The line about them needing all their various houses in order to contain their conflicting beliefs = gold.

And throughout this whole thing, with Cindy’s sudden reversion to “supporting John’s stance on DADT,” I can’t help but going back to this story.

Oh, hohohohoho, fun at the McCain house this Thanksgiving!

Just watch:

[h/t Wonkette]

Weekly Column

The war over gay rights in America and other modern nations has been largely won. Too many people have come out of the closet and will never go back in for the clock to be turned back. Most of these out individuals have loyal friends and family members who offer unequivocal love and unqualified support. We have reached a tipping point where LGBT people are even coming out in traditionally conservative bastions where the issue has long been seen as taboo.

For example, in England, 6’3″, 225-pound rugby star Gareth Thomas recently came out. He was featured in a major Sports Illustrated spread detailing his life as the first openly gay male athlete in team sports. While no comparable male star has come out in America, Thomas’ brave journey sets the stage for this breakthrough to occur.

Gospel singers Ray Boltz and Tonex have acknowledged their sexual orientation, blazing a trail in a very homophobic environment. Country music crooner Chely Wright (pictured), who will be working with the LGBT organization Faith in America to combat religion-based bigotry, courageously came out this month.

While Ricky Martin’ announcement that he is gay did not seem to shock many people, it still had a significant impact in the Hispanic community and reverberated across Latin America. And, the recent support of marriage equality by Cindy McCain and Laura Bush gave fair-minded Republican women across this nation a green light to openly embrace their gay friends.

Daily advances suggest that the LGBT community is about fifteen years away from full equality. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay people to serve in the military, with only one in five opposed.

“Support is widespread, even among Republicans. Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “There is a gender gap, with 85 percent of women and 71 percent of men favoring the change, but support remains high among both groups.”

A new Gallup poll released Monday showed that while the number of Americans opposed to marriage equality continues to outnumber those in support of it, the number opposed has dropped to tie Gallup’ all-time low for the number. According to the poll, 53% of Americans oppose marriage equality compared to 44% who support it. The 53% number is tied with 2007′ 53% for the lowest opposition to gay marriage among Americans that Gallup has recorded.

In the next decade or so, a more supportive demographic will fully come of age and replace voters who hail from more conservative generations. During this period, we will witness an increasingly bitter and divisive culture war, as opponents sense defeat and grow desperate. There is no alternative to fighting these battles if we expect to win.

Often, I am asked the question: Why do you spend so much time focusing on religious extremists?

I spotlight these zealots because the only way we can now lose is if America is overthrown by a theo-fascist regime that obliterates the separation of church and state. Let me state clearly that it is highly unlikely that such a takeover will occur.

However, such a nightmare can only take place if we do not pay attention to our opponents. There is no shortage of Americans who desire an intolerant “Christian Nation” that excludes non-fundamentalists from first-class citizenship. I have traveled to rabidly right wing conferences, witnessed their radical vision for America and have seen the determination in their eyes. We should never underestimate their will or doubt their commitment to turn this country into the Christian version of Iran.

The one genuine concern I have is the enthusiastic embrace of fringe anti-gay activists by respectable members of the Republican Party. Strong ideological divisions combined with a weak economy and high unemployment could place in power Republicans beholden to fanatical elements. This could potentially create a dire situation where our opponents have the raw power to reverse the LGBT community’ notable gains.

If you don’t think they can do it, consider that the extreme right took over the Texas School Board and rewrote the history books. These same people would have no qualms about writing LGBT people out of America’ future.

Minnesota is a troubling example of GOP leaders in bed with extremists. According to the Minnesota Monitor, a radical anti-gay ministry, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide (YCR), has solidified ties to the Republican Party of this state. The group is linked to Rep. Michele Bachmann and gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.

YCR recently said on its radio show that Muslim countries that use the death penalty for gays and lesbians are “more moral than even the American Christians”. While this has caused Emmer to tiptoe away from YCR, the question remains, why is the GOP cavorting with crazies?

As we approach the finish line for equality, we must always keep one eye on the prize and the other on the awful surprise our theocratic foes desperately want to inflict on America. If they win, we lose. That is a lesson we don’t have the luxury of forgetting.

(Example in video of the crazy people we must face) 

John McCain (R-AZ) is defending his U.S. Senate seat against a challenge from ultra-conservative radio host J.D. Hayworth. (Yes, the same Hayworth who was a very large recipient of money and gifts—like sports skyboxes—from the shamed lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to the New York Times)

While voters may find McCain’s name on the ballot, the man is utterly unrecognizable, switching positions daily to mollify the unruly Tea Party crowd. According to today’s Times:

….McCain now finds himself jammed, moving starkly‚Äîand often awkwardly‚Äîto the right, apparently in an attempt to gain favor among the same voters whom Hayworth, a consistent voice for the far right, could pull toward him like taffy come summer.

