Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Some Republicans get it
Here at 365 some of our readers have a little parlor game. If there is a comment that gives the slightest props to a Republican and/or conservative, a few will furiously start typing “Jews for Hitler,” “self hating queen,” or some other accusatory phrase. Well ladies get those keyboard ready!
A few months back Ross Douthat replaced Bill Kristol as the conservative op-ed writer at the New York Times. A good thing really because Kristol can be a little fact deficient when opining. Anyway Douthat was recently on a panel called “Meet the Neo-Cons: They’re Young, They’re Bright, They Tilt to the Right” (he was joined by Reihan Salam) and the topic of gay marriage came up. Apparently Douthat turned incoherent. Strange but he kept going and explained his tongue knots thus:
“I am someone opposed to gay marriage who is deeply uncomfortable arguing the issue in public.”
Calm down folks. Not finished yet. He hasn’t jumped on the marriage train because of his religion. Will you wait please!? However, he described the conservative opposition to same sex marriage as “a losing argument,” thinks gay marriage is going to happen, and said something that needs to be put on your wall today.
“The secular arguments against gay marriage, when they aren’t just based on bigotry or custom, tend to be abstract in ways that don’t find purchase in American political discourse. I say, ‘Institutional support for reproduction,’ you say, ‘I love my boyfriend and I want to marry him.’ Who wins that debate? You win that debate.”
Perhaps he notices the deep circle of fail he is in?
“A good thing really because Kristol can be a little fact deficient when opining.”
Pot…kettle…and all that.
Mr Withers, you never cease to amaze and bemuse me. You are applauding this man because he realises he’s on the losing side, because he realises that his prejudice against gay marriage is without foundation? He DOESN’T get it. In order for him to get it he would either have to embrace gay marriage with a big soppy smile on his face, or, as is more likely for the vast majority of people, accept that although they are personally opposed to gay marriage and other equality issues, they have no business standing in their way.
All he is saying is that he is opposed to gay marriage and because he can no longer come up with a rational argument against it he has come to realise he is on the losing side of the debate. Applaud him if you will, but I will save my applause for people, whatever their political or religious persuasion, who actually deserve it.
Once again, Withers proves that his political instincts are completely off-base and his strange bitterness is making him say and do very strange things. He attacks many white gays but praises this strange, anti-gay Republican as “getting it”? When I read this headline, I assumed he would be writing about the pro-gay Republican of the moment, one Dede Scozzafava, an Assemblywoman who is running for Congress in the special election in NY-23. She has the distinction of being one of four Republicans to vote for a marriage equality bill in the NY state Assembly, after which she was reelected handily with no major opposition. Plus, you know you must be doing something right when Sarah Palin comes out against you, endorsing a pathetic third party candidate. I think I’ll give Withers a dollar so he can buy a clue.
Like it or not, but the fact remains that there are thousands of gay Republicans, who are bold enough to stick to their guns on other political issues while fighting for gay rights from within the GOP. You don’t have to agree with their approach to problems that needless to say even the Democrats can’t seem to figure out.
And if the only concession that many Republicans will ever make is that “I don’t agree with same-sex marriage, but I admit that it is inevitable, and the Republican Party might as well jump on the band wagon now, instead of being on the wrong side of history.”, then that in my mind is a small victory. Nobody can change deep-seeded religious-based oppositon to gay marriage, but what we can change is political opposition. I’m not asking PEOPLE to like me, but I am asking the GOVERNMENT to acknowledge me and my rights. Huge difference…
And this incoherent conservative who is against gay marriage but cannot explain why is supposed to be an improvement? Why? How about a conservative who is for gay marriage? Now that might be an improvement.
And this incoherent conservative who is against gay marriage even though he doesn’t know how to explain why gay marriage is bad is supposed to be some kind of improvement over other conservatives? Please explain.
Well Mr. Douthat, that’s what I was saying in 2002. In cultural back-water. To waves of self-assured, harmless laughter, intended only to guide me gently toward the light.