

59. Follow the money ... eom

[leesa]

48. They've ALWAYS had an anti-gay plank, what's new?

[Polemonium]

50. It will also draw a few into the repukes camp

Big moral issues, are what the right relies on to draw support from the religious majority, while raping us up the backside on most other issues of interest to average Americans.

[cherryperry]

63. IMO, it won't draw anyone in who

wasn't already there, however, it does have the possibility of drawing others out...

[Dr Fate]

62. Gay Culture is at it's most popular- BAD MOVE GOP Haters!

While I hate to hear that gays are being once again scapegoated by the usual Haters- I do sense it is a BAD move- considering that mainstream people are starting to warm up to "gay culture" with Shows like "Queer Eye", etc...

Will the extremely entertaining and informative "Fab Five", (despite the obvious sterotyping) serve to turn folks away from Rove/Bush/media's hateful positions agqinst gays?