There are so few young Republicans these days, you’d think the party would treat them like gold. Not in Alabama, though. The party is about to change its bylaws so that any deviation from the party platform on marriage equality is cause for execution–oops, expulsion.
The intraparty inquisition has come about because Stephanie Petelos, chair of the College Republicans Federation of Alabama, has the temerity to suggest in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on DOMA that the decision might not bother young conservatives. She also liked a Facebook page for Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry.
“The majority of students don’t derive the premise of their argument for or against gay marriage from religion, because we’re governed by the constitution and not the Bible,” Petelos said. Petelos added that many young conservatives who support marriage equality are afraid to speak up “if they didn’t live in fear of backlash from party leaders.”
Just to prove Petelos’ point for her, state party chair Bill Armistead said that Petelo’s comments were “an affront to the Christian principles that this nation was founded on.” Not surprisingly, state party steering committee member Bonnie Sachs has proposed changing the rules regarding membership on the committee to ban anyone who deviates from doctrine outlined in the national party platform. The immediate impact of the rule change would be to remove Petelos’ from the committee.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Just two months ago, the College Republican National Committee warned that the party’s antigay rhetoric was alienating young voters. And that was just voters the party was trying to attract. Purging committed members in its own ranks is slow suicide. It also proves once again that for the rank and file, the GOP is not a political party. It’s a religion. Disagree with tenets of faith, and you are excommunicated.
the other Greg
Calling our pal BJ McFrisky to explain away this incident as utterly unimportant! BJ where are you?
Dakotahgeo
You gotta just love those conservative suicide-prone Republicans to death. Please, Repugs, do the ultimate humorous thing… slash your political wrists but do it where the general public majority can watch and laugh! Such silliness! I hope Ms. Petelos starts her own group and everyone leaves the Repug party and joins hers! There goes the southern morality and political cause.. down the toilet! Flussssssssssh!
BJ McFrisky
@the other Greg: Sorry, Greg, but I don’t support The GOP any more than I do the DNC. Personally, I’d like to do away with the two-party system. The Republicans have been hijacked by religion, and the Dems are all tax-and-spend, tax-and-spend. I prefer an elected official whose main objective is his constituents, not his political party.
2eo
Are we really surprised the GOP is acting this way, they’re deluded religious headcases. The youth of the whole world is abandoning religion by the tens of millions, they’re losing in every single future demographic, they have literally no future on their path.
It’s really fun to see the increase in their car crash politique though.
Scribe38
Speak up GOP proud members and tell me again why I should be voting GOP?!? Lol. Party of less government my ass.
Alan down in Florida
@BJ McFrisky: “I prefer an elected official whose main objective is his constituents, not his political party.”
Mr. McF please give me examples of what a politician whose objective is his constituents can actually do for those constituents that doesn’t require spending and the taxes to pay for them.
the other Greg
@BJ McFrisky: Thanks. I was honestly unaware that was your position, and am kind of surprised. You really should make those points more often! (instead of your usual GOP apologetics). People would understand better where you’re coming from.
BJ McFrisky
@the other Greg: It’s true, I do tend to be a GOP apologist on this site, mostly because I believe they’re frequently the target of people’s misdirected anger.
@Alan down in Florida: I agree, which is why most people hate their politicians. However, Joe Lieberman was an excellent example of a statesman who put his people before his party.
1EqualityUSA
The Republicans really have many fooled by repeating over and over how fiscally prudent and economically sound they are. It’s simply not true.