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Item 1:
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A guest post from James Fidlerten.
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Today we learn...
The 19-year-old suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings has told interrogators that the American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan motivated him and his brother to carry out the ...
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Proof that sexual orientation plays no part in one’s ability to be a total fool.
Republicans made significant inroads among gay and lesbian voters in the midterm elections, with national exit polls for the House races showing that the GOP captured 31 percent of the vote of this group this year, compared to 19 percent in 2008.
I can understand the LGBT community being frustrated with the Obama administration over specific issues, not the least one being the repealing of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It’s not happening as quickly as many would have hoped. Fine, gays and lesbians are upset with Dems. Got it. But to go out and cast their vote for a political party which has been a staunch opponent of gay rights across the board is pure lunacy. I have two words for the 31 percent who voted Republican on Tuesday: Religious Right…as in homosexuals are possessed by demons Religious Right.
How does aiding Republicans take over the House help in the struggle for gay rights? For crying out loud, Republicans just had a candidate running for the Senate who openly stated that homosexuality is a “choice” and compared it to alcoholism. You know, they’re both diseases.
Morons. You just cut your nose to spite your face.
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I’m stunned by this. It does sound like a spite vote. I guess PolitiFact can shift Pres. Obama’s campaign promise to end DADT from the “In-the-works” category to “Stalled” unless something major happens in the lame duck session.
I’m not one of that 31%, but I was tempted, sorely so (no pun intended). The thing is, I’d rather fight or struggle against enemies than with alleged allies.
And the way the results have turned out so far, it’s not entirely bad: while Democrats can’t advance, neither can the Teapublicans. As the party that’s technically in power, tho, I suppose that lack of doing anything may cost Democrats again in 2012.
I was just discussing this story this morning. I made the point on this blog weeks ago that ANY group of traditionally Democratic voters can wane when it comes to enthusiasm. That is why Obama NEEDED to listen to his Progressive base, even though many were saying he needed to move to the center. Moving to the center didn’t get the conservatives off his case, it just added an attack from the rear flank.
There are quite a lot of gays who lean fiscally Republican. If they lack motivation to vote Democrat because Obama doesn’t seem to care that much about their big issues, and even sends in his Justice Department to challenge court rulings on DADT (successfully), they can be tempted to rearrange their priorities. Get it? Some in the LGBT community can turn in the other direction because of issues with which they agree with the Repubs. Like taxes or anything else traditional to the Republican party.
Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you aren’t conservative.
“Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you aren’t conservative.”
You are absolutely right, oc. The point I was addressing though, was the increase from 19 to 31 percent of gays who voted Republican from 2008. Did they just turn fiscally conservative in the last two years? I don’t think so. It is more likely that they wanted to send a message to the President.
As for the bigger issue of gays voting Republican, I’ll admit I have a problem understanding how anyone from the LGBT community could support a political party whose leaders promote a homophobic agenda. I would think that my right to be treated as an equal in society would take precedence over any fiscally conservative beliefs I might hold.
I agree –
I don’t think it is logical to vote Repub if your are a member of the LGBT community. But I live in a pretty conservative area (at least fiscally). I know gay conservatives and although I don’t personally agree with their POV, they sound somewhat like other conservatives: “Government is too big, taxes are too high, blah blah blah… It boils down to the same old thing, they want to keep their money and resent government for using it for things like social programs. I think it is a bit selfish, but that is just me.
My other thought here is that we sometimes notice a phenom like this and say, it just doesn’t make sense. Well, it must make sense because it has happened. We just haven’t figured out why this is the case. These people voted for a reason. I speculated based on my observations. My observation is that Obama doesn’t look like a champion of gay causes. Whether true or not. Maybe he is. He has hired more LGBT members than any other President, but I only know that because I am well informed by the magnificent Huffington Post. If your average LGBT is informed like the average American, then they might not know that. Judging from the election on Tuesday, they might not know ANYTHING.
