When my very liberal friends argue that the U.S. has become a theocratic, fascist state, I secretly roll my eyes.
Then I read articles like
this.
Here in Washington State where I live, the legislature is debating a gay rights bill--not gay marriage, mind you, but basic protections against discrimination. The argument being made to oppose the bill by the man appointed to represent the Republican Party?
"I just read the Bible for what it says. It basically says that homosexuality is an abomination," says Senate Republican Dan Swecker, who wants gays to know they can be saved. "Somehow that message has to get out. Because if people don't realize that it's a sin or there's not an opportunity for redemption, then we're going to lose them."
I say again: THIS IS THE MAN APPOINTED BY THE FRICKING REPUBLICAN PARTY TO REPRESENT THE PARTY'S POINT-OF-VIEW!!!
It was no mistake that Swecker was chosen for this task. Some of his other views? "I think creationism is as reasonable an explanation for the origin of species and mankind as the theory of evolution," he says.
This really is beyond the pale. This man's personal religious views, or even what are apparently the religious views of his whole party, have no place whatsoever in setting public policy. In the United States, we are a country founded on the idea that all religions and philosophies, just like all people, are equal in the eyes of the government; we most decidedly do NOT have mullahs or imams installing religious law! If Swecker can't in good conscience honor our constitution (and he clearly can't!), he should resign, or the voters should demand his impeachment.
Incidentally, are these ignorant blatherings, and this pathetic pandering to the far-right by the party itself, really what we have come to, even in Washington State? How have Republicans, especially the "moderates" and "independents," not to mention the news media, become so lazy, so weak-spined, and so drunk with tax cuts and the idea of staying in power that they've allowed this happen?
Says Ed Murray, one of Washington's four openly gay representatives: "It's incredibly arrogant for him to decide who is a sinner and who is not a sinner."
No kidding.
Cross-posted at
The Big Gay Picture