"I'm pretty sure I ain't a queer."

By: Lowell
Published On: 7/31/2006 6:39:21 AM

I'll tell you, there's nobody like the inimitable Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, and I mean that in the best possible way.  According to today's Roanoke Times, "Mudcat" has been named an adviser to The Commonwealth Coalition, a group that is trying to defeat the Hate...er, "Marriage" Amendment.  This thing truly is an abomination that would besmirch Virginia's great Constitution with a poorly written pile of garbage specifically aimed at DEPRIVING a certain group of citizens of rights.  Disgraceful. 

Why should you care about this amendment even if you're not gay?  Lots of reasons, including the fact that it would ban all legal arrangements between unmarried couples - gay or straight.  In addition, it could jeopardize the safety of domestic violence victims who aren't married to their abusers.  I could go on and on.  But instead, let's let "Mudcat" tell us what HE thinks of this amendment, in language only he could come up with:

I'm pretty sure I ain't a queer. And I've never had queer thoughts, but I do have several queer buddies who called me and asked me to help.  I think it's blasphemy to put this on the ballot and try to divide God's children for political gain. God loves them queers every bit that he loves the Republicans.

"God loves them queers" - exactly right.  You tell 'em, "Mudcat!"  Now, how about some political analyst from our "resident Bubba" and political strategist genius:

It is another example of the Republicans trying to unite their base with a wedge of hate.  It is political trickery -- it has nothing to do with queers and marriage. It is to help Republicans, in general, unite their base in the name of hate.

"Unite their base in the name of hate."  That pretty much sums up the Republican Party's history the past 35 years now, doesn't it?  Ever since Nixon's "Southern Strategy" and its blatant appeal to racial animosities/divisions.  This "queer"-bashing Amendment is no different strategically.  Let's be absolutely clear: this Amendment is all about Republicans trying to distract Virginians from REAL problems - health care, education, the Iraq War, government corruption (see Virgil Goode and Tom Davis), and utter incompetence (see the Republicans disgracefully inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina). 

The question is, are we going to fall for it YET AGAIN?  The politics of distraction, red herrings, invented threats, and fear.  This November, let's heed the words of The Who and tell those Republicans, "We Won't Get Fooled Again!"  Whether we're "pretty sure we ain't queers" or not.

Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign.  The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.

P.S.  Jim Webb and Tim Kaine both oppose this Amendment.  You should too.

Comments



The Gay Strategy (Kip - 7/31/2006 8:23:22 AM)
Thank you Lowell for bringing this story to our attention.  Mudcat sure has a way with words. Whenever, this issue is brougth up, I feel compelled to mention a speech by Arlington County Board Member Jay Fisette. He said that in the 2004 election gay marriage initiatives were on the ballot in 11 states. In none of these states did gay marriage have any significant impact on the election. . . except Ohio, which of course gave Bush the margin to retain the White House.

In other words, the Rove gay strategy worked, but just barely. Moreover, the polls show that the public is moving toward tolerance on this issue. 2006 will be a very interesting test of whether this issue ends up backfiring on the GOP.

As Lowell mentions, our message should be clear: At the national level, while the GOP has been trying to pass Flag burning and gay marriage amendments it has done pratically nothing to take on the nations most pressing problems: the war in Iraq, the econmy, immigration, and global warming. At the state level, the GOP led house has neglected coming up with plan for funding our transportation woes, instead we have this gay marriage ballot initiative.

Now let's send a message to those who use hate as electoral strategy: enough is enough. So if you agree that a gay marriage amendment has no place in the Commonwealth's constitution then talk to a friend, sign a petition, write a letter to editor, or join a campaign.



BTW, Kip... (Lowell - 7/31/2006 8:30:49 AM)
I posted our articles on Beinart over at Daily Kos, and have so far been met with the expected hostility (nasty ad hominem, mainly).  You might want to check it out...or not!


Wow, that got a little brutal (on Kos) (va.walter - 7/31/2006 11:10:34 AM)


Apparently, Peter Beinart is (Lowell - 7/31/2006 11:14:54 AM)
not well liked on Daily Kos, to put it mildly!


Tim Kaine Signed It (novalib - 7/31/2006 9:57:21 AM)
This has passed 2 legislative sessions and Tim Kaine has signed it. This is why it has come up to a vote in November.
Why aren't we pissed at Tim Kaine?


Kaine didn't sign anything (K - 7/31/2006 10:09:44 AM)
Governors play no role in amendments to the state constitution. Kaine did not "sign" this. What he did sign was the law that put the amendment on the ballot -- he could have vetoed that, but the General Assembly would have passed it again over his veto.

I'm not saying Kaine is a hero in any of this. He's said he'll vote against the amendment in November, and good for him. Every "No" vote matters. But his statements against the amendment have been more about how it might complicate life for cohabitating heterosexuals than how it will write gays and lesbians out of the state constitution. What I'd really welcome is a statement by him and other leading Virginia Democrats that they oppose this hateful amendment because it's mean, nasty, Republican-inspired political rhetoric seeking to pander after the votes of homophobes -- but this is Virginia, and that ain't gonna happen.

If Kaine's not a hero, then, who are the real bad guys? The radical-right Republicans in the General Assembly, of course -- but you have to add to their ranks the chickenshit Democrats who voted with them.

And you need to look next door to North Carolina, where an anti-civil rights, anti-gay amendment did NOT happen for the third consecutive legislalative session. Do you think this is because North Carolina is a more enlightened state, or is it because Democrats run the state legislature? (Hint: That's a rhetorical question, unless you agree with me that enlightened voters vote for Democrats.)

Anyhow, I'm glad for what Mudcat said, and I wish he's say it again and again to the Bubba voters. Couldn't hurt ...



Lowell, I Hope You'll Re-post (PM - 7/31/2006 12:57:48 PM)
that piece you did a while back on the list of reasons why the arguments against gay marriage are bogus