In a sea of American (and many Confederate) flags waved by more than a few secessionists, Obama was pictured as Hitler and portrayed as Stalin. The federal government was likened to an alien invader run by an illegitimate, foreign-born black president, who just happened to be elected by the American people.

I wish I could say that this unruly behavior is an anomaly, but it seems to be a growing and vocal part of the Republican Party. In the 1980’s, Rev. Jerry Falwell and Ralph Reed used direct mail and talk radio to organize what were previously known as busybodies into the Moral Majority. Today’s GOP has harnessed the power of the Internet and cable television to lure the loons and create a constituency of crackpots.

The result has been disastrous for this nation. Our healthcare system is broken and we are rated near the bottom when compared to nearly every other industrialized country. We pay more per person for healthcare and we live shorter lives. There is instability, as families often go broke when a loved one falls ill and there is insecurity because losing a job means forfeiting coverage. American businesses are saddled with growing healthcare costs, which make it more difficult to compete in the global marketplace.

Yet, instead of an adult conversation about an issue that is crippling our nation, our dimmest citizens have derailed the debate. These out-of-control, severely under-medicated, surreptitious partisans hijacked town hall meetings and may cost the rest of us decent healthcare reform. Obama’s powerful speech last week helped mitigate the damage, but having frittered away the summer, it may be too late for the president to regain momentum.

At fault is the media – who routinely offer right wing sickos a stage to air the most outrageous allegations. Max Blumenthal, author of the new book, “Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party,” discussed the media’s culpability last week on National Public Radio.

“The mainstream media attempts this veneer of balance of entertaining both sides,” said Blumenthal. “But when one side is completely hysterical, conspiratorial, and leveling baseless attacks, should it be taken seriously? And what are the consequences for taking these attacks seriously in a democracy?”

The result, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), is an explosion of militias and hate groups. In a new report, the SPLC documents at least, “50 new militia training groups — one of them made up of present and former police officers and soldiers.”

“Almost a decade after largely disappearing from public view, right-wing militias, ideologically driven tax defiers and sovereign citizens are appearing in large numbers around the country,” says the report. The bizarre theories include:

1) Nativist theories about secret Mexican plans to “reconquer” the American Southwest

2) A secret network of U.S. concentration camps to imprison “patriots” who stand up to the federal government

If these were just harmless blowhards, that would be one thing. The problem is, these nuts are heavily armed and are a staple at shows that hawk firearms. SPLC reports that, “Sales of guns and ammunition have skyrocketed amid fears of new gun control laws, much as they did in the 1990s.”

Unless the media culture changes, there will be another Oklahoma City-type disaster or even an assassination attempt on our President. Responsible media outlets must stop offering platforms to serial distorters such as Rush Limbaugh, Anne Coulter and Glenn Beck. The next time Sarah Palin makes up a lie, such as death panels, the story should be about how she twisted the truth. Not a single story should be written or broadcast giving legs to the lies and allowing mistruths to run amok.

Thanks to the press winking and nodding to the nuts, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) felt empowered to heckle the President during his healthcare speech. More disturbing are reports that say many people in Wilson’s district applaud his sophomoric actions.

Clearly, it is time we stop calling these people “conservatives.” True conservatives, who believe in respecting authority and protocol, would have been appalled at the example Wilson set for children. After all, how can young people be expected to obey parents and teachers when the president is catcalled in the halls of Congress?

I’ve had it with such antics. This crowd destabilized Bill Clinton’s presidency. Then, they stole the 2000 election, by sending partisan thugs down to South Florida to disrupt the recount. Now, the paranoiacs are in a full-blown panic over the first black president.

This fight is no longer about healthcare, nor is about deficits. It is about the very health of the political process and turning back the deficit in decency exemplified by Joe Wilson, Sarah Palin and the demagogues out to undermine our system of government.

Across the world, gay people are targeted for legal discrimination, physical abuse and murder by totalitarian regimes.

Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe says that gay people are “lower than dogs and pigs.”

Iranian president (and genocide inciter) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tells Americans that gay people don’t even exist in his country, perhaps because his government has killed so many of them.

The Saudi Arabian regime beheads gay men, the Ugandan government imprisons and tortures gay activists and Palestinian gays flee the horrific oppression of the Palestinian Authority for the freedom of Tel Aviv.

