Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Romney's Base

This is one of  Conservativedom's favorite news sources, and this is what its biggest mouthpiece has to say about gay marriage:

"There will be serious consequences for America as a result of this growing apostasy. I believe we are already feeling them. It’s praiseworthy that voters in 32 out of 32 states have rejected this invention of the pseudo-intellectual cultural elite. But, it will take more than that to prevent God’s wrath on a nation flirting with arrogant, defiant rejection of one of God’s most sacred injunctions. As a man claiming to be America’s leader, Obama has cursed us all. In fact, he himself represents one of those judgments that, I believe, is already upon us as a nation." - Just For Men addict and World Net Daily founder Joseph Farah.


This is a last desperate gasp at swimming against the righteous tide, a righteous tide that will overwhelm and drown those who have marginalized, demonized, and brutalized our gay brothers and sisters throughout this world's sorry history. 

Thankfully, we will overcome, and we will work harder than ever to make this country live up to its promise of liberty and justice for all.

The Joseph Farahs of this world and this country are dying out slowly and ever so surely.

"Dr. King once said that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. It bends towards justice, but here is the thing: it does not bend on its own. It bends because each of us in our own ways put our hand on that arc and we bend it in the direction of justice...."  --President Obama

ROMNEY FLIP-FLOPS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.  WHICHEVER WAY THE POLITICAL WIND BLOWS, SO BLOWS ROMNEY:


"While seeking the US Senate seat in 1994, Mitt Romney wrote a letter to a gay rights group known as the Log Cabin Club claiming that he supported full equality for America's gay and lesbian citizens. He claimed that even though has opponent - Senator Ted Kennedy - was an ardent supporter of gay rights, he would be more effective in moving the issue into the main stream of American concern. He stated that he supported the Federal Employee Nondiscrimination Act and President Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

While seeking the governor's seat for Massachusetts in 2002, Mitt Romney's campaign circulated a flier in a gay pride weekend asserting his support for equal rights for all Americans regardless of sexual orientation.


FLIP...


During his tenure in office, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) of Massachusetts issued a ruling claiming that denial of marriage to same sex couples was not legal. Governor Romney supported the establishment of civil unions to satisfy the court decision that a legal alternative be available. The court rejected this compromise and gay marriage was made legal despite Governor Romneys objections and calls for a statewide vote. His critics called on him to issue an order forbidding the establish and cited state laws establishing marriage as between a man and a woman. Governor Romney stated that he would abide by "the law" established by the court ruling.

FLOP!

Beginning in 2005, Governor Romney appeared on numerous news outlets restating his previous opposition to gay marriage, and stating that he opposed civil unions and stating that every child deserved a mother and a father. In debates and interviews, he stated that a hodgepodge of marriage rules in every state would not be a feasible situation. He supports a constitutional amendment to define gay marriage.

WASHINGTON — Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney said he did not support gay marriage or civil unions as US President Barack Obama finally stepped out Wednesday to voice his backing for same-sex weddings.

"I do not favor marriage between people of the same gender and I don't favor civil unions if they're identical to marriage other than by name," Romney told a reporter for a local TV station in Denver.

What does Romney actually believe?  Are his values fungible?  It would seem so.  Just look at what he's done on the above issue. 

Does this man have any core beliefs on anything?

How can a nation trust a politician who changes with the political wind?

FROM ANDREW SULLIVAN'S BLOG:

GOP: No Gays Allowed, Ctd

"A perfectly qualified judge is rejected by the Virginia state senate because he's gay. Well, not exactly:
'Marshall, the Family Foundation of Virginia and others who raised concerns about Thorne-Begland’s nomination said they did not object to him because he is gay, but because of his outspokenness on the subject of gay rights.'
It's not that he's gay, but that he is not closeted or ashamed that troubles these people. And as fewer and fewer gays seek out the closet, or surrender to the shame it requires, the ability of the GOP to include any gay people at all declines, as we saw in the Grenell case. This is a party now committed to being homo-rein."