You probably already know this, but I started analyzing this a little and realized that a pattern exists. The states that get more back from the Federal Gov than they pay in are heavily biased towards the reddest of the red states. You know the ones, taxes are too high, get the Federal Gov off our backs, don’t tell us how to treat our blacks…
Almost without exception, the states that get back more than they pay in are conservative. The only exception is TX. TX is the only conservative state that actually sits in the negative category. And not by much, they are only 6 cents under. All the other red states get back more than they pay in.
Why would you be a single issue voter. Based on your view of Gay Folks they should only vote for candidates that will actively work to promote gay issues even though those same candidates will vote for programs that will result in taxing everyone including those in the gay community back into the stone age. If you are willing to really evaluate your own personal habits (unless you have just filed for bankruptcy)you too will find that you are a fiscal conservative.
I agree that a vote for the repubs is not a vote for gay rights but what about the other aspects of these queer individuals identities? To think that all gay people vote purely with the interests of the queer aspects of their identity totally misses other details (race, class, income level, education, gender etc) lots of groups of people are pissed at democrats right now so i don’t think it is as simple as queers getting angry at the glacial pace at which queer issues are moving. I get your point that they didn’t just “turn into fiscal conservatives” but they do have many different aspects of their identities, some of which don’t align with Democratic goals
What you fail to realize is that analogies are not one-to-one relationships, nor are they meant to be. Not every attribute of one object in the analogy is meant to be matched up with the attributes of the other.
The comment made by Ken Buck comparing alcoholism and being gay was not trying to say that being gay is a disease and I’m pretty sure you are aware of that. The comment was making comparisons between two topics that have been debated as to whether they are a choice or not. The age-old nature vs nurture debate.
If you’re saying that Mr Buck’s intent was to make the disease connection, why stop there? Why not say that he was trying to make the connection that being gay, like alcoholism, can ruin your life while breaking apart your family and alienating your friends? Why not try to compare the fact that alcoholism destroys your liver. That must mean he’s saying that being gay also destroys your liver.
Nice try in attempting to make a false connection just to stir up trouble.
Well this just proves that 31% of gays and lesbians are possessed by demons with republican leanings… they tried to circle dem candidates, they tried to pull dem levers, but the demons would have none of that and forced their hosts to vote for their masters on the right… Ah Ha!!!
And don’t forget there isn’t even a survey to show who stayed home to “punish” the Dems…because keeping them out of office so they can’t make ANY headway on LGBT rights, healthcare, etc. really shows THEM!
This is the same sort of cognitive dissonance that lead to a “surprising” defeat of gay marriage in blue states California and Michigan. Don’t forget that a large portion of the Democratic voting bloc, particularly blue collar workers and African-Americans, are very homophobic. Political parties are pretty big tents, there is room for factory workers and progressives under the Dem. banner just like there is for Log Cabin members and the Religious Right under the Rep. banner.
Don’t be foolish. If you are RICH and GAY and a good percentage of gays are well off, then yes, you vote for the party that says: “Hey, screw the poor, we want to lower your taxes!”
I can understand why gay folks might vote Republican. I’m gay and I think the Republicans have a few things right. But why so many more people would vote for the current set of Republicans makes little sense. Sure the Democrats could’ve tried harder to find more fiscally sustainable solutions to our problems, but according to a CBO analysis, the Republicans’ plans will lead to even bigger deficits.
Well, Rob, I think we should be talking about a 12 point change in the gay vote as we are, but that isn’t really a huge change. Maybe it is just a mid-term thing.
My brother is not only a gay republican, but was elected to office on Tuesday. He says that gay rights will not be won by pressure groups, but on a local level by normal citizens living normal lives (he puts it more elegantly).
I’ve talked with friends (conservative and not) about voting only for LGBT-inclusive candidates. My concern was that I was a one-issue voter (like ‘Bob the Conservative’ brought up). If a candidate isn’t for equal gay rights, I won’t vote for them no matter their fiscal views, socio-economic plans, etc.
