Republicans boo gay serviceman at Florida debate

[Fear Itself]

An active duty gay serviceman was booed after his video question was played (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/post/with-gop-debate-crowd-it-gets-worse--booing-a-gay-soldier/2011/09/23/gIQAKcN3qK_blog.html)at the Florida Debate Thursday night, then Rick Santorum's anwer saying gays have no place in the military was cheered by the crowd.

So on three different occasions, the Republican debate crowd has cheered for executions, cheered for allowing sick people to die, and booed a gay serviceman who is serving his country honorably.

The Republican Party, populated by sociopathic goons, is irretrievably broken, and should be disregarded at the ballot box, in the Congress and in the statehouses. No further attempt should be made to reason with them, as they have demonstrated they are nothing more than a despicable gang of lunatics intent on turning the country into a warped libertarian caricature, where the strong brutalize the weak with impunity.

Shame on the Republican Party.

[mlees]

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=625341

Pitting already in progress.

[Fear Itself]

OK, carry on.

[Steve MB]

Excessively prolix pitting. "Republicans Boo American Soldier" would suffice nicely.

[aruvqan]

lease do not tar u all with the same brush, I have been a registered republican since I was 18. You have to be registered to vote in many elections and I flipped a coin. I vote to the research, not the party line.

[Euphonious Polemic]

lease do not tar u all with the same brush, I have been a registered republican since I was 18. You have to be registered to vote in many elections and I flipped a coin. I vote to the research, not the party line.

Glad to see that you put so much thought into registering. Since you are a Republican by coin toss, I don't see why you should be upset at a pitting of Republicans who booed a US soldier.

[Fear Itself]

lease do not tar u all with the same brush, I have been a registered republican since I was 18. If you find yourself soiled with tar, it is because you choose to associate with a contemptible group of people. I suggest you register with a higher class of voter, such as the Coprophage Party, or maybe the Skankatarians.

[Balance]

lease do not tar u all with the same brush, I have been a registered republican since I was 18. You have to be registered to vote in many elections and I flipped a coin. I vote to the research, not the party line.
Unlike one's sexual orientation, one's political affiliation can be changed. If your party does things you do not wish to be associated with, sever your ties with them and join another (or remain independent). It may not seem like much, but if enough sensible, honorable people turn and walk away from the madness, it might make an impression.

[elucidator]

Maybe they already have, and this is the result.

[Kozmik]

Excessively prolix pitting. "Republicans Boo American Soldier" would suffice nicely.It makes a perfect headline.

[Frank]

You have to be registered to vote in many elections and I flipped a coin.
You have to be registered to vote in any election. You have to be registered as a member of a party (in some states) to vote in that party's primary election.

That said--you flipped a coin to decide which party you'd register in? What, as in "if it's heads I'll buy a drink, if it's tails I'll head to Tennessee, if it stands on the edge I'll keep talking to you." That kind of thing? Boy, I'm fucking impressed.

[Little Nemo]

It makes a perfect headline.Fox will probably "accidentally" run it as "Republicans (D) Boo American Soldier".

[kaylasdad99]

Nice.

[aruvqan]

Unlike one's sexual orientation, one's political affiliation can be changed. If your party does things you do not wish to be associated with, sever your ties with them and join another (or remain independent). It may not seem like much, but if enough sensible, honorable people turn and walk away from the madness, it might make an impression.

You have to be registered to vote in any election. You have to be registered as a member of a party (in some states) to vote in that party's primary election.

That said--you flipped a coin to decide which party you'd register in? What, as in "if it's heads I'll buy a drink, if it's tails I'll head to Tennessee, if it stands on the edge I'll keep talking to you." That kind of thing? Boy, I'm fucking impressed.
Well lets see. Democrat or Republican.

Both parties are full of professional politicians, both parties are full of liars. Both parties are full of cheats. I have to register to one of them. How best to decide which group of skanks to join?

If you have to join a party to vote, you join a party so you can vote for whom you have researched and think will be the better choice. Just because you register for democrat or republican does not mean you have to vote for the party you registered for.

At least I get out and fucking vote. You would rather I sit on my ass and bitch about politics without having exercised my franchise?

[Lobohan]

Well lets see. Democrat or Republican.

Both parties are full of professional politicians, both parties are full of liars. Both parties are full of cheats. I have to register to one of them. How best to decide which group of skanks to join?

If you have to join a party to vote, you join a party so you can vote for whom you have researched and think will be the better choice. Just because you register for democrat or republican does not mean you have to vote for the party you registered for.

At least I get out and fucking vote. You would rather I sit on my ass and bitch about politics without having exercised my franchise?It would be nice if you were educated or motivated enough to actually learn about the issues.