24 comments:

Jerry Critter said...

If Romney wants to preserve marriage, rather than campaigning against something that will increase the number of married couples, he should be campaigning to outlaw divorce which is something that destroys marriages.

the nice anonymous said...

(CNN) – "A well-known, openly gay supporter of Mitt Romney in New York has decided to withdraw his support for Romney and back President Barack Obama instead. The clincher: Romney's stance on same-sex marriage. "I feel that I no longer wish to support your presidential campaign and ask that you please return the maximum contribution that I gave to you last year," Bill White wrote in a letter addressed to the former Massachusetts governor and obtained by CNN."

Les Carpenter said...

Perhaps when everybody gets done fighting the "boogeyman of gay relationships" we can get down to solving the real issues that are destroying the nation. Debt, unemployment, transfer of manufacturing capacity offshore, antiquated and counter productive tax code, crony capitalism, coporate welfare, etc, etc, etc...

S.W. Anderson said...

"defiant rejection of one of God’s most sacred injunctions."

Farah defiantly rejects one of the Bible's most worthwhile admonitions: "judge not lest you be judged."

Critter, I doubt if Romney gives a happy damn whether or not gays and lesbians marry. He wants Catholic and fundamentalist Christian votes.

Leslie Parsley said...

Unlike Obama's slow but steady intellectual growth, Romney's positions don't evolve. As you say, he blows with the wind and says whatever at any given time. A man of no substance.

Silverfiddle said...

I agree with Jerry Critter!

Let's all bask in the glow of warm feelings...

I also agree with Les, but we're always pretty simpatico anyway...

The whole gay issue works in Obama's favor. A slim majority is for marriage, a vast majority holds no ill-will towards gays, and each day we waste talking about this is one day less the merciless spotlight is shined on Obama's colossal economic disaster.

Shaw Kenawe said...

"Federal spending is lower now than it was when President Obama took office.

In January 2009, before President Obama had even taken the oath of office, annual spending was set to total 24.9 percent of gross domestic product. Total spending this year, fiscal year 2012, is expected to top out at 23.4 percent of GDP.

Here’s another interesting fact. Taxes today are lower than they were on inauguration day 2009. Back in January 2009, the CBO projected that total federal tax revenue that year would amount to 16.5 percent of GDP. This year? 15.8 percent.

One last nugget. The deficit this year is going to be lower than what it was on the day President Obama took office. Back then, the CBO said the 2009 deficit would be 8.3 percent of GDP. This year’s deficit is expected to come in at 7.6 percent.

Eight years prior, when President George W. Bush took the oath of office, there was a $281 billion surplus. By the time Obama was sworn in, he was facing a $1.2 trillion deficit. Inconvenient though it may be for conservatives (especially those who are running for president), the truth is that spending, taxes and the deficit are all lower today than when President Obama took office."


Only in conservative world would lowering the deficit, federal spending, and taxes be considered "a disaster," especially when a Democrat does it.

And have I mentioned the fact that jobs have been added, not lost, as they were when Bush was in office?

Silverfiddle said...

The deficit may be inching lower (I'm waiting for firm figures after revision) but the fact remains Obama has racked upon over 5 trillion in debt. Unprecedented.

And also, Obama did not lower taxes. Tax revenue is down due to a bad economy. He didn't actually lower anyone's taxes, other than temporarily cutting payroll taxes, which puts Social Security deeper in hock.

We can go back and for with the political team sport stuff all day. The bottom line is that we've (dems and repubs) been spending money we don't have for a long, long time. It can't continue forever.

Silverfiddle said...

Don't trust me? As Mark Knoller at the rightwing bastion known as CBS News:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57400369-503544/national-debt-has-increased-more-under-obama-than-under-bush/

Silverfiddle said...

Obama is on track to be the only president in our history to have a net job loss. Impressive:

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/11/news/economy/obama_jobs_record/index.htm

Worst recession on record? Perhaps, but Obama has most certainly brought us the worst recovery in our nation's history

Jerry Critter said...