A crucial component to any American president’s foreign policy must be the strengthening and spread of democracy and liberty around the world. What a terrific message it would send, particularly to illiberal and totalitarian regimes, if the United States were to appoint an openly gay person to a high-ranking State Department position committed to the furtherance of human rights abroad.

 James Kirchick is assistant editor at The New Republic

Go back to the main story for more opinions on where we need LGBT officials.

Having an open LGBT person in that position would signal to the world that America will stand up for the human rights of LGBT people everywhere. 

What a powerful symbol that would be of America’s re-commitment to its own founding values of equality, justice, and genuine respect for diversity – values that make this country so great!

Michael Guest is a senior adviser at the Council for Global Equality and the former ambassador to Romania

Go back to the main story for more opinions on where we need LGBT officials.

The United States has been locked in combat for almost seven years now, first in Afghanistan and then Iraq, conflicts that have severely diminished this nation’s moral authority.

While I don’t think a gay Secretary of State would be more pussyfooted, I do think that he or she could help re-democratize our dialogue.

The United States claims to be spreading the American ideal in those war torn nations, yet gays and lesbians continue to be persecuted. How can our Secretary of State speak for equal rights when our nation continues to ignore international outcries, as well as its own domestic disturbances?

A gay Secretary of State could – even if just symbolically – put gay rights on the international table, which would no doubt do the ongoing discussion a world of good.

Andrew Belonsky is the editor of Queerty.com

Go back to the main story for more opinions on where we need LGBT officials.

But where would an openly gay or lesbian, bisexual or transgender appointee or elected official make the most difference during the next administration?

We asked policy analysts and political advisors, politicians and celebrities, business leaders and theologians, bloggers and law professors, writers and LGBT organization leaders this question:

Aside from the presidency, to what government leadership position would you most like to see an openly LGBT person elected or appointed and why?

We received 28 responses from people gay and straight. Elizabeth Birch responded. And so did Rue McClanahan, Danny Roberts (from Real World New Orleans), Joe Solmonese, Kevin Jennings, and so many more.

Of those, five said we need an openly queer person on the US Supreme Court; three suggested Secretary of State. But then there was Richard Kim, who crowed, “Rachel Maddow for White House Press Secretary” and Joan Garry, who, with a wink, threw in Tim Gunn for Chief of Staff.

You can find answers to our question by clicking on individual names, which are in alphabetical order below. The answers are thoughtful, silly, poignant, surprising. Rev. Irene Monroe reminds us of our forgotten history in the military. Robert Rabin explains why a lesbian Supreme Court Justice will change more than you think. And GoodAsYou’s Jeremy Hooper says what we need most of all is a new cabinet position: Secretary of Cutting Through the B.S.

Take a look at what people said by clicking on their names. Some of the responses are very short- some are very long- but all are satisfying. Add your own suggestions either here or after individual answers.

Andrew Belonsky: Restoring our moral authority

Wayne Besen: A voice at the table of justice

Elizabeth Birch: Making LGBT issues human

Bevan Dufty: Righting the wrongs

Robert Gant: Demonstrating the ability to govern

Joan Garry: Barack needs a Gunn

Neal Giuliano: Expanding common ground

Mitchell Gold: Decorating the Oval Office

Michael Guest: A symbol of America’s re-commitment to equality

Jeremy Hooper: The Secretary of Cutting Through the B.S.

Jody Huckaby: Making a bigger difference

Lane Hudson: We need to be in the Senate

Kevin Jennings: LGBTs are naturals at diplomacy

Richard Kim: Rachel Maddow for Press Secretary

James Kirchick: How a gay appointee could strengthen democracy

Ross LaJeunesse: We need a GLBT Calif. Governor

Rue McClanahan: My Chairman would know Alexander the Great

Jon Mallow: Why a gay official won’t matter

Irene Monroe: A history lesson

Robert Rabin: We need a gay Supreme Court Justice – and we need her now

Danny Roberts: Young gays need an openly-serving military offical to look up to

Charlie Rounds: This country needs a good, old-fashioned house cleaning

Dana Rudolph: Preparation for citizenship

Aubrey Sarvis: A Frank voice in the military

Joe Solmonese: Beyond the obvious

Geoffrey Stone: Providing a distinct perspective

Sarah Warn: Give Lesbos back to the lesbians

Bob Witeck: Vital access to the President’s ear