If you think Democrats are as crazy as Republicans you aren't paying sufficient attention.

[Naxos]

...
The Republican Party, populated by sociopathic goons, is irretrievably broken, and should be disregarded at the ballot box, in the Congress and in the statehouses...

No, it's not broken.

This is what the Republican Party is about: discrimination and the conservation of social superiority based on wealth or restrictive social rules the elites pick to impose on everyone else.

Why are people still wondering about this? I don't get it.

[Harborwolf]

lease do not tar u all with the same brush, I have been a registered republican since I was 18. You have to be registered to vote in many elections and I flipped a coin. I vote to the research, not the party line.So if you picked party via coin toss, why are you taking this personally at all? Do you identify strongly with the republicans?

Or if you really do have a problem being painted with the same brush, change party affiliation or get some of these jackasses out of "your" party. Booing a gay soldier is a shit thing to do, especially for a party that considers themselves so strongly military.

[Gatopescado]

If you think Democrats are as crazy as Republicans you aren't paying sufficient attention.

No, I think he is.

[Jenaroph]

If you have to join a party to vote, you join a party so you can vote for whom you have researched and think will be the better choice. Just because you register for democrat or republican does not mean you have to vote for the party you registered for.That's the point though. You DON'T have to join a party to vote. There isn't a state in the union (http://www.declareyourself.com/voting_faq/state_by_state_info_2.html) that requires that you pick a party. Depending on which state you're in, you MAY have to join a party to vote in a primary. And if they're both so awful, who's to say that either party is always going to have a better candidate than the other? You can switch parties at any time.

[Shakes]

Rick Santorum is a douche of the highest order. But he never said "Gays have no place in the military" He seems to think it's wrong that we are giving gays special treatment. We aren't (Hence Rick's douchey-ness).

What Rick is too stupid to realize, is that guys in the military aren't fucking robots. And they don't sit around all day and talk about shooting Muslims 100% of the time. People do in fact talk about their personal lives.

So if Joe straight can talk about his wife and kids, it's only fair that Joe Fabulous should be able to talk about his husband and adopted child.

But yeah, stay classy repubs. :rolleyes:

[Beware of Doug]

Excessively prolix pitting. "Republicans Boo American Soldier" would suffice nicely.True. 98% of us would mentally insert "Gay" anyway.

[elucidator]

True. 98% of us would mentally insert "Gay" anyway.

The nominations for SDMB Straight Line/Snark Inspiration of the Year 2011 are now officially closed.

[Beware of Doug]

At least I was the straight man.

[gonzomax]

The repubs cheered allowing a young man who didn't buy health insurance to die.
They cheered Texas executing many more people than any other state.
They booed a soldier on the front lines risking his life for them because he is gay.
I think ARUVQAN did not do enough research, or he has revealed who he really is.

[Lobohan]

No, I think he is.

I'm not familiar enough with your posting style to understand where you were going with that comment. I wanted to make sure you weren't being exceptionally droll or trying to make some deeper point. So I looked at your recent posts and found this:

I think Rumsfeld was a great public servent.

Suffice it to say, your opinion doesn't seem worth considering seriously. But thank you for your attempt at contribution to the discourse.

[kaylasdad99]

Well lets see. Democrat or Republican.

Both parties are full of professional politicians, both parties are full of liars. Both parties are full of cheats. I have to register to one of them. How best to decide which group of skanks to join?

If you have to join a party to vote, you join a party so you can vote for whom you have researched and think will be the better choice. Just because you register for democrat or republican does not mean you have to vote for the party you registered for.

At least I get out and fucking vote. You would rather I sit on my ass and bitch about politics without having exercised my franchise?


If you think Democrats are as crazy as Republicans you aren't paying sufficient attention.

No, I think he is.I know somebody who isn't...

[kaylasdad99]

I know somebody who isn't...

The repubs cheered allowing a young man who didn't buy health insurance to die.
They cheered Texas executing many more people than any other state.
They booed a soldier on the front lines risking his life for them because he is gay.
I think ARUVQAN did not do enough research, or he has revealed who he really is.Aaaaannnnd somebody else, too.

ETA: The hell with it. I see no need to be coy. (http://www.nouilles.info/sdpix/44346.html)

[Yookeroo]

Both parties are full of professional politicians, both parties are full of liars. Both parties are full of cheats. I have to register to one of them. How best to decide which group of skanks to join?

You pick the skanks whose politics is closest to yours? This isn't hard.

[Chipacabra]

Barring that, pick the skanks whose primary you want to participate in.

[Sampiro]

I love that Santorum says he didn't hear the booing (http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/09/rick_santorum_boo_gay_soldier.html). It's very considerate for him to pause for something he didn't hear.