McCain now sharply criticizes the bailout bill he voted for, pivoted from his earlier position that the Guantanamo Bay detention facility should be closed, offered only a muted response to the Supreme Court’s decision undoing campaign finance laws and backed down from statements that gays in the military would be OK by him if the military brass were on board.

I never agreed with John McCain’s largely conservative voting record. There once was a time, however, that he had a small independent streak and could be counted on to occasionally buck the party line. Unfortunately, he threw his integrity out the window when he chose Sarah Palin for his running mate.

He knew she was incompetent and not qualified to be President. Yet, he sold out America and placed our national security at risk for a short uptick in the polls following the Republican convention. (Read More)

You see, according to some people, gays who don’t support politicians who are anti-gay, and say so publicly, are the “gay thought police.” Because, you see, some people read 1984 and totally didn’t get it. If they were able to comprehend words and sentences, or use literary references correctly, they might not make such asinine statements as this:

…[A]s I learned in a post linked by Glenn Reynolds, [Harold Ford, Jr.] has attracted the animus of New York’ “Angry Gays.” And we know they’re not easily placated. “Their beef seems to knows no bounds: Ford’ dismal anti-gay voting record back in Tennessee.” Yet, the post provides no details of said voting record. Still, gay activists in the Empire State have been quick to condemn this young man, with their “rapid-fire” response to his talk of challenging Gilibrand confirming “the potency of their furor ‚Äî and newfound commitment to taking on politicians deemed enemies of the gay state.”

(…)

Guess it’ not enough for the gay thought police if someone changes his mind on gay marriage (as Ford has done, now supporting it). There is no placating some gay activists who demand complete subservience to a set ideology, including adherence to the social justice code of the “progressive” elites.

All right, ding-dongs who don’t know how to use Google, let’s see if we can fix this. Let’s see…oh lookie:

While his two votes backing an amendment to the US Constitution that defined marriage as “only the union of a man and a woman” and effectively barred any state or federal constitutional claim to marriage for same-sex couples might be enough to cost him gay support, earlier votes cast by Harold Ford in the House may further alienate gay and lesbian voters.

(…)

In addition to the marriage votes, Ford supported a 1998 amendment to a District of Columbia appropriations bill that banned gay adoption in the nation’ capital, according to a scorecard from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’ leading gay lobby. He also opposed using federal funds to pay for needle exchange programs that year.

(…)

Ford compiled a mixed record during his five terms. In his first three, HRC gave him a 75, 90, and 100, but those scores fell to 44 and then 25 in his final two terms. His rankings were hurt most by his 2004 and 2006 votes for the marriage amendment, but he also opposed a federal hate crimes bill in his final term (after earlier supporting it) and declined to sponsor some legislation that HRC supported but never came to a vote.

Oh, dear. I guess we’re not just making stuff up. And yes, he now says he has changed his mind. Perhaps that’s because he knows that he would have no chance in New York if he didn’t. But we, the Gay Thought Police, weren’t born yesterday, and we know how to follow the arc of a politician’s career to get a handle on his overall record on issues. And Ford comes up sorely lacking.

And what some call “adherence to the social justice code of the progressive elites,” others simply call “support for full equality for LGBT Americans.” It’s sad that this has to be spelled out, repeatedly, but when you have a tiny subset of gay conservatives who hate themselves so much they’re willing to surrender their dignity in support of politicians who consider them to be approximately 3/5 human, who don’t consider themselves to be worthy of full equality, and who are simply excited that they get to eat at the big boy table as long as they agree not to talk, I guess you just have to keep correcting them.

They’re only children, after all.

UPDATE: And just seconds after I hit post on this one, another one from the same source came up in my news feed that really, I think, sums it all up, so instead of weeding through the self-loathing yet again (twice in the same night is unhealthy), we’re just going to dispense with this one with a Shorter.

Shorter B. Daniel Blatt, Gay Patriot:

Hating & Blacklisting Supporters of Traditional Marriage

I’m really mad that now even Cindy McCain says that people who vote against gay people are motivated by hate, because supporters of traditional marriage have some really good points, and they definitely don’t say the same thing over and over again, because really, people who don’t view us as equal citizens don’t hate us or anything, I mean, only a few gay people have been beaten or killed in the past year, and how can you call that hate? I think the real haters are the gay people who think they deserve rights, unlike us gay conservatives, who KNOW. OUR. PLACE! And besides, it’s really fun back here at the back of the bus, you guys!

_________

“Shorter” concept comes from here, and also here, with a hat tip to Sadly, No! We, too, are aware of all internet traditions.‚Ñ¢

Look, gay Republicans, I’m giving credit where it’s due. Cindy McCain has joined her daughter Meghan in posing for the NOH8 campaign in support of marriage equality. I’m thrilled to see this. Maybe the women in that family can bring Walnuts over to their side.

And like I said, doesn’t she look amazing? If you want to see Meghan’s portrait click here.