I am, or used to be, a Republican. I have some positions on social issues that would probably make some of the people here scream. I'm also gay. I was one of those people that are so derisively referred to as an "Auntie Tom" because, although I'm gay, I thought that with enough patience and effort, the Republican party would come around on this issue. I live in a very, very conservative state, and I voted for Bush in 2000. I thought that maybe he would downplay the worst aspects of the GOP and lead with some moderation since he was not in an election season.
What a fool I was.
The general response to gay Republicans from other conservatives (aside from, "get AIDS and die") is: "why is it all about GAY? Are you going to vote for someone just because you're GAY??")
Well, my answer to that attack is I feel no one, aside from big-business lobbyists and evangelical Christians, have no reason to vote for this man. He has done his best to gut our air and water. He has given us the biggest deficit in American history. He has plunged us into a mismanaged, hazy war while simultaneously trying his damndest to cut off benefits and pay for veterans and soldiers. He has claimed to be strong on military while shutting down bases. He has devastated the middle class and cut overtime pay for millions of workers. He has done his best to give billions of dollars to evangelical organizations who discriminate as they see fit and plan to use their money for ex-gay programs. He has split America into factions, and uses scare tactics and fear campaigns to build support.
Many Republicans will stay loyal to Bush no matter what. But many of us have seen the light. We will not vote for this man in 2004. We will not vote for his vicious attack dogs in Congress. We will not cast a vote to destroy America.
However, one of my strongest fears has been Republicans using splits in the Democrat party to their advantage. Already they are exploiting the chasm between Howard Dean's supporters and the more established, dreary party favorites. And I see the blossoms of those seeds flowering here more every day.
I'm not going to tell you who to vote for. I have a great deal of respect for Howard Dean and many of his policies. A huge part of me hopes he has a comeback and wins the nomination. But if he doesn't, if John Kerry, or John Edwards, or Clark get the nomination, I am asking you to please vote for them in November.
If you don't want to give to their campaign or volunteer for them, there are certainly many House and Senate races which daily kos highlight. But your vote is your voice, and your voice should not be lost in hysteria. I have seen so much vitriol here about John Kerry that I worry people are forgetting who the true menace is.
I have seen people here say that it's for the best if Bush wins a second term and appoints 3 justices who overturn Roe vs. Wade. That will help raise Democrat anger.
Would you also like to see a return to sodomy laws for gay men and lesbians, along with a permanent nationwide ban on any legal benefits or adoption rights? Would you like to see homosexuality declared a sickness, a mental illness in need of psychological treatment or severe jail time? Would you like to see evolution banned from schools? How about throwing out all affirmative action laws? Would you like to see all workplace discrimination laws thrown out? Would you like to see lawsuits against HMOs or corporations forbidden? Would you like to see critically ill teenagers and children denied medical care simply because their insurer doesn't want to cover them? Would you like to see Christianity recognized as the only true religion in America, endorsed in all public buildings and monuments, given billions of dollars of taxpayer money? Would you like to see big corporations drilling and deforesting our national parks and wildlife areas, dumping tons of pollutants into our skies and our oceans without paying any price? Do you want mandated abstinence-only education in every school? Do you want medical marijuana to be forbidden in all 50 states, with terminal AIDS or cancer patients arrested, dragged into court, just for trying to relieve their agony? Would you like to see approval of a gerrymandering system which would insure Republican control of the House of Representatives for all of our lifetimes?
You will get all of this and much more if Bill Pryor, Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen, Carolyn Kuhl, or a number of other justices favored by Bush get into office.
This is your chance to stop them. Your last chance. Say what you will about John Kerry, or any other nominee, but they would not appoint these people.
I have heard people here say they will "vote their conscience". So will I. That is why I will not vote for Ralph Nader or George W. Bush. Or any candidate but the candidate who has the best chance to defeat this man and his monstrous plans to destroy our future. That man is the Democratic nominee.
I'll leave you with this article from Prospect. America as a One Party State.
http://www.prospect.org/print/V15/2/kuttner-r.html