I think that the religious right has forced me into that position though. I have to choose between equality and lower taxes? I’ll go for equality. While my moral roots tell me to think of others before myself, I think back to the CA Prop 8 results (and similar laws in 44 other states). The majority of American society isn’t thinking about me & my rights. The LGBT community has to fight to get its equality & if that hurts the rest of the country, so be it. The rest of the country has done well more damage to our community for decades. Show me that you view me as equal and I’ll show you that I care whether you go into bankruptcy.
I’m stunned by this. It does sound like a spite vote. I guess PolitiFact can shift Pres. Obama’s campaign promise to end DADT from the “In-the-works” category to “Stalled” unless something major happens in the lame duck session.
I’m not one of that 31%, but I was tempted, sorely so (no pun intended). The thing is, I’d rather fight or struggle against enemies than with alleged allies.
And the way the results have turned out so far, it’s not entirely bad: while Democrats can’t advance, neither can the Teapublicans. As the party that’s technically in power, tho, I suppose that lack of doing anything may cost Democrats again in 2012.
I was just discussing this story this morning. I made the point on this blog weeks ago that ANY group of traditionally Democratic voters can wane when it comes to enthusiasm. That is why Obama NEEDED to listen to his Progressive base, even though many were saying he needed to move to the center. Moving to the center didn’t get the conservatives off his case, it just added an attack from the rear flank.
There are quite a lot of gays who lean fiscally Republican. If they lack motivation to vote Democrat because Obama doesn’t seem to care that much about their big issues, and even sends in his Justice Department to challenge court rulings on DADT (successfully), they can be tempted to rearrange their priorities. Get it? Some in the LGBT community can turn in the other direction because of issues with which they agree with the Repubs. Like taxes or anything else traditional to the Republican party.
Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you aren’t conservative.
“Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you aren’t conservative.”
You are absolutely right, oc. The point I was addressing though, was the increase from 19 to 31 percent of gays who voted Republican from 2008. Did they just turn fiscally conservative in the last two years? I don’t think so. It is more likely that they wanted to send a message to the President.
As for the bigger issue of gays voting Republican, I’ll admit I have a problem understanding how anyone from the LGBT community could support a political party whose leaders promote a homophobic agenda. I would think that my right to be treated as an equal in society would take precedence over any fiscally conservative beliefs I might hold.
I agree –
I don’t think it is logical to vote Repub if your are a member of the LGBT community. But I live in a pretty conservative area (at least fiscally). I know gay conservatives and although I don’t personally agree with their POV, they sound somewhat like other conservatives: “Government is too big, taxes are too high, blah blah blah… It boils down to the same old thing, they want to keep their money and resent government for using it for things like social programs. I think it is a bit selfish, but that is just me.
My other thought here is that we sometimes notice a phenom like this and say, it just doesn’t make sense. Well, it must make sense because it has happened. We just haven’t figured out why this is the case. These people voted for a reason. I speculated based on my observations. My observation is that Obama doesn’t look like a champion of gay causes. Whether true or not. Maybe he is. He has hired more LGBT members than any other President, but I only know that because I am well informed by the magnificent Huffington Post. If your average LGBT is informed like the average American, then they might not know that. Judging from the election on Tuesday, they might not know ANYTHING.
Mario,
One other thing. I am wondering if you are aware of this:
http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/266.html
You probably already know this, but I started analyzing this a little and realized that a pattern exists. The states that get more back from the Federal Gov than they pay in are heavily biased towards the reddest of the red states. You know the ones, taxes are too high, get the Federal Gov off our backs, don’t tell us how to treat our blacks…
Almost without exception, the states that get back more than they pay in are conservative. The only exception is TX. TX is the only conservative state that actually sits in the negative category. And not by much, they are only 6 cents under. All the other red states get back more than they pay in.
Irony anyone?
Why would you be a single issue voter. Based on your view of Gay Folks they should only vote for candidates that will actively work to promote gay issues even though those same candidates will vote for programs that will result in taxing everyone including those in the gay community back into the stone age. If you are willing to really evaluate your own personal habits (unless you have just filed for bankruptcy)you too will find that you are a fiscal conservative.
