Sacrificial lambs
March 3, 2004
With every day it is becoming clear to me that the culture war being waged regarding homosexuality boils down to nothing more than masterful, if distasteful, power play.
I have always thought that George Bush has fear on his side, and has sold that fear for great political gain: fear of terrorism being the biggest fear that he plays to. In all fairness to him, I think that that is the only fear he can sell with any honesty to the American public. Of all the boogeymen he can swing at us, this is the only one that can reliably get enough of a visceral reaction to grab a vote.
Maybe I am too harsh on George Bush, regarding his fearmongering. Maybe, it isn’t just him, and more and more I see that such is the case. Boi From Troy has the details on some very distasteful tactics being employed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, wherein they intend to scare the people of the South with the Homosexual Boogeyman.
Gays are not political tools with which to frighten constituents. They are not terrorists against whom one campaigns for votes and money in order to maintain political power. They are people. Perhaps they are people who live in a way that others find repugnant. Perhaps they are people who others consider sinners. But they are people who are not out to destroy and undermine the American way of life. If anything, they yearn to be just as American as everyone else, and they cannot do that without equal rights.
Sad, when the equal rights I speak of are “special rights” in the eyes of others. I am not here to convince anyone otherwise. I am here, however, to convince all of you, dear friends, that people can only be pandered to, or against, so much before others notice the cheap political moves being made.
I remain supportive of the Republican party. I think that in time they too will learn their priorities, that they will know who to consider the real enemy. I’m with Boi From Troy on this one: I choose to change it.
Pandering to hate, and selling ephemeral boogeymen that get dispersed with proper education and — frankly — good PR, can backfire on just about any politician.
9 Comments to Sacrificial lambs
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Jay, this is politics as usual. The Dems in the Northeast scare people by people painting the Republicans as being “super-religious” (think Pat Roberston; Jerry Fallwells), anti-abortion, evildoers.
This is nothing news…..it’s politics
Also, see this Report from the Pew center which could explain things…
I’d like to think it’s the political machine stating things like this and not GWB. One thing I *do* like about the man is that he’s a Christian who actually tries to live like one. I was reading a couple of things about Bush on snopes.com (yeah, the Urban Legend site) that had me pleasantly surprised to see two christians (the pres and his wife) practicing the faith. Then I pop by here and see something not-so-nice about the man. Oh well.
I find gay-bashing exceedingly distasteful, and I really wish our president had copped out on this issue by leaving it up to the states to honor or not honor gay marriages.
Politics as usual, all right, Jaws, but it’s still disgusting and reprehensible. The fact that you mention that it’s a Dem tactic in the South makes me want to work from within and change a few things.
I think Republicans can win elections without going that low.
Jay–I said it’s a tactic the Dems used on the North-east and the west
Eeeek.
Wrong is me. Woe is me. Thanks for the clarification.
In today’s gay-marriage crisis, elected public officials are willfully disobeying the letter of the law almost without impunity.
WOuldn’t you say that is also a power play?
I have shied away from deep discussions over these issues of late as I think that the arguments are usually rhetorical, but a short answer to that? Yeah, I think it is a power play.
I also consider their acts civil disobedience, although their position as elected officials sets a precedent for administrative anarchy. It’s a gamble they should pay for dearly whether or not assume the martyrdom involved in civil disobedience. They have to pay for it or else they won’t get the validation and sympathy from those they target.
It’s a convuluted issue and it has been a long day. I admit it’s been on me for the longest time, and basically I’d like to see how the chips lay where they fall, for the moment.
almost without impunity
Ah, the things I wish I could take back. It should have been “almost with impunity.
Jay, thank you for your honesty. I would only additionally submit that their goal is highly attainable without resorting to their current tactic. There is a gaping difference between civil disobedience committed by ordinary citizens, and the willful refusal of public officials to do their official duties under the law. Within that difference lies a recipe for the quick onslaught of chaos.