Cameron Lynch, Republican strategist and president of The Lynch Group, a D.C.-based political consulting firm, has some advice for anti-gay Republicans looking to avoid looking like bigots in the upcoming 2010 elections. No, he doesn’t recommend actually growing past their own hateful bat-shittery, he merely suggests they hide it until they get elected. That’s right, during the campaign they should avoid talking about social issues and instead focus on economic issues, then go full-tilt bigot only after they’re in office. After all, it worked for Virginia governor Bob McDonnell.
Suggested Lynch last week:
Republicans would be wise look to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s recent victory in the Virgina gubernatorial race as a model for 2010 Senate and House campaigns… biting his tongue on abortion, gay marriage and other hot button social issues (on which I’m sure he was more than willing to speak) netted him the support of independents and moderate conservatives who either stayed home or voted for Obama in 2008… Focusing on the issues, and not on religious or social warfare, as Gov. McDonnell did, is the most likely pathway to success for Republicans in 2010.”
Now, even Lynch admits that McDonnell ran against a weak Democratic opponent, Creigh Deeds, who never really energized the Virginia Democratic base. But it’s astounding that despite having written a 93-page thesis calling gays and working women “real enemies of the traditional family”, he still got away with sidestepping these issues and winning with a 2-1 margin. And just after getting in the door did he strip non-discrimination protections for the state’s gay workers. Good work, ass-munch; now all traditional families are safe. Too bad, Virgina’s still ranked 25th in divorce rates.
Lynch’s advice is just a variation on lying—it’s called “omission,” kinda like cheating on your lover and just not mentioning it because, hey, they didn’t ask. Or not telling a judge you think all murderers should get the death penalty when being considered as a juror in a murder trial, because hey, nobody mentioned it. Your outlook on that will undeniably paint your future actions and the system has a right to know.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But since the mainstream media’s quite happy to give a pass to any politician in a suit (Bush, Palin, anyone?) it’s up to LGBT citizens and bloggers to unmask these yahoos. Or else any bigot in a suit can blame Obama for the economy, promise to fix it, and then shit on all of us once they’re in power. It’s not just a threat, it’s a promise. And a strategy.
Brian En Guarde
Democrats have the same strategy – and it is hardly less damaging.
1. Hide personal support for gay rights until elected;
2. Make tepid statements of personal support for gay issues;
3. Repeal nothing;
4. Lose base of support from gays and progressives;
5. Lose elections;
6. Incur permanent wrath of the gays for controlling the entire government and not giving gays TWO SIMPLE REPEALS.
Cam
In a weird way this is a minor victory. For ages the GOP would TOUT their bigotry against gays to get elected. If they now start seeing it as a bad thing to be seen as anti-gay, to me that says that the electorate has changed in that direction even more.
JAY
Accusing conservatives of racism is so last century. Conservatives stand for freedom. The left stands for slavery. If you really believe in freedom, join the conservative cause and abandon teh big government leftists.
zenflo
The whole ugly teabagging movement boils down to one simple premise: I have mine, and I don’t care how you’re getting along.
I Apologise
Quit whining you got what you guys wanted. Stay home and let the Republicans gain power and what happened in VA is what YOU DESERVE!
B
No. 3 · JAY wrote, “Accusing conservatives of racism is so last century. Conservatives stand for freedom.” LOL. Bush and his lackey, Concentration Camp Gonzales, did not stand for “freedom”. Who do you think wanted to put restrictions on LGBT people into the constitution? Who wanted to keep a concentration camp in Guantanamo Bay?
Rainfish
@I Apologise:
The clock is ticking. If nothing legislatively gets done to end discrimination against the thirty plus million American citizens in the GLBT community after nearly two years in November 2010, then the DEMs haven’t earned our loyalty nor our votes. If you hire someone to do a job for you and they just take your money, tell me, do you keep them on the job. How pathetic the sycophants are in the GLBT community in their slavish fan girl devotion to the DEMs. Get over your battered wife syndrome and file for divorce if the situation doesn’t improve. It’s time to organized nationwide for a truly liberal third party alternative.
tjr101
@Rainfish:
That’s wishful thinking. America is still pretty much a center-right country when you have people like George W. Bush getting re-elected and Sarah Palin been taken seriously as a presidential candidate.
With a third party ticket all you’re doing is splitting the vote and getting conservative regressive policies for 4 years at least. Maybe ten or twenty years from now when the electorate is more progressive liberal third party candidates might have a chance. Until then I will vote for liberal Democrats.
@JAY:
I see you’re drinking the Glen Beck kool aid!