Topsy-turvy GOP sees opportunity in heebiejeebies

November 11, 4:34 PMDC Corporate Ethics ExaminerJim Cunningham

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If there were ever a sign revealing the true nature of the Republican Party, it is the simple fact than when faced with their own demise, when forced to choose a direction when none other currently exists, when left with all options open to them as to how best to rebuild their party, reassemble support and remarket themselves to the American people at a time when those very people are celebrating as a nation, an election that transcended prejudice, that the Republican Party would choose as a vehicle for their rebirth nothing other than, of all things, discrimination.

GOP leader: Rebuild party based on 'sanctity of marriage'

When asked by Chris Wallace what "conservative solutions" the GOP would bring to their current minority-party status, Pence said social issues like "the sanctity of marriage" will remain the backbone of the Republican platform.”

In case you were only paying attention to the presidential race, this Election Day gay marriage bans were passed by voters in three states. I guess the idea of gay people getting married still gives most voters, even oppressed ones, the heebiejeebies. The GOP apparently sees this as their very own sign of hope, hope that they can ride this wave of homosexual heebiejeebies all the way back to power.

Even if we ignore the fact that rights shouldn’t be up for majority vote and concede that the majority of Americans are still a bit skittish about gay marriage, the spirit of what the Republicans are trying to do isn’t in the spirit of moving this country forward, or making this country a better place, but mean spirited and in the manner of opportunists who, ever-willing to step on anyone to gain and maintain power, are willing to kick those who are down.

Is there really no other way to hold your party together? Haven’t you gay-bashed enough?

There are simply too few culturally conservative whites to sustain a national political party. At most, that community can contribute to a larger coalition; it cannot constitute that coalition on its own. ”

Leave it to the Republicans to beat a horse long after its dead. They politicized 9/11 until they desensitized everyone to its mention. They accused Democrats of supporting terrorists even long after it stopped working and the polls turned far in the Democrats’ favor. They repeated the “he’ll raise your taxes” lie long after Joe the Plumber conceded that he would, in fact, receive a tax cut under Obama’s plan.

But they just can’t let this one go.

And do you want to know why?

Because while Republican turnout is low and a sizable percentage of the ones who do vote are pulling the Democrat lever these days, and while leadership among Republicans is failing, and excitement about the Republican platform has never been weaker, there is still a powerful group of people they can always count on, who are as motivated, organized and well-funded as ever.

The Top Ten Power Brokers of the Religious Right

You might have heard of Pat Robertson and James Dobson, but they're just the tip of the iceberg.
 

For the past two years, numerous media pundits have been all abuzz over the so-called "death" of the Religious Right. There is one problem, however: Someone forgot to tell the Religious Right. A recent Americans United study of the finances and influence of the Religious Right shows a movement that is very much alive and kicking. Indeed, our research shows that the nation's leading Religious Right organizations took in more than half a billion dollars over a recent 12-month period.”

When all else fails the Republican leadership always comes home to the religious zealots that make up the real Republican base. And it’s that overtly-religious far-right leaning overwhelmingly evangelical base that are the most dependable voting bloc in this country.

For the past two years, hundreds of articles have appeared in newspapers across America making the claim that the old religious right was moving left and that Barack Obama, with his religiously infused rhetoric and various "outreach efforts," was leading the charge… John McCain won 74% of white born-again Protestants' votes.” …in the end, evangelicals were among the most loyal supporters of the Republican candidate. In fact, they made up a higher percentage of the electorate this year than in 2004 (23% vs. 20%).

But how will they rally against a Christian like Obama - a man who professes his faith at every opportunity? How will they brand Obama as, somehow, going against religious teachings as he, all the while, cares for the poor, puts an end to torture, preserves the environment and a whole host of other things that rational Christians consider to be good values?

By following the same old playbook they’ve been using for decades and defining for themselves what it means to be a “good Christian.” They’ll talk about abortion. They’ll worry over stem cells. They’ll distract our media (the easily-distracted puppies that they are) with sensational culture-war-type battles like Creationism teaching in classrooms and religious displays on government property. There will raise juicy attention-getting topics like sex, condoms, sex education, birth control, sex, sex and more sex to get all those pious, buttoned-up bible-thumping folk all hot and bothered and angry.

And let us not forget the “War on Christmas!” (it’s nearly that time of year again)

A year from now they will have painted Obama as a baby killer who’s sympathetic to perverts, and wants pornography during prime-time TV and in every library. They’ll say he wants to place condoms in every kid’s lunchbox and force taxpayers to pay for abortions. They’ll insist he wants Christmas decorations taken down and all religion removed from the “public square.” They’ll say he wants to see satanic monuments in every public park and “God” removed from our Pledge of Allegiance and our money. They will concoct tales of mad scientists and evil experiments that destroy a “human life.” The headlines will be sensational and people will be outraged about things that are not true or none of their business. They will locate and push every single button that creates the heebiejeebie effect in the collective American psyche to, once again, get people across America to vote against their own best interests.

And yes, as ever and always, they will go after the gays.

Because there’s nothing quite like keeping two people who love each other apart, to bring the Republican Party together.

See more cartoons by John Sheriffis at Slate Magazine.