[Brown Eyed Girl]

Wouldn't it be less of an issue if we didn't have specific legislation (or policy) that makes it an issue?

[Miller]

What Rick is too stupid to realize, is that guys in the military aren't fucking robots.

Of course they don't. We don't allow any of those filthy, disgusting robosexuals in our army!

[Kevbo]

I used to register republican because my congressional district had been republican since it's creation, so the primary was the only way to influance the outcome. I changed my affiliation so that I could help nominate Obama over Clinton , and lo! Martin Heinrich (D) is also my Congressman.

[Ludovic]

For such a sombre field of moralists, they sure know how to boo gay.

[elucidator]

Of course they don't. We don't allow any of those filthy, disgusting robosexuals in our army!

Harder, Will Robinson, harder!

[SCSimmons]

If you find yourself soiled with tar, it is because you choose to associate with a contemptible group of people. I suggest you register with a higher class of voter, such as the Coprophage Party, or maybe the Skankatarians.
I am totally voting straight Skankatarian ticket next election.

[Shakes]

Harder, Will Robinson, harder!


That's some funny shit right there! :D

[kaylasdad99]

Wouldn't it be less of an issue if we didn't have specific legislation (or policy) that makes it an issue?It's so easy for me to get my antecedents twisted these days, such that a single-line post like that one is just the other side of comprehensibility for me.

Could I trouble you to clarify your meaning, please?

[psychonaut]

Well lets see. Democrat or Republican.

Both parties are full of professional politicians, both parties are full of liars. Both parties are full of cheats. I have to register to one of them.Says who? If you hold both major parties in such contempt, then don't register with them.

[Vinyl Turnip]

I love that Santorum says he didn't hear the booing. (http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/09/rick_santorum_boo_gay_soldier.html)

To be fair, it's possible that his ears were clogged with the frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that are always the byproduct of Rick Santorum.

[elucidator]

Somebody fucked him in the ear? Is that like, aural sex?

[Brown Eyed Girl]

It's so easy for me to get my antecedents twisted these days, such that a single-line post like that one is just the other side of comprehensibility for me.

Could I trouble you to clarify your meaning, please?

I'll try. As I understand it, Santorum feels that sexuality shouldn't be an issue in the military and that gay servicemembers should not get special treatment. But reinstating DADT, in essence, is making an issue out of sexuality and setting homosexual servicemembers aside for special treatment, negative treatment though it may be.

If Santorum is true to the words he spoke in the debate, the logical thing to do is to promote a policy which says unequivocally that sexuality, like race or gender, has no bearing on the quality and validity of service each servicemember provides within the boundaries of decorum and lawful behavior that applies equally to every servicemember.

You don't make sexuality a non-issue in the military by singling out specific individuals based solely upon their legal sexual preference and prohibiting their honorable service.

[kaylasdad99]

Ah. Thanks, that does quite nicely.

[jtgain]

So most conservative Republicans are in favor of capital punishment, disapprove of gays in the military, and are not in favor of government solutions in health care.

Who knew?

Next up: Jehovah's Witness Knocks on Door of Homeowner Who Was Watching Television

[Fear Itself]

So most conservative Republicans are in favor of capital punishment, disapprove of gays in the military, and are not in favor of government solutions in health care.Those are not the conclusions I would draw from the reactions by the debate audience.

1. Most conservative Republicans take savage glee in blood retribution.
2. Most conservative Republicans have a very fickle respect for American troops.
3. Most conservative Republicans think poor people deserve to die.

[Bryan Ekers]

For such a sombre field of moralists, they sure know how to boo gay.

Well, they do love the night life.

[elucidator]

They mostly come at night. Mostly.

[42fish]

They mostly come at night. Mostly.

Except when they come out in airport bathrooms.

[DianaG]

Somebody fucked him in the ear?
He's just a modern guy.

[Mr. Moto]

The soldier should have been thanked for his service (something I find maudlin at times but has become standard) and should not have been booed.

I am not going to become a Democrat over this incident - that would be nuts. But I am disappointed about it.

[Jack Batty]

I'm disappointed as well. Not shocked, mind you, but disappointed.

[Really Not All That Bright]

I am surprised, simply because the debate was in my town and everyone here is pretty moderate. If it had been in Jacksonville I would have been totally unsurprised.

I also find the constant lionization of members of the armed forces maudlin (and insincere), but you don't fucking boo them.

[Merijeek]

The soldier should have been thanked for his service (something I find maudlin at times but has become standard) and should not have been booed.

I am not going to become a Democrat over this incident - that would be nuts. But I am disappointed about it.

Imma teach them all a lesson by only voting for them a little bit this next time around!

