The Republican Party’s Moral Bankruptcy

The current guiding theme of the national and state Republicans seems to be an insistence to not walk and chew gum at the same time. Well, actually, they don’t seem much interested in walking or chewing gum at separate times, either. Because when you get right town to their message it basically amounts to: Do nothing. Unless, of course, you consider total and complete obstruction as doing something.

Here in Vermont, Republicans are apoplectic about the recent decision by the Democratic leaders of both the House and the Senate to declare that the same-sex marriage bill be allowed to move forward in both chambers. And, given that those same Democrats have super-majorities in both chambers, the announcement by the leadership all but assured its passage.

Apparently realizing that the “little” things like facts, figures, justice and – oh yeah – public opinion were all lined up against them, the Republicans have decided to attack the same-sex marriage bill as “a distraction” during these tough economic times. In other words, how dare the heathen Democrats do anything but …hmmm… bow to the Reagan economic bible during this recession by cutting taxes, cutting programs and going home.

If you get stuck listening to the rightwing-nutjobs like talk radio’s Paul Beaudry of True Nutty – er, make that North – Radio, you’d think the Vermont legislature is doing nothing but promoting gay love. And his not-so-bright but angry-as-hell followers – yes, all 7 of the old bastards – drink lustily from Beaudry’s semantically-challenged diatribes, apparently convincing themselves that once gays have a right to marry all things heterosexual will be under siege and/or lost forever.

Beaudry, for example, speaks often about the “sanctity” of marriage between one man and one woman. But if he was going to be honest with his audience, Beaudry ought to be talking about the sanctity of his marriages – yeah, between himself and the two women in his life who have made that “life” commitment with him. Hey, there’s nothing like a good lawyer to end the sanctity of a marriage, huh Paul? And, speaking of lawyers, it’s a good thing Beaudry’s current wife finally ended her previous marriage just in the nick of time before getting all sanctimonious with him.

Oh please, Paul, keep telling us about love and commitment. And please, keep protecting those random acts of “holy alliances” you seem to be so in favor of. You dope.

You know bigots are trying to hide their bigotry when they start saying things like, “I’ve got friends who are gay.” And Beaudry and his knuckle-dragging friend, Steve Cable, can’t seem to say that line enough lately. Sorry, fellas, but real friends don’t gleefully seek to trample their friends’ civil rights. Nice try, though.

Nationally, the Republicans are using the “distraction” argument to condemn President Barack Obama’s decision yesterday to lift the national ban on stem cell research. Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House, said that even bringing up the issue would take the focus off of the number one job of the moment: fixing the economy.

Cue the laugh track. Because this is the same Cantor who has led the House Republicans into opposing anything and everything that has been proposed to “fix the economy.” Well, except cutting taxes, cutting programs, going home, and otherwise bowing before the Reagan economic bible.

Oh, and speaking of Reagan, it was Nancy Reagan who issued an extremely supportive statement to the press yesterday after Obama made his stem cell announcement. She’s certainly seen the devastating impacts of Alzheimer’s up close and, as a result, wouldn’t dare call an attempt to unleash a scientific solution to it a “distraction.”

But I guess that’s all the Republicans have got today. Well, that and Rush Limbaugh. Pity the poor fools.