# Ah, yes, how inclusive & tolerant the Republicans are... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 26, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392 "2003-04-26T21:53:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/41 "2003-04-29T17:27:32Z")
OK, I don’t understand the first paragraph of the article linked in the OP: > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON — Following the controversy caused by Sen. Rick Santorum’s (R-Pa.) comments that seemed to equate homosexuals with adulterers and polygamists, Republicans say politicians backing gay rights may face trouble in the polls. OK, Santorum says something anti-gay, and gets a firestorm of protests. So how do they (either Fox news or the Republican party) jump to the conclusion that politicians who _back_ gay rights may face trouble? Wouldn’t it be the other way around? 😕 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/42 "2003-04-29T19:45:49Z")
[url=http://365gay.com/NewsContent/042803stonewallDems.htm]This story quotes some of the anti-gay rhetoric from the RNC website. Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/43 "2003-04-29T19:48:12Z")
Er, [Sorry.](http://365gay.com/NewsContent/042803stonewallDems.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/44 "2003-04-29T20:41:16Z")
Great Jesus Lizard! I count almost half a dozen of you in this thread alone who are saying some variant of, “I’m a Republican, but I don’t like the minority religious right dragging my party around by the trunk.” Well, dammit, there’s something you had better get your minds around: the religious right IS the Republican Party today. Attorney General [John Ashcroft](http://quest.cjonline.com/stories/011501/gen_0115017723.shtml) is an [Assembly of God](http://www.soulforceinoklahoma.org/Faith%20Groups/assemblyof%20god.htm) man. [AoG’s Position Paper on Homosexuality](http://ag.org/top/beliefs/position_papers/4181_homosexuality.cfm). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The House Majority Leader is Tom “[only Christianity](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A18077-2002Apr19?language=printer)” DeLay. The head of the White House’s Office of Personnel Management is [Kay Cole James](http://www.gao.gov/a76panel/bios/james.html), a former member of the disgusting [Dr. James Dobson](http://www.family.org/cforum/extras/a0025671.cfm)’s Focus on the Family. Ralph Reed was the former leader of the Christian Coalition before he took over the Georgia GOP. And then there is the _eminence grise_ of the Bush Administration, [Karl Rove](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A48279-2001Jul11?language=printer), who is too clever to discuss religion but sticks to the Christian Coalition script like a mouse on a rat glueboard. I could go on for pages, but that’s enough for now. Instead, I ask you this: **Will you sensible Republicans please do us all a favor, get off your lard asses, and run these bible-thumping social engineers the hell out of your party**? Or you can at least try. I suspect you will find that your precious party is in fact _entirely run_ by the very idiots practically everyone in this thread is railing against. So maybe you’d better [pray about it](http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/) on Thursday. (And by the way, the [Christian Science Monitor](http://csmweb2.emcweb.com/durable/2001/01/23/fp9s1-csm.shtml) points out that 84 percent of all observant evangelical Protestants voted for Bush, which comprised almost a third of the votes he got. Add in observant Catholics and Protestants and it measures up to half.) ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/45 "2003-04-29T21:35:49Z")
Loved this quote from the AoG link: > [@](#): > > In making moral judgments, we must remember scriptural warnings against depending on our own reasoning or even personal experience to discern truth (Proverbs 3:5,6). That’s right - _don’t think for yourselves!_ :rolleyes: Esprix ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/46 "2003-04-29T22:08:22Z")
Sofa King, Thanks for the information but I ask you, what is a Republican who disagrees with his party leadership on **this** issue to do? Switch parties and become a Democrat? As for this: > [@](#): > > Will you sensible Republicans please do us all a favor, get off your lard asses, and run these bible-thumping social engineers the hell out of your party? 1.) My ass is no longer lard, I have lost 30+ pounds since mid-February and Mrs. Joe constantly praises the finer qualities of my now tone ass. 2.) As for the rest, we are working on it. 😃 MeanJoe ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/47 "2003-04-29T22:59:56Z")
**MeanJoe** , my man, you and a lot of other folks like you are going to have to start playing the same scumbag tactics that the people who took over your party play. I think you ought to use your middle-echelon-moderate power base to identify, expose, and actively target those people who are running their anti-gay agenda under your auspices. I think you ought to form some sort of organization which stresses your economic theories while actively opposing the social restrictions which threaten to marginalize a lot more people than just those interested in same-sex relationships. Or, you can come over to the dark side. I’ll remind you that in Bill Clinton, we Dems just gave everyone eight years of the greatest Republican-styled fiscal policy since Eisenhower. If you don’t mind sharing the hot tub with a bunch of guys in Speedos–and my own lardenous ass–the water’s pretty nice. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/48 "2003-04-30T14:53:53Z")
> [@](#): > > I think you ought to form some sort of organization which stresses your economic theories while actively opposing the social restrictions which threaten to marginalize a lot more people than just those interested in same-sex relationships. Um, there is one, it’s called the Libertarian Party, but since it’s a third party people think it’s all weird and crazy (and there is the whole drug stance thing, which tends to throw a screw in the works). ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/49 "2003-04-30T15:08:57Z")
How about [The Ripon Society](http://www.riponsoc.org/)? ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/50 "2003-04-30T18:51:34Z")
As an outsider, I have to say that every time the Republican party makes news outside the US, everyone shudders with a frisson of religious horror. As a Canadian it’s a self-evident truth that all Republicans are hard-core religious types. It’s like the Republican party wants to deny that line in your Constitution separating church and state, and bring in a theocracy. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/51 "2003-04-30T19:30:49Z")
Barbarian said: > [@](#): > > As a Canadian it’s a self-evident truth that all Republicans are hard-core religious types. I resent your broad characterization of **all** Republicans as hard-core religious types. As punishment for your sinful accusation I am going to pray to The Lord God that He send His Holy Spirit to afflict you with plagues of Old Testament stature until the time you die and are cast into the Lake of Fire by my loving Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Stupid Canadian Barbarian. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/52 "2003-04-30T19:34:19Z")
What is the “Big Tent”? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/53 "2003-04-30T20:06:08Z")
The Big Tent is shorthand for the Republican strategy to reach out beyond its traditional base of rich white businessmen by tricking Negroes, Mexicans, Heathen Chinese, Females and Sodomites into believing that they were welcome for anything other than money and votes. It was formulated by the late Lee Atwater, a Republican strategist, in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/54 "2003-04-30T22:26:48Z")
As opposed to the just and noble intentions of the Democratic party that transcends money and votes. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/55 "2003-04-30T22:42:03Z")
I never said the Democrats were perfect. But comparing the two over the last, say, 30 years, the Dems are the clear leaders in the defense and promotion of the rights of minorities. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/56 "2003-04-30T22:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Sayeth **Otto** : > The Big Tent is shorthand for the Republican strategy to reach out beyond its traditional base of rich white businessmen by tricking Negroes, Mexicans, Heathen Chinese, Females and Sodomites into believing that they were welcome for anything other than money and votes. It was formulated by the late Lee Atwater, a Republican strategist, in the 80s. Holy shit! Now _that_ is calling a spade a spade, **Otto**. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/57 "2003-05-01T17:14:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MeanJoe \* > \*\*As punishment for your sinful accusation I am going to pray to The Lord God that He send His Holy Spirit to afflict you with plagues of Old Testament stature until the time you die and are cast into the Lake of Fire by my loving Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. > \*\* I apologize. You are obviously a moderate Republican. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392/58 "2003-05-02T02:36:55Z")
…but considering Libertarianism. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-yes-how-inclusive-tolerant-the-republicans-are/171392.md?page=2)