Once and for all, support for equal rights for gays did not cost

[GumboYaYa]

us the election. Gays just happen to be the enemy du jour for the Republicans. If they were not there to kick around there would be another cultural issue used to divide us whether it be abortion, flag burning, or some other issue. Before the gays it was the "welfare mothers." The Republicans just pick out a marginalized segment of our country and demonize them for political gain. When gays are gone as the enemy du jour they will be replaced with another.

This is not the time to scapegoat anyone. We need to first determine the extent and impact of the fraud we know happened and deal with that. We also need to gird for the next battle and develop an alternative narrative to the "evil liberal" narative out there now. If we do not do the latter we will continue to get hammered on cultural issues, albeit with new "enemies" targeted by the Republicans.

Get off the backs of our gay brothers and sisters. This problem is much bigger than that one issue.

[MsUnderstood]

1. Thanks

*immature giggle* Get off the backs. . that is funny.

Seriously, if you want to help, send out a challenge to the media morons who are pushing this notion AND THE ONES WHO FAILED US. They are the 4th branch of the government, yet they SAT ON THEIR ASSES while Bush rolled over all of us. Here is what I wrote to the FRESNO BEE (and I did cancel the subscription):

Wow, do you feel better now? Do you feel vindicated? On Nov 4th, you published an editorial giving victory to George Bush and in it blame the Bush’s re-election on the gay agenda?

So let’s be clear. You as the media, chose social journalism over investigative journalism by focusing on the candidate’s personalities over their political ideas. You decided to publish lies as facts (i.e. Swiftboat Veterans) and defended yourself by saying you are just reporting what is being said. You and the rest of the “liberal media” allowed this president to scoot through four years by not asking the tough questions about 9/11, by not challenging him when he misinformed American about Iraq, by ignoring or downplaying stories about the economy.

You watched as our President divided the country with moral issues, ignored homeland security, and created policies that have sent our economy into a tailspin. But gays and lesbians striving for equal rights are the root of President Bush’s second term? Shame on you. Take that theory (and your paper), roll it up and throw it on someone else’s lawn. My subscription is cancelled.

[GumboYaYa]

7. I will do just that.

[freedom_to_read]

2. agreed. kick!

[Not Me]

3. Thanks

If I couldn't count on the Democratic Party to represent my rights, where would I turn?

[flvegan]

4. I think that if anyone believes that gays cost us the election

Then we need to take a serious, hard look at the lack of humanity in our country. The problem isn't that someone is gay, nor that someone who is gay deserves this particular right or that particular right. The problem is that someone lacks compassion for that person for that reason. Period.

Hell, I have really strong feelings against eating meat. I certainly wouldn't let my personal beliefs interfere with another person's well-being, future, human rights, etc because of it, though.

[manic expression]

5. True!

I definitely agree.

[Serenades]

6. Curious

Just curious but where do you live?

Where I am from all I heard were adds attacking gay people and Democrats that support them. They played on the public's fear of gays and "gay Hollywood people taking over America."

One add went as far as to say that gay families were adopting children while straight families were still waiting in line. I don't think some people have any idea how much fear of the "great gay takeoever" has effected people in the red states.

But you are right. It was not solely the gay issues that lost the election but also the "under God" issue, utter trashiness on television, which some view as liberal corruption, and out of control immigration. Essentially everything that is wrong with America (schools, immigration, moral decay, sex on TV) is blamed on Liberals.

[GumboYaYa]

8. I'm in St. Louis, MO.

We had those ads too. I'm not saying that they did not hammer us over the head on our support for equal rights for gay Americans. It's just that you can take the word gay and substitue single mother, welfare recipient, immigrant, or any other marginalized group and the Republicans would just as easily use those groups for political gain. These guys are bullies. They seek out the groups in our society who are already marinalized and then demonize them to death.

[Hamlette]

9. you are absolutly right! This was about hatred used to bring out the base

and when I say base, I mean base. The most base instinct. Hatred.

Makes me sick.