The most recent poll we've seen shows that an overwhelming majority (78%) of Americans believe that gays and lesbians have as much right to volunteer to die in defense of their country as straight men and women do. Which is to say, an overwhelming majority of Americans believe it is time to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
But that 22% homophobic minority is the Republican base, so when the issue came up for a vote in the U.S. House Thursday night, most of the Republicans voted "no" (including Madam Virginia Foxx), and most of the Democrats voted "yes." Except, of course, for three predictable North Carolina Democratic blue dogs, U.S. Reps. Mike McIntyre of Lumberton, Bob Etheridge of Lillington and Heath Shuler of Waynesville. Nothing gay about them!
Just for the record, Bob Etheridge was the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's first pick to run against Richard Burr this year. When Etheridge, bless his heart, backed off, the DSCC started blowing in Cal Cunningham's ear, and we're still dealing with that particular seduction.
What these homophobes don't understand is that there are plenty of gay and lesbian soldiers serving and dying right now. But they are not allowed to list their chosen life partners as next of kin. How many have died alone in an army hospital, because they were denied the comforting presence of the person whom they truly loved?
ReplyDeleteBTW- bridle is now posting as brushfire
ReplyDeleteWhen I served I didn't give a damn who was next to me as long as he or she did their job and followed orders.
ReplyDeleteDon't ask, don't tell is an offensive joke. Only the repugnant self--loathing right seems to care.
When one of the GOP reps or ministers is busted it is frequently with a minor, a staffer, a hooker or (most frequently) a member of the same sex who also happens to be one of the above.
It puts don't ask, don't tell in an all new light.
This was a Clinton disappointment for me (there were others). He wimped out to create this joke of a policy. It's time we grew up, accepted reality, and pass full benefits to our gay and lesbian soldiers. Foxx's vote is no surprise.
ReplyDeleteNote to Brushfire: nice new handle!
A homophobia thread on WataugaWatch, in the wake of 2 years of rumor about, and persecution of, Patrick McHenry on the basis of sexist and homophobic presumption about his sexuality on this very site.
ReplyDeleteI hope you guys don't ever cease to amaze yourselves, because you certainly don't ever cease to amaze me.
Brushfire, you were not here for most of it, so I am not counting you in "you guys". BikerBard, you didn't participate in the bashing so much, and according to Guy Faulkes, you are gay anyway, so I'm also not counting you in "you guys". Shyster, you are just logical and cool, and you never participated in it either, and you don't even care about local NC politics, so I'm also not counting you in "you guys".
But J.W.? Yesss........
Mike D:
ReplyDeleteYou really are just here to "peck a fight." Notice nobody has taken the bait. Not even on the other thread you hijacked. Nothing.
Listen: (crickets chirping)
Mike, I didn't take part because, 1. I don't know if McHenry is gay and truly don't give a damn. and 2. as you pointed out, I try to avoid comments on specific issues of local politics because I am not involved.
ReplyDeleteAs I read the comments about McHenry there are a number on this site who are convinced that he is gay and commented not on his sexuality but his self-loathing hypocrisy.
Hey Mike, I don't care about anyone's (adult consensual) sexual expression, but even God despises a hypocrite. (Mathew 7:5)
ReplyDeleteI think what arouses liberal ire is the blatant hypocrisy of Republicans who use these kinds of issues to manipulate their base in such a cynical way.
Mike D.:
ReplyDeleteI didn't participate in the bashing because I don't give a damn who's zooming who and how or why. I don't care- it's none of my business. As to Faux's ideas about me- it highlights his extreme homophobia. It's Faux's default button. When he can't think of an argument, he calls the other guy a queer. Just a childish response.
BikerBard,
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck is "zooming"?
Mike D:
ReplyDeleteGood God, man!
Use your imagination.
"...making the beast with two backs." - W.S.
"Let copulation thrive!" -
(also) W.S.
I couldn't have said it better myself:
ReplyDelete"The central belief of every moron is that he is the victim of a mysterious conspiracy against his common rights and true deserts. He ascribes all his failure to get on in the world, all of his congenital incapacity and damfoolishness, to the machinations of werewolves assembled in Wall Street, or some other such den of infamy. If these villains could be put down, he holds, he would at once become rich, powerful and eminent. Nine politicians out of every ten, of whatever party, live and have their being by promising to perform this putting down. In brief, they are knaves who maintain themselves by preying on the idiotic vanities and pathetic hopes of half-wits."
– H. L. Mencken, _Baltimore Evening Sun_, June 15, 1936