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02/17/2009

Peter burns down big tent, wonders why trapped gay elephant is pissed

by Jeremy Hooper

After some unfortunate '08 campaign tactics that we found beyond the pale, this site declared a disassociation with the Log Cabin Republicans. However, their latest back-and-forth with familiar G-A-Y side-thorn Peter LaBarbera is just too soapy to ignore.

Part 1: Peter pushes new Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele to distance the GOP from gay Republicans, so as to not "sell out the conservative GOP platform."

200902170711Part 2: Jamie Ensley, president of the Georgia Log Cabin Republicans, writes a letter to Steele's office. And while chopping up anti-gay agendas is certainly part of Ensley's literary recipe, word-mincing is definitely not:

Dear Chairman Steele,

I’m the current president of the Georgia Chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans, and I want to urge you not to allow small biggoted [sic], anti-American and anti-Christian fringe groups such as Americans for Truth to influence you.

Most Americans and people of medical science believe that people do not choose their sexual orientation. Groups like Americans for Truth simply want to divide Americans, and truthfully their group would be more welcome as a mainstream Nazi Germany organization, than an organization which provides any value at all in 21st Century America.

I hope you will continue to support the Log Cabin Republicans, and not listen to the radical christian extremist domesitc terrorist groups such as Americans for Truth. There were 1.7 million gay and lesbian Americans who voted for American hero Sen. John McCain, and I’m sure you agree that it’s important that we keep these folks active in our Party.
Georgia ‘Gay’ Republican Activist Calls AFTAH ‘Domestic Terrorist Group,’ Compares Us to Nazis [AFT

6A00D8341C503453Ef0111684Dd9A5970C-1Part 3: LaBarbera shows that while he can dish verbal tirades that throughly demean gay people on an intensely personal level, he certainly can't take strong reactions to the same:

What further proof than Ensley’s nasty message do GOP leaders and the party’s rank-and-file need that Log Cabin Republicans is a group that — far from promoting “inclusion” and expanding the GOP’s appeal — is devoted to slash-and-burn homosexual extremism and rank anti-Christian bigotry? Rarely is such raw, anti-religious hatred so brazenly put on display, even in 2009 America, as in this slanderous missive by the “gay” Georgia Republican activist
...
And Ensley’s spurious analogy is also a lesson in the danger of pro-homosexual “hate crimes” legislation. If a seasoned political operative like Ensley can become so unhinged as to compare a peaceful pro-family advocacy group like AFTAH to Nazis and “terrorists,” you begin to see how “hate crime” laws ultimately will be applied in this nation. “Gay” militants routinely equate the defense of Judeo-Christian teachings on sexual morality to “hate” and argue that pro-family rhetoric against homosexuality contributes to a “climate of violence” against homosexuals. This will inevitably result in calls to curb “anti-gay” speech.

We must remain vigilant to expose and confront anti-Christian bigotry whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head.
(same source link as Ensley letter)

Oh, Peter. You're calling on the GOP to abandon their moderate, pro-gay constituency altogether. Yet when those same members protest their suggested displacement, you act as if YOU are the victim? That's just weak, dude.

Now, if handling such a matter ourselves, we certainly would have refrained from invoking Nazi imagery. It's a literary tactic that is rampant in political discourse (even from Pete himself), yet one that rarely strengthens an argument. it's just too sensitive a subject with too many harsh complexities to accurately apply to most left vs. right debates. So yea, we would differ with Ensley on that part.

But that being said: It's always understandable how and why emotions can lead a pro-gay person to use heated language when taking on their adversaries. Anti-gay activism of Peter's variety is, by its definition, a personal affront to the lives and loves of LGBT people. Peter thinks we are broken, immoral, society-threatening, and hell-bound. When taking on someone like that, the last thing you tend to worry about is whether or not that he or she will also try to label you as "militant" or "anti-Christian."

So what will be Part 4 of this whole debate? Well even though we have very real and valid differences with LCR, we have even more at odds with Peter LaBarbera. And our differences with Pete are not political -- they extend right to the soul. They are not differences about candidates or gun control -- they are differences about whether or not we are worthwhile human beings fit to walk the earth as we are rather than as Pete thinks we should be. So for us, it is a repudiation of LaBarbera we would like to see from the GOP. It is time for that party to reject the far-right fringe that has so thoroughly weakened this country's discourse, and to start figuring out ways they can stick to certain conservative values (if they must) without rejecting a rich, vibrant, minority population sect who has a demonstrable need for protection, a valid claim to equality, and an understandable demand for decent treatment!

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Your thoughts

Is La Babs actually thinking of Godwin's law?

Posted by: John Ozed | Feb 17, 2009 11:51:08 AM

"Gay” militants routinely equate the defense of Judeo-Christian teachings on sexual morality to “hate” and argue that pro-family rhetoric against homosexuality contributes to a “climate of violence” against homosexuals...

Well, Pete, that is probably because groups like AFTAH, CWFA, and AFA, use their interpretation of the bible to teach that gays are evil, nasty, and sinful. This doesn't really promote peace. Moreover, these groups never deal with the hate crimes gays actually experience. In fact, these groups still believe Matthew Sheppard's death had nothing to do with him being gay.

Posted by: Craig | Feb 17, 2009 5:53:34 PM

I wish LaB would get back to his personal exploration of gay fetish. That was very informative and interesting reading.
; )

Posted by: revtj | Feb 17, 2009 8:52:45 PM

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