Who Will Be the GOP’s New Gays?

[cbayer]

http://www.ukprogressive.co.uk/who-will-be-the-gops-new-gays/article22231.html

POLITICS | TINA DUPUY | APRIL 9, 2013 5:00 AM



Since incumbent Republicans are in favor of gay marriage it’s clear—gays are out. Recently Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Senator Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) have endorsed marriage equality. LGBTs are no longer that group Republicans can win elections by promising to keep them away from us. The GOP swore to protect marriage and on their watch the altar was altered anyway. Now the party of Lincoln is gay-friendly or at least not as successfully gay-hostile.

Also Latinos can no longer be characterized as an invading force hell bent on killing us all (remember “the fajita flu?”). Self-deportation, a Republican policy idea to make this country so unpleasant for people who appear to be Mexican that they leave, has attempted to self-deport since Republicans figured out Latinos are also votantes (voters). They are now reaching out to Latinos or as Senator Rand Paul said at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, “I am a fan of Gabriel Garcia Marquez.”

With no more gays and Latinos to kick around, who’s next? I’m guessing Republicans are not going to run on sound public policy ideas. It’s not that I’ve become cynical watching the Grand Old Party gain ground by telling minority groups to get off their lawn. It’s just that I’m a realist. Republicans have enjoyed the fruits of the Southern Strategy (aka the art of blaming “the others”)—it’s not easy to just turn that off.

-snip-

Don’t forget non-Christians!

North Carolina Republicans have introduced a bill saying the part of the First Amendment specifying the state shouldn’t establish a religion doesn’t apply to them. The bill reads: “Each state in the union is sovereign and may independently determine how that state may make laws respecting an establishment of religion.” An official state religion? Why has no one thought to do this before?! Why has no one looked at Saudi Arabia and thought, “This place is great! We should make North Carolina more like it!” But since Americans have made the mistake of letting Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists, Muslims, Jews and Scientologists live here, now they can redeem themselves by letting the GOP malign them to turn out the Republican base.

more at link

[Cleita]

1. I heard some salvo fired from a RWinger about the homeless and poor people.

According to this person, they need to get jobs. So I have a feeling this is a new group of people, who are helpless about their circumstances, to be picked on. The fact that our government is not improving safety nets but cutting them back will make this group even more vulnerable to the bigotry. I did point out to this person that many of them did have jobs but due to underemployment and low wages, they still can't afford to rent. That person replied that she didn't believe that and changed the conversation. This person is too empty headed to have thought this up by herself so she is getting it from Fox News, Rush Limbug and probably at the Tea Party Church, which means it's a new meme being spread by the think tanks who invent and spread this propaganda.

[cbayer]

2. The article speaks to that as well and I think both you and the author are correct.

They have to designate some enemies and, as usual, will go after those most vulnerable or marginalized.

I hope that we, as democrats, will watch for this and counter it wherever we can.

Good for you for standing up, but not surprised that is fell on deaf ears.

[Cleita]

3. If she had allowed me more time I would have asked her if children should go

get a job because in our county there are enough homeless children to fill an elementary school and this county is low population and mostly rural. Imagine how many there are in more highly populated counties like Los Angeles County. I also read that statistic in our local fish wrapper that is pretty right wing, but people like that don't want to hear facts. They relish their prejudices and feed them. This is why this country is so messed up.

[cbayer]

8. In times of economic stress, there seems a tendency for each class to

turn against the economic classes below them.

It's bigotry and makes them feel that they are superior.

[okasha]

9. I think you're correct.

The poor and homeless, especially the latter, are in the same predicament that African Americans were in, in the 1950's--no elected representation, stringent social dividing lines, no access to education, very limited access to any other benefits, and those becoming increasingly conditional.

[hrmjustin]

4. Don't worry, they will always find someone to pick on.

Unfortunately they are not done picking on LGBT people.

[Cleita]

5. It's looking hopeful for them. Those who oppose LGBT people are

increasingly being make to look like the fringe. I hope it works out that way.

[hrmjustin]

6. Yes!

They still want to debate gay marriage but it looks like the debate is over.

[cbayer]

7. They have had to back way down on GLBT civil rights.

I know it's probably killing them to do so, but it's no longer politically viable to go down that road.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

10. Well, since we all have gay friends and relatives, it is getting harder to attack gays.

This evening, my wife and I are going out with a gay couple we are close to, to celebrate a promotion that one of them got, the birthday of the other, and my wife's retirement. These two gay men are staunch Republicans, because they are both fiscal conservatives. Yet they would like to be married, basically because they have been living together for over 25 years, and would like the state to recognize their relationship.

[cbayer]

11. I think that's true.

I heard a man interviewed recently who has written a book about getting couples together for dinner. He has a straight couple who he feels have shown *intolerance* together with a gay couple. They don't talk about GLBT issues, but just spend the evening together.

It's much harder to hate or to hold prejudices once you get to know the people you have been bigoted towards.