I agree that a vote for the repubs is not a vote for gay rights but what about the other aspects of these queer individuals identities? To think that all gay people vote purely with the interests of the queer aspects of their identity totally misses other details (race, class, income level, education, gender etc) lots of groups of people are pissed at democrats right now so i don’t think it is as simple as queers getting angry at the glacial pace at which queer issues are moving. I get your point that they didn’t just “turn into fiscal conservatives” but they do have many different aspects of their identities, some of which don’t align with Democratic goals
What you fail to realize is that analogies are not one-to-one relationships, nor are they meant to be. Not every attribute of one object in the analogy is meant to be matched up with the attributes of the other.
The comment made by Ken Buck comparing alcoholism and being gay was not trying to say that being gay is a disease and I’m pretty sure you are aware of that. The comment was making comparisons between two topics that have been debated as to whether they are a choice or not. The age-old nature vs nurture debate.
If you’re saying that Mr Buck’s intent was to make the disease connection, why stop there? Why not say that he was trying to make the connection that being gay, like alcoholism, can ruin your life while breaking apart your family and alienating your friends? Why not try to compare the fact that alcoholism destroys your liver. That must mean he’s saying that being gay also destroys your liver.
Nice try in attempting to make a false connection just to stir up trouble.
Well this just proves that 31% of gays and lesbians are possessed by demons with republican leanings… they tried to circle dem candidates, they tried to pull dem levers, but the demons would have none of that and forced their hosts to vote for their masters on the right… Ah Ha!!!
And don’t forget there isn’t even a survey to show who stayed home to “punish” the Dems…because keeping them out of office so they can’t make ANY headway on LGBT rights, healthcare, etc. really shows THEM!
btw, hope the sarcasm came through there.
This is the same sort of cognitive dissonance that lead to a “surprising” defeat of gay marriage in blue states California and Michigan. Don’t forget that a large portion of the Democratic voting bloc, particularly blue collar workers and African-Americans, are very homophobic. Political parties are pretty big tents, there is room for factory workers and progressives under the Dem. banner just like there is for Log Cabin members and the Religious Right under the Rep. banner.
Don’t be foolish. If you are RICH and GAY and a good percentage of gays are well off, then yes, you vote for the party that says: “Hey, screw the poor, we want to lower your taxes!”
I can understand why gay folks might vote Republican. I’m gay and I think the Republicans have a few things right. But why so many more people would vote for the current set of Republicans makes little sense. Sure the Democrats could’ve tried harder to find more fiscally sustainable solutions to our problems, but according to a CBO analysis, the Republicans’ plans will lead to even bigger deficits.
Well, Rob, I think we should be talking about a 12 point change in the gay vote as we are, but that isn’t really a huge change. Maybe it is just a mid-term thing.
My brother is not only a gay republican, but was elected to office on Tuesday. He says that gay rights will not be won by pressure groups, but on a local level by normal citizens living normal lives (he puts it more elegantly).
@none Did your brother run as an openly gay republican? Because if he didn’t, wait until the Tea Party and religious nuts find out about him.
I’ve talked with friends (conservative and not) about voting only for LGBT-inclusive candidates. My concern was that I was a one-issue voter (like ‘Bob the Conservative’ brought up). If a candidate isn’t for equal gay rights, I won’t vote for them no matter their fiscal views, socio-economic plans, etc.
I think that the religious right has forced me into that position though. I have to choose between equality and lower taxes? I’ll go for equality. While my moral roots tell me to think of others before myself, I think back to the CA Prop 8 results (and similar laws in 44 other states). The majority of American society isn’t thinking about me & my rights. The LGBT community has to fight to get its equality & if that hurts the rest of the country, so be it. The rest of the country has done well more damage to our community for decades. Show me that you view me as equal and I’ll show you that I care whether you go into bankruptcy.