Several days ago a local conservative Republican wrote an op-ed for the Greenville News, entitled: Freedom, Marriage, Golden Rule.
That caught my attention, of course. ‘Golden Rule’ politics are not exactly a strong point for conservatives anywhere, much less in South Carolina.
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There are some remarkable points in the op-ed. I’ll just pull out a few of them. I should say that I do not know this man, do not know anything about him, other than what his words reveal in the op-ed (and the note that he has worked for McCain and the RNC).
While noting he disapproves of ‘judicial activism,’ in regard to the Supreme Court ruling he wrote:
I also believe the courts have a critical role to play in standing up for individual liberty. It is not judicial activism for a judge to apply the law where a fundamental freedom — like marrying the person you love — is denied without a compelling justification. And, according to new polling data, a strong majority of Americans support the Court’s ruling that extends marriage freedom to gay and lesbian Americans.
I am South Carolinian and I raised my eyebrows at that one.
And, also:
This Golden Rule is what guides so many of us here in South Carolina, and it was at the heart of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Obergefell case that was released in June. The Court ruled that all citizens, gay or straight, should be treated equally under the law and allowed to marry freely.
Remarkable, indeed. A Republican suggesting that the Golden Rule guided the Supreme Court justices that supported the ruling. (Only one was a Republican, Marco. All of the other Republicans clearly care nothing for the Golden Rule, did you note that?)
Then, regarding the next nominee to come from that party …
While I do not expect anyone in the GOP field to embrace the freedom to marry before the 2016 elections, I do hope they will consider this data carefully and remember there are people of good faith on both sides of this issue. Our nominee would be well served to remember that at the heart of this issue are loving couples who want to build families, have great faith in the institution of marriage, and are members of our community.
At least he knows the convocation of clowns that is the Republican primary field doesn’t have the political courage and integrity to stand up for the law of the land, for what is right and just, as the Golden Rule would inform, a whiff of reality in the posting.
But it isn’t pervasive. Because he also wrote:
As a Republican it is important to me that our party’s nominee is someone who can get our country back on track, build an economy that works for all Americans, revitalizes our military, and places individual liberty over government interference. And, as a person of faith, I want a nominee who is guided by the precept that we should treat all of God’s children as we would like to be treated.
Republicans cannot get the country ‘back on track,’ Marco, because their political philosophies preclude effective governing. They don’t want government to work, because that flies in the face of their prime thesis: government is the problem, not the solution. They add to the problems, always, never to the solutions.
And, finally, under no circumstances would any of the current candidates EVER work to build an economy that works for ALL Americans.
If you truly want that, Marco, you’ll have to find a different party. Face the consequences of your choices. Face a broader reality, for once.
Don’t believe me?
Then tell me where fairness and the Golden Rule are to be found in political campaigns bankrolled under Citizens United? Tell me where those are to be found in the gerrymandering Republicans use to win offices to which they are not democratically entitled? Tell me where those are to be found in the epidemic of voter disenfranchisement sweeping the land? Driven, in every case, by conservatives lusting for power and dominion?
It’s time to let the scales fall from your eyes, if you wish to be an honorable man.
On to tonight’s comments!
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From Gwennedd:
Squirmy Rooter has this great comment to make on who the real enemy is, in Mike S's diary on trolls and their efforts to divide.
From BeninSC:
This comment by YellerDog bemoans the unnaturally small snowpack on Mt. Ranier. We all know why that is. And Gwennedd posted a complementary photo in reply.
And a couple of comment 'flags!'
Flagged by Delver and Mr MadAsHell, this comment by aarrgghh is classic!
Flagged by grover, this comment by Chitown Kev highlights a critical aspect of political activism - pushing our candidates.
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