# Down Goes Eric Cantor **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 11, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516 "2014-06-11T00:05:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/241 "2014-06-12T18:44:25Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Wow! Except for the fact that I am a Republican and support SSM, have gone to pride parades with my wife’s friends, have dated Muslim women and have respect Islam, especially that Allah is described as “the merciful god of mercy”. > > Youy response? Or are you going to ignore it like all the other Dems that paint Republicans with a broad brush assuming we’re all TeaBaggers? This is the modern version of “some of my best friends are colored people”. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/242 "2014-06-12T18:44:33Z")
Seriously guys your “I don’t hate blacks/hispanics/muslims/gays/women, i just vote for the party who does” is really not going to get you very far as an argument. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/243 "2014-06-12T18:53:50Z")
The argument that a party can’t be against someone if that someone is for the party is crazy. Some women support the Taliban, therefore the Taliban must be pro-women. Some Jews supported Hitler, therefore Hitler was pro-Jew. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/244 "2014-06-12T19:39:00Z")
“I \*know \*he really loves me. Just sometimes he has too much to drink …” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/245 "2014-06-12T19:48:15Z")
Democrats hated gays up until really recently. It is definitely possible that a party, even the Republican party, could change, and it is with the help of people like \*\*Bricker \*\*et al. that it might. Personally, I’m not holding my breath, but to write them off as irredemable shows a shocking ignorance of history and a rather us-vs.-them view of politics. I don’t think they’re a part of hatefulness so much as a party that supports the status quo of 40 (or 60) years ago, a time when casual sexism and racism and homophobia weren’t questioned as much as they are now. If they continue to remain two generations behind the times, we might find them quite tolerant in half a century or so. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/246 "2014-06-12T19:50:56Z")
On too many other topics, though, they want to repeal pretty much everything we’ve done since Secession. They’re not catching up with the 21st century until they catch up to the 20th. And that may not be until the 22nd. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/247 "2014-06-12T19:51:56Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Democrats hated gays up until really recently. It is definitely possible that a party, even the Republican party, could change, and it is with the help of people like \*\*Bricker \*\*et al. that it might. Personally, I’m not holding my breath, but to write them off as irredemable shows a shocking ignorance of history and a rather us-vs.-them view of politics. > > I don’t think they’re a part of hatefulness so much as a party that supports the status quo of 40 (or 60) years ago, a time when casual sexism and racism and homophobia weren’t questioned as much as they are now. If they continue to remain two generations behind the times, we might find them quite tolerant in half a century or so. I agree totally. The GOP might be a completely different party at some point in the future. The trouble is that right now, they’re kind of shitheels. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/248 "2014-06-12T19:53:36Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > So does a Hispanic Republican cause you to shut down, muttering “Does not compute,” until someone reboots your system? > > If so: heya! Here I am. You’re from Miami. You don’t count. In all seriousness, Hispanics are easily the most diverse group in the nation so generalizations in either side are really dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/249 "2014-06-12T20:05:52Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Democrats hated gays up until really recently. It is definitely possible that a party, even the Republican party, could change, and it is with the help of people like \*\*Bricker \*\*et al. that it might. Personally, I’m not holding my breath, but to write them off as irredemable shows a shocking ignorance of history and a rather us-vs.-them view of politics. I don’t write them off as irredeemable. They could turn around, if hit with a big enough clue-by-four. My guess is that it would take something like a repeat of the 1964 election results. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/250 "2014-06-12T20:28:44Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > The argument that a party can’t be against someone if that someone is for the party is crazy. > > Some women support the Taliban, therefore the Taliban must be pro-women. > > Some Jews supported Hitler, therefore Hitler was pro-Jew. Well, the idea that the party “hates” those groups is where the craziness begins. I guess one shouldn’t be surprised if craziness begets craziness. But… I would not want a party to be pro-\ as I dislike the entire concept of identity politics. I guess another part of the craziness is that if you’re not "pro-\ you must be anti that group. Ain’t so. As for the OP, EC is far from my favorite Congresscritter, but I have to wonder if whoever replaces him is going to be better or worse. I’m thinking worse. And by “replace”, I mean as Majority Whip. This guy who primaried him is pretty much an unknown, and if the people of his district want to exchange a very powerful guy who can actually get things done with the Junior Congressman from VA, I guess it’s their party so they can cry if they want to. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/251 "2014-06-12T20:31:15Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, the idea that the party “hates” those groups is where the craziness begins. I guess one shouldn’t be surprised if craziness begets craziness. But… I would not want a party to be pro-\ as I dislike the entire concept of identity politics. I guess another part of the craziness is that if you’re not "pro-\ you must be anti that group. Ain’t so. Yes, cuz you see, if you don’t want millions of illegal immigrants swarming over the border, you must hate Hispanics. Can’t be that you think having massive illegal immigration is not good for the country. No way. Hate Hispanics it must be. