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by Java Mann
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Gay
Old Party
Politics, it is said, makes
strange bedfellows. I frequently like to misquote this, as "Politicians
make strange bedfellows", but hey, that’s me. This is of course, a prelude
to discussing the pending Republican convention. The truth is I don’t know
where the GOP will be holding this year’s convention, and I don’t really
care. I’ll probably follow this one in the same manner I’ve followed others
in the past: through David Letterman’s monologues, and whatever coverage
Comedy Central provided |
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Political conventions (both
parties) have become the equivalent of Infomercials. They are merely the
parties celebrating themselves and I for one wonder if there is any reason
to celebrate at all. For all the scripted spontaneous demonstrations, committee-created
speeches and honey shots of smiling spectators, very little actually happens.
Anything newsworthy is always presented in primetime, and as for the 24-hour
coverage the media gives them, the limited substantive information could
easily be summarized in half an hour. So, why then am I bothering to write
this column? Well, occasionally they do manage to do a few things to spark
my interest, and it’s possible (and indeed likely) that the mainstream
media might just overlook them.
The first thing that caught
my eye is the fact that Jim Kolbe, a gay Republican Congressman will address
the convention during prime time. He will address trade issues for about
3 minutes. The fact that he’s gay has nothing to do with trade issues,
but you can bet the Republicans will tote the fact that he’s gay like it’s
the second coming of Christ. You see, the GOP’s big tent has room for everyone,
even fags, and as he’s the only one available… One fact that the media
will not mention is though Jim Kolbe has in fact outed himself; he did
so only to protect himself from being outed in the media. Jim Kolbe is
no friend to homosexuals. He’s ashamed of himself, but he’s willing to
allow himself to be used and shown off by the Republican party to display
their "tolerance". He is the gay equivalent of an Uncle Tom.
The second thing to catch
my eye is that though the Log Cabin Republicans will be in attendance,
they will Not be seen. Their activities will be carefully kept out of public
sight. One must imagine if they were willing to discuss trade issues or
some other mundane topic, they might get a moment in the spotlight, but
I digress…
The last thing to catch my
eye, and I KNOW the media will ignore this, is that both
the Family Research Council and the Traditional Values Coalition, two notorious
anti-gay rights groups have attempted to influence the party’s platform
writing committee. They’re attempting to maintain the 1996 platform opposing
civil rights based on sexual orientation, declaring homosexuality incompatible
with military service, and promoting the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Tommy Thompson, the Platform Committee chair said the platform would be
an "uplifting and positive document". After meeting with Mr. Thompson,
Chuck Donovan, president of the Family Research Council made a statement
to the associated press, saying he was "Reassured and Encouraged". I smell
a rat.
So there gentle reader, save
the obligatory picture of a smiling George W., we have a summery of the
Republican National Convention. Rest assured that I will be as adamant
in my scrutiny of the Democratic Convention. Or I might just rewrite this
column.
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