In reference to the stimulus,Obama said, "We cut taxes. We cut taxes for 95 percent of working families. We cut taxes for small businesses," Obama said. "We cut taxes for first-time homebuyers. We cut taxes for parents trying to care for their children. We cut taxes for 8 million Americans paying for college."

Politifact (see reference) calls this statement True!

City Eng said...

"Obama has most certainly brought us the worst recovery in our nation's history.."

thanks to obstructers in the repub party...

no one, not even silverfiddel can say aother president would have done better...there's a lot more that could have been dofne for sure...but that is only a guess with nothing to back it up...but there's no guessing that Sen. Mitch 'the turtle' McConnel promise to make O a one term president...looks like silverfiddel and his freinds follow Mcconnell lead. Does silverfiddle th ink a Romney will get cooperation from the Dems if he's pres? Ha. He and his party will get what they gave to O... nothing...this is why this country is going down the shithole...no one wants anyone to win...except their side...that makes losers of us all...

skudrunner said...

US Debt 2009 11.9 trillion
2012 16.4 Trillion

Cutting taxes for 95% of working families, by reducing contributions to a failing federal program called Social Security. Who will end p paying for that tax cut.... your grandchildren.

While he cut taxes his policies have driven gas prices up 84%, Unemployment up 24%, number of food stamp recipients up 35% and the value of the dollar -8% against the yen.

Somehow that seems to be backward progress.

S.W. Anderson said...

Skudrunner, you need a blog of your own for your misinformation and disinformation. Call it Just the Fox.

Dave Miller said...

Silver... in 2010 after the GOP won a majority of seats in the House, they claimed that America had spoken and that as such, the Dems should follow their lead, as they had a mandate from the people.

Why was that not true in 2008?

Also, don't you think it is even a little disingenuous to be critical of President Obama about the recovery?

Name me one policy, or idea that was implemented without being obstructed, or significantly changed by the GOP?

KP said...

I think it is worth considering that as the pendulum axe lowers toward some of us, we feel it quicken.

We went from a Dem Prez, with a Dem House and Dem Senate, and within two years had a Repub House. We may soon see a Repub Prez with a Repub House and Senate.

If this happens it will likely only last two years and Dems will oppose all submitted legislature over that time.

We don’t solve problems anymore. In my view, the two political extremes are like two groups seeking power and fighting over a life boat. They sink the life boat.

Excellent reading: “DEEP SURVIVAL, Who Lives and Who Dies” by Laurence Gonzales.

Paraphrasing: 'I try to see and know the world as well as myself. The practice of such skills can move perceptions and physical experience into a place where I can calmly take correct action.'

I have learned this riding my bike across continents; whatever neuroscientist eventually learn, one thing seems certain; you don’t go out and ignore a big old rain cloud on Glacier National Park. You smell it, see it, feel it, long before it comes. Then ask yourself, what is the correct feeling of this? What is the correct action?

I don’t need to blame a President. But I would like to see Congress and local government have more of an understanding of what we face. Maybe a little more Lao Tzu or Australian Aboriginal Songlines attitude so we don't sink the freaking life boat.

Shaw Kenawe said...

KP,

Many of us share your concerns. How do we get the politicians to understand?

Unless we contribute thousands and thousands of dollars to their re-election funds, I'm afraid we have no voice in government once they're elected.

skudrunner said...

"I'm afraid we have no voice in government once they're elected."

Term limits is the only thing that will make a difference. We are a Republic with Citizen legislators but have turned into career politicians controlled by lobbyist and special interest groups.

This is not a democrat or republican problem because both are to blame. This is a citizen issue because we are the ones who are paying for corruption.

Democrats have a few good ideas and so do republicans but pandering to their base keeps them from reasonable compromise.

Term limits for both houses is the only way to get the country back to citizen legislators.

KP said...