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/252 "2014-06-12T20:46:23Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Wow! Except for the fact that I am a Republican and support SSM, have gone to pride parades with my wife’s friends, have dated Muslim women and have respect Islam, especially that Allah is described as “the merciful god of mercy”. > > Youy response? Or are you going to ignore it like all the other Dems that paint Republicans with a broad brush assuming we’re all TeaBaggers? If you presumably support all those things, why are you still in the GOP? Do you think their fiscal policy makes up for their congress members thinking evolution is fake, gays are mentally ill, Islam is evil? ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/253 "2014-06-12T20:48:40Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yes, cuz you see, if you don’t want millions of illegal immigrants swarming over the border, you must hate Hispanics. Can’t be that you think having massive illegal immigration is not good for the country. No way. Hate Hispanics it must be. The use of dehumanizing terms like “swarming” (a term normally associated with insects) betrays a degree of hatred. The fact is, immigration is in decline, and as a total percentage of the population, immigrant numbers today are in line with historic levels in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/254 "2014-06-12T20:53:27Z")
> [@syncrolecyne](#): > > The use of dehumanizing terms like “swarming” (a term normally associated with insects) betrays a degree of hatred. I am sure [SI just hates Denver Broncos](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1104392/index.htm). Or dehumanizes them. And Vanity Fair [hates hates hates](http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/05/prince-harry-estonia-italy-tour) Italians and Estonians. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/255 "2014-06-12T20:56:28Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > If you presumably support all those things, why are you still in the GOP? Do you think their fiscal policy makes up for their congress members thinking evolution is fake, gays are mentally ill, Islam is evil? Check the name: Saint Cad. I’m thinking one-issue voter: abortion being that issue. Just a guess, could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/256 "2014-06-12T21:10:34Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > First the Republicans drummed out their liberals. Then their moderates. Now the GOP is divided about whether the US government should pay its bills. > > I agree that Washington Republicans are more extreme than the typical Republican voter. But the typical Republican voter doesn’t pose any electoral threat. It’s the _primary_ voter that matters in safe districts, and they are disproportionately Tea Party fanatics. Republican primary voters outside of the Tea Party exist, and there are a lot of them. But they are not organized and practically speaking aren’t especially offended by nuttery. > > It’s for these sorts of reasons that the professional class has been trending Democratic. well put. R’s are being co-opted by their extremists, but their mostly conservative social tendencies prevent them from embracing D philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/257 "2014-06-12T21:56:08Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > As for the OP, EC is far from my favorite Congresscritter, but I have to wonder if whoever replaces him is going to be better or worse. I’m thinking worse. And by “replace”, I mean as Majority Whip. Nice question. Vox sez, “Doesn’t matter”: [Eric Cantor to be replaced by Kevin McCarthy, who’s just like Eric Cantor | Vox](http://www.vox.com/2014/6/11/5801434/whoever-replaces-eric-cantor-will-be-just-like-eric-cantor) Recall that Cantor was a big obstructionist to begin with. And that he let up on his campaigning for Boehner’s job because the Tea Party’s biggest enemy aren’t Dems, RINOs or mainstream Republicans but rather _reality_. Their fiscal responsibility via default on the national debt plan is partly underpants troll, but mostly talk radio heavy breathing. Changing the cast won’t change the fundamentals, and there’s nobody waiting in the wings with insight on how to square their circles. Replacing McConnell, OTOH, might matter as he possesses unusual political acumen, along with obstructionist _and_ strategic tendencies. His replacement could be more of a gamechanger, relatively speaking, simply due to a blurrier focus. Though the odds favor the turtle’s re-election. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/258 "2014-06-12T22:20:58Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > As for the OP, EC is far from my favorite Congresscritter, but I have to wonder if whoever replaces him is going to be better or worse. I’m thinking worse. And by “replace”, I mean as Majority Whip. Nitpick: Cantor is/was Majority _Leader_, effectively the number 2 position in the House. The current Majority _Whip_, Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), is, last I saw, the favorite to replace him as Leader, though he is apparently being challenged by Pete Sessions of Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/259 "2014-06-12T22:24:32Z")
The guy next in line for the Majority Leader position, Kevin McCarthy, comes from a district which is something like 37% Hispanic. I don’t know what percentage of that number voted for him, however. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/260 "2014-06-12T23:21:54Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The guy next in line for the Majority Leader position, Kevin McCarthy, comes from a district which is something like 37% Hispanic. I don’t know what percentage of that number voted for him, however. Is anybody really “in line”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516.md?page=14)