And it's thanks to Rachel Maddow. OK, actually, it's thanks to his opponent who not only says idiotic things but doubles down on them. It's no secret that former 2008 GOP Presidential candidate John McCain has been shocked by being primaried and having to actually campaign to retain his Senate seat. His challenger, JD Hayworth, Teabag Party, Arizona, has driven McCain further to the right than Palin did. Hayworth, who has flirted with birtherism, is a former Congressperson from AZ who was driven from office after being connected to convict Jack Abramoff.
Hayworth has been making the rounds, solidifying his tea party bona fides, and on Sunday was in Florida giving an interview during which he opined about same sex marriage in Massachussetts:
You see, the Massachusetts Supreme Court, when it started this move toward same-sex marriage, actually defined marriage -- now get this -- it defined marriage as simply, 'the establishment of intimacy,'" Hayworth said. "Now how dangerous is that? I mean, I don't mean to be absurd about it, but I guess I can make the point of absurdity with an absurd point -- I guess that would mean if you really had affection for your horse, I guess you could marry your horse. It's just the wrong way to go, and the only way to protect the institution of marriage is with that federal marriage amendment that I support."
J.D. Hayworth: Gay Marriage Law Could Produce Man-Horse Nuptials
Yes, you read that right. He went there, and in a stunning feat of hyperbole...he out Santorum'd Rick Santorum. Who'da thunk.
Doesn't he look like just a model of hetero stud muffinry? Now natch, he's all misunderstood and stuff so he felt the need to make absolutely clear whose fault that is:
"[S]adly, the liberal media, intent on defending the ultra-leftist, progressive politicians in Massachusetts, are attacking me for standing up once again for family values and for rejecting this absurd court ruling," read Hayworth's statement. "But they don't intimidate me at all. I know right from wrong and as a staunch defender of the institution of marriage, I know I can count on millions of supporters across America to stand with me when our values are under attack -- and when I am under attack for standing up to defend those values."
Got that Scott Brown you ultra-leftist progressive MA politician?
Not content to leave that little turd in the punchbowl of political discourse, he tripled down on it last night on the Rachel Maddow show. Dr. Maddow, as usual, was having none of it and once again wielded her scalpel with the efficiency of a Hollywood plastic surgeon:
While the equine metaphor wasn't the primary focus of Maddow's interview ( and while on the one hand we tsk tsk when people like Hayworth avoid Maddow's show...I'm talking about you Liz Cheney...when they do appear you really do have to ask: "What were they thinking?") it was certainly a key part.
Maddow asked him about his statements, giving him the opportunity to dig himself out of a hole but in true teabagger form, no go. Maddowpressed him on where in the MA ruling, any reasonable interpretation could conclude that marriage between a person and their horse was allowed and of course he couldn't.
You and I can have a disagreement about that," he proclaimed, when asked from where he drew the "establishment of intimacy line."
"Well, it either is true or it isn't," Maddow replied. "It's empirical."
At which point, Hayworth beat a hasty retreat.
Like I said...this is definitely good news for John McCain.