The Republican Party, my Republican Party, is in horrible shape following our most recent elections. It has lost the support of the American people, and party leaders don’t seem to have any idea why, or how that support can be regained.
I think that there are a number of things the party must to do become relevant once again, and perhaps in time I will post about all of them here. Today I intend upon writing about only one of the problems my party is facing.
That problem is it’s current lack of inclusion. Not all that long ago the Republican Party prided itself on being a ‘big tent’ where everyone could feel welcome, where everyone was welcome. That is not the case now, and the party is worse off because of it.
Gay men will find no welcome home in the Republican Party, unless of course they are hidden deeply in the closet, and prepared if found out to swear that they aren’t really gay, Satan made them sin in such a horrible way.
Lesbians will find no welcome home in the Republican Party, unless of course we consider the sexual fantasies of Republican Congressmen everywhere, and their delight in dreaming of two lipstick lesbians in passionate embrace.
Swingers will find no welcome home in the Republican Party, even if they are married to the ever so striking Jeri Ryan.
The Polyamorous will find no welcome home in the Republican Party; its a slippery slope from “group marriage to bestiality” says one Republican State Senator to another.
Those who mix a dab of pain with their pleasure, the ever adventurous Sadomasochists will find no welcome home in the Republican Party, unless of course it’s a husband spanking his stay at home wife, for non erotic reasons, because God said that ‘man is the head of woman.’
Those who make amateur porn will find no welcome home in the Republican Party, because porn is a ‘horrible addiction that destroys lives, families, and society.’
The current Republican Party, my Republican Party is positively obsessed with sex. Sex is almost all the party leadership can think about. Who you fuck and how you fuck. Those are now the litmus tests for being a ‘good Republican.’
This is of course nonsense. Gay men can care deeply about limiting government. Lesbians can value their Second Amendment Rights. Swingers can support a strong national defense. Polyfolk can stand for law and order. Sadomasochists can hope for lower taxes. Amateur porn stars can support family values. Unfortunately, none are particularly welcome to do so within the Republican Party.
It seems to me that the party is so very busy making those who pursue alternative sexualities unwelcome that it hasn’t bothered to notice just how many such folks are out there. Hasn’t bothered to notice that the party has driven millions of people from it’s own base.
Perhaps someday our party leaders will figure this out.
Perhaps someday Republicans will start getting some good sex, so that they can stop obsessing about the good sex other people are getting.
Sex, who you fuck and how you fuck, should not be a concern of any political party, sex and politics just aren’t all that closely related. When the Republican Party, when my Republican Party figures this out, it will start to regain some of the support is has lost these recent years.
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3 comments:
All this is probably true of the socons, but not the entire party I think. The more libertarian/fiscal conservative/strong defense sorts don't have a problem with gays or alternate lifestyles. And I've noticed that the LGBT community are far less tolerant of Republicans than the socons are of them. Still, as you point out, the socons are definitely not helping matters any.
The other issue that I think became part of the problem was the whole Terri Schiavo episode. Neither the socons nor the government had any business interfering in that situation, and I think that a lot of people were scared off or alienated by the socons willingness to use government force to try and get their way.
However you break the issue down, I think that 6 years control of both the executive and legislative branches by the Republicans gave the socons too much power and leverage within the Republican party.
Disclaimer: I am an independent classical liberal. I reject both the efforts of Republicans to take away my social liberties, and the efforts of Democrats to take away my economic liberties. Therefore you may take the above with a hefty grain of salt...
JB,
I believe you are right, not everyone in the party believes that it should exclude those who are different. I think however that the SoCons you mention are in control, and their agenda is the one being pushed. Perhaps, given some time and work that can change.
You are also I fear correct, the LGBT community in general doesn't much like the GOP. I think that is understandable though.
Certainly the Schiavo episode was a very low point in our Republican Congress, and scared a great many voters away from our party. I think it will take a good amount of time for the damage from those actions to be repaired. I fear that the social conservatives work against us trying to ever heal that breach.
Like you I have a strong libertarian bent so must give the same disclaimer.
I respectfully disagree with the statement that sex and politics aren't closely related. We've been getting fucked by government for years!
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