re: #139 EPR-radar

There are two kinds of Republicans.

1) Republicans that very much want to oppress (ideally kill) GLBTQ people.

2) Republicans that won’t do anything to oppose this.

The only exceptions (e.g., Mark Kirk) are invariably cases where being seen to be a bigot or bigot-enabler on this issue is troublesome in a general election.

I have no doubt at all that if Kirk were in a more socially conservative state, he would be as anti gay as the average Republican is. Rob Portman didn’t give a damn about LGBT rights until he found out his son was gay and hey at least he’s not a total monster like Alan Keyes is I guess but that to me speaks to how conservatism operates. THere’s no empathy until one of your own is gay, disabled, or whatever. it’s why I don’t rush to give Cheney credit especially since he while he was otherwise quite influential in the Bush WH did not do anything to condemn the scapegoating of gay people to ensure Bush’s re-election in 2004.