My mama and daddy were god-fearing Christians and loyal Republicans. They even dragged me along the golden path, arranging for me to get baptized early just in case I got killed being a goofball kid. I was nine at the time of my conversion. Despite their strong Christian beliefs, however, a bright thread of hypocrisy colored their world views. They were racist and homophobic to a fault. And no matter how hard I tried in later years to help them see the light, they believed Republicans walked on water, so to speak.
Though they have both left this earth to meet their maker, the conversations we had about politics still stick in my craw. Because the Jesus they taught me to believe in didn't seem like a guy who would have much patience with hypocrisy.
The Republican Party today is hypocrisy incarnate. For all their talk of law and order and integrity and democracy, they have sold their souls to the devil with more lies than you can shake a snake at.
North Carolina provides a startling and instructive example. On one hand, we have a Democratic Speaker of the House in Raleigh who most honest people consider a back-room dealer with shady instincts.
Progressives all over the state have called for him to step down, with BlueNC leading the way. Wingers, of course, have also jumped on the bandwagon. They just love it when they get to circle like vultures.
We also have a Republican Congressman who is a sleazeball of epic proportions. Charles "Delay" Taylor. He is a known liar and a crook who has enriched his personal fortunes by misuing his seat in the House. And guess how many Republican and conservative leaders in our state are calling on him to come clean.
You got it. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Because Republican politicians have raised hypocrisy to an ugly art form.
The saddest thing is that too people like my passed-away parents have no trouble professing their Christian values, all the while condoning evil in their own ranks. That's one reason I'm not a Christian any more. And it's also the reason I am hellbent on taking back our government.