John Boehner said Friday that he was going after the Defense of Marriage Act (signed by Clinton), after Obama said his Justice Department will not defend it.
Republicans won a landslide election in November with a clear message: Get America’s fiscal house in order and reduce the role of government. So what do they do with their mandate? They start trying to end man dates and impose their social values by requiring that the feds go after gay marriages. Jeez, guys, did you not learn anything from the demise of the GOP under Bush? Don’t invade the wrong country and keep your nose out of people’s personal lives. It seems like déjà vu all over again.
Both parties are a study in hypocrisy. Obama wants everyone to provide proof of health insurance that he deems acceptable but thinks no one should have to prove he or she is in our country legally. Republicans believe in “limited government,” except for wire taps, data mining, wars of choice, reproductive choice, whom you marry, etc. In this “honeymoon period,” they are spending their post-election political capital making sure gays cannot have honeymoons.
Neither side seems able to recognize the vast difference between governing and meddling.
The GOP seems to think that, but for its vigilance, everyone in America might run off and get all gay-married. News flash: just as many conservatives test positive for appletinis as liberals.
Maybe it came from watching the Oscars, but suddenly Obama has become the first gay president, which had to be his claim since Bill Clinton was the “first black president.” That seems a bit racist to me, but Democrats have a language all their own; they can say anything they want and not be racists. They love “historic firsts” much more than governing efficiently. If Obama can just appoint our first Native American lesbian midget cabinet member, maybe this “historic” president can turn his attention to trying to balance the budget.
Ever the politician, Obama timed his pro-gay policies, including hiring a gay White House social secretary, to coincide with the season finale of Glee. Many were astounded when Obama appointed an openly gay male social secretary, thinking: “Has there ever been a straight male social secretary?”
I am not sure why this whole gay issue is always so divisive. The Episcopal Church fractured over the election of some gay bishops. More socially conservative Episcopalians could never see how a gay bishop could hate the sin but love the shoes and handbag.
It even splits families. John McCain’s wife and daughter publicly differed with the senator’s views on gay marriage and came out in favor of it. John McCain will not break with his traditional view that marriage is — and must remain — between a much older man and a hot young woman whose family owns Budweiser distributorships. Most congressmen believe that gays should not have congress with each other. It is fine that they get married, but only to Liza Minnelli.
A federal judge overturned California’s Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage. Men paraded and danced to techno music in the streets of San Francisco, and when they heard of the decision, they really celebrated. It was welcome news for both wedding planners and gay men — or is that redundant?
Are a couple of lady gym teachers with three cats who live as “roommates” really our problem? Are the two guys living in a once-blighted neighborhood that became gentrified with fixed-up homes and where, before you knew it, bistros and bakeries popped up, a problem? How is that damaging to America? Who else is going to adopt twin Chinese girls? Madonna and Angelina Jolie can’t take them all. Yes, the guys skip to work while paying their taxes and yes, they accessorize their homes in ways no straight man could. This is not our country’s problem. It’s the spending, stupid!
With all of our festering economic problems, I do not know why the GOP has to waste its currency making life difficult for consenting gays. I guess politicians don’t understand, since such a small percentage of their sex is actually consensual.
The fundamental right to be left alone, as long as what you do does not hurt others, is vital to freedom-loving, human existence.
Ron Hart is a syndicated op-ed humorist, author and TV/radio commentator. Email Ron@RonaldHart.com or at visit RonaldHart.com.