@Shaw << Many of us share your concerns. How do we get the politicians to understand? >>

scudrunner is onto something but it will be difficult if not impossible to get Congress to limit their own careers. They make laws for other people and then don't live by them.

Something bad is going to happen to get politicians working together again. The big old rain cloud on Glacier National Park is forming; I smell it, see it and feel it. We are trudging into what will become deep survival wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

As Jack Camwell wrote in his latest blog, he and my twenty-something year old kids and those still in high school are going to have to fix it and it is going to be very uncomfortable for all.

The student loan bubble is almost exactly like the housing bubble created by both Dems and Repub; plenty of blame to go around. We encouraged (demanded) lending money that the feds and banks did not have to people who could not pay it back. Housing prices exploded, many people couldn’t pay their debt our economy imploded.

Similarly, Student Loans are being made to people who cannot pay them back, in larger amounts each year, as University tuition explodes. This system is imploding. I have had at least one child at university for seven years now. It has been heartbreaking to watch the tuition increases at 6-9% every year at a time when learning should be less expensive given the internet. But that is what happens when you keep giving schools more of somebody else's money.

California has always moved a couple steps ahead of the rest of the country. This last year, Governor Jerry Brown reduced Cal grant and aid to college students for the first time ever, reducing one year assistance by more than $10,000 for some students. That drove a lot of kids out of college. That really hurts and that kind of hurt is coming to the rest of the country as well. Side note, University of California at San Diego hired a new Chacellor today. Base salary: $411,000.

Like the past housing bubble, the university bubble just burst in Cali. California is worse off than Greece and we can’t print our own money.

There are significant differences between Dems and Repub in Congress but many problems we face are not party line issues. In fact, our largest storm clouds don’t run along party lines. When things get bad enough we will see more states, counties and communities move to fix themselves. Perhaps that will result in a Congress twenty years from now filled with people Jack and my daughters ages that can work together.

skudrunner said...

KP

We have insurance companies to thank for the high cost of medical care just like we have low interest student loans for the high cost of education.

If you need medical care and have good insurance, there is little incentive to negotiate so healthcare costs keep going up because the medical community will raise the cost to what insurance will pay.

When students can borrow huge sums of money to go to college, the college raises their price to take advantage of that.

When people are forced to take responsibility for their actions and spending, prices will come down.

KP said...

A lot of truth there. Having treated patients in the state of Califorbnia in private practice since 1982 I am all too familiar with medical costs. As well the battles for payment or reimbursement that physicians have with large insurance companies, medicare, workers compensation, disbility, etc.

One thing I can assure you of, physician income has been dropping almost as fast as medical cost rise. The 2012 dollar is worth one third of what the 1982 dollar was worth and many docs make less now than they did then.

S.W. Anderson said...

"Term limits for both houses is the only way to get the country back to citizen legislators."

Because the tea partyers have shown what a terrific job amateurs with attitude can do?

Term limits on senators and representatives would be unconstitutional. For good reason.

Our representative democracy is in need of reform, but putting it on autopilot and handing power over to amateurs and rookies isn't the kind of reform that would make things better.

Seeing to it campaigns are limited in time and 100 percent publicly financed would be the biggest single improvement we could make. Not a panacea that would fix everything that needs fixing, no doubt, but a reform that would bring about a huge improvement nonetheless.

skudrunner said...

SWA

You are absolutely correct "handing power over to amateurs and rookies isn't the kind of reform that would make things better."

After all look what a great job our career politicians have done so we should just keep them in office and reward them for their excellent work.

We have all those brilliant people looking out for us. Maxine waters and Ringle come to mind.

Jerry Critter said...

The real problem is not the amateur or the professional politician. The problem is the money that buys them, and that crosses both amateur and professional lines. That is why I agree with S W Anderson and say we need 100% public financed elections. The money should come for Us The People, all of us. The politicians should be beholden to us, not just those that can afford to spend thousands or millions of dollars buying politicians.