gay bashing, encore

Today, de facto President and Bigot-in-Chief George W. "I'm the Decider" Bush as expected used his weekly free advertising I mean radio address to the nation to oppose allowing gays to marry, and urged the Senate to pass an amendment to the Constitution to prohibit gay marriage.

Wow, when did we last hear Bush speak about this? Oh, about three hours before the election in November 2004. As conservatives have complained, the day after his re-selection was confirmed in Ohio, Bush dropped gay marriage like a hot tamale and started his ill-fated campaign to kill Social Security. Gay marriage wasn't put on the back burner, it was returned to the freezer, to be brought out at a suitable time. And the time is now -- five months before mid-term Congressional elections, and at a time when Bush's popularity is sagging with his conservative base.

I would think it would bother conservatives that intolerance is seen as a way to energize them to support somebody. I know there are many conservatives who have no problems with gays, minorities, etc. But the fact is, Republican candidates routinely resort to racism and homophobia in their election campaigns. As the Post reported today,

In one North Carolina congressional district, for instance, Republican challenger Vernon Robinson has aired a radio ad attacking Democratic Rep. Brad Miller with mariachi music playing in the background: "Brad Miller supports gay marriage and sponsored a bill to let American homosexuals bring their foreign homosexual lovers to this country on a marriage visa. If Miller had his way, America would be nothing but one big fiesta for illegal aliens and homosexuals."

Classy. Notice the subtle use of Mexican imagery, and working the words "aliens" and "homosexuals" into the ad. How can any gay or Latino or black possibly support this party?