-Joe

[Really Not All That Bright]

That's a bit unfair; it was the crowd cheering, not the candidates (though Santorum obviously didn't have a problem with it at the time).

[Merijeek]

That's a bit unfair; it was the crowd cheering, not the candidates (though Santorum obviously didn't have a problem with it at the time).

Oh that's fucking ridiculous. These people are supposed to be their party's leaders.

The reason they didn't respond is what I said in the other thread: When you're interviewing for a job, you don't criticize the guys you're trying to get a job with.

-Joe

[furt]

Is there a video or audio of the booing? This was all on TV, right?

[Really Not All That Bright]

Oh that's fucking ridiculous. These people are supposed to be their party's leaders.

The reason they didn't respond is what I said in the other thread: When you're interviewing for a job, you don't criticize the guys you're trying to get a job with.

-Joe
Who are supposed to be the leaders? The candidates? Sure, and they didn't boo. Should they have told the crowd to go fuck themselves? Maybe, but that's not what's being pitted.

[Yumblie]

The soldier should have been thanked for his service (something I find maudlin at times but has become standard) and should not have been booed.

I am not going to become a Democrat over this incident - that would be nuts. But I am disappointed about it.

Not that you'd want to do this over one incident, but if you didn't want to associate with the Republican party anymore, that doesn't mean you have to become a Democrat. You could, you know, not be a part of either party. Such a thing is perfectly legal. Just sayin'.

[Captain Amazing]

Is there a video or audio of the booing? This was all on TV, right?

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8pcJ6Hh4Y0

[Merijeek]

Who are supposed to be the leaders? The candidates? Sure, and they didn't boo. Should they have told the crowd to go fuck themselves? Maybe, but that's not what's being pitted.

You're right. The title of the thread should probably have included "and GOP leaders silently endorse it". Then it'd actually have been 100% accurate.

-Joe

[The Great Sun Jester]

The Republican Party, populated by sociopathic goons, is irretrievably broken, and should be disregarded at the ballot box, in the Congress and in the statehouses. No further attempt should be made to reason with them, as they have demonstrated they are nothing more than a despicable gang of lunatics intent on turning the country into a warped libertarian caricature, where the strong brutalize the weak with impunity.

Shame on the Republican Party.While I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment it seems worth noting that the party is not a nebulous thing as much as it is an organization comprised of individual people. As such, it reflects close to 50% of the US population's beliefs and attitudes. If it were closer to 10% I'd be with you as they'd clearly be a vocal minority of immature, selfish pricks. However, they represent a significant chunk of our population that can be excised no easier than the right half of your body, and is ignored at the peril of those who despise their views.

I assure you, "they" have nothing nice to say about, and feel they have plenty to fear from undisciplined, shiftless fag-lovers. While I hate the tension, it remains a sign the end is not near for us as a country. We have the luxury of giving a damn about those issues as opposed to just wondering where our next bite is coming from and which of our children will get it.

[The Great Sun Jester]

Somebody fucked him in the ear? He's just a modern guy.At least he has a lust for wife.

[furt]

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8pcJ6Hh4Y0That's it? I heard three guys. Sheesh.

[gonzomax]

That's it? I heard three guys. Sheesh.

Selective hearing impaired by prejudice. There was a rumble in the background indicating a lot more.

[Cat Fight]

That's it? I heard three guys. Sheesh.

...followed by the candidate in questions saying that being able to not live a lie is a 'privilege' and that he'd be kind enough not to 'throw out' the soldier serving in Iraq, but that, what was the line, they'd go forward by reverting to DADT. Followed by audience-wide cheers. But I'm certain they were just heartily agreeing that sexuality has no bearing on anyone's ability to serve their country.

[drachillix]

Somebody fucked him in the ear? Is that like, aural sex?

Heard that cumming...

[ElvisL1ves]

No shit here - my brother in law used to have a pet capuchin monkey. He got rid of it because of its habit of climbing on his head and trying to fuck his ear.

[Bosstone]

No shit here - my brother in law used to have a pet capuchin monkey. He got rid of it because of its habit of climbing on his head and trying to fuck his ear.Your brother in law was Richard Pryor (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/280478/richard_pryor_pet_monkey/)? :eek:

[Really Not All That Bright]

That's it? I heard three guys. Sheesh.
It was a bit less dramatic than I expected, but three is still too many.

[SeaCanary]

Of course they don't. We don't allow any of those filthy, disgusting robosexuals in our army!

Harder, Will Robinson, harder!

That's some funny shit right there! :D
I just snorted my beer over my keyboard!!:D

[panache45]

It would have been nice if even one of the candidates had thanked the guy for his service. That's all that needed to be said, that one of them was at least a mensh. But sadly, it was business as usual.