Yep, the Republicans are Racists

Well, not all of them, of course.

I have long felt that there was a lot of racism in the Republican Party. But I always felt it was of the more subtle kind—like not realizing that certain assumptions they make imply racism. Well, that has all gone out the window.

In his blog on The Daily Beast, John Avlon reports on some horribly racist statements made by Young Republicans on Facebook, and the ensuing fallout from that.

There are SO many disturbing things here, but to me the worst thing is that NOTHING is happening to Audra Shay or anyone else who failed to react to these statments. You cannot call yourself the “Party of Lincoln”, claim that Sarah Palin is “attacked” only because she is a woman, and then stand idly by while racist statements are made in defense of your party and politics. If the party wants to rehabilitate itself at all, it needs to fire these people immediately.

Shay’s response said

“I immediately deleted the derogatory and outright disgusting comments and subsequently posted a statement on my Facebook Status stating that in no way, shape or form are the comments posted by other individuals a reflection of me or my beliefs as an American, a Veteran, a Mother or a Candidate. I do not, nor would I ever, condone that type of language or behavior.”

To me, that falls FAR short of saying want needs to be said, loud and clear for all to hear: that racist language has no place in the Republican Party, and those who insist on using it should feel free to leave. The party could win back a lot of now-independent voters with that one simple statement, but I suspect that many in the party are afraid of losing any remaining loyalists. Let’s see if they have the guts.

Holy Crap, Meghan McCain Really is an Idiot

No, she really is.

If you heard about her appearance on Bill Maher’s show two weeks ago, where Paul Begala schooled her in how not to be an idiot, well, then, you know how dumb she can be. And now, she’s gone one step further.

In her latest column on The Daily Beast, Mc Cain insists that we “forgive” South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford for his cheating/disappearing act, saying, “Was Governor Sanford wrong to have an affair? As a husband, of course he was. But should we burn him at the stake and make him leave office? I don’t believe so. Because sex and politics are two very different things, even if sometimes they seem hopelessly entwined.”

OK, look. I know what Meghan is trying to do here. The Republican party is in such a shambles that she is doing whatever she can to make it become more inclusive, less judgmental, and a part of  this century. I admire that..I think it is necessary for us to have two vibrant, competing parties. I think that the Republicans are so far to the right that they’ve pulled the Democrats over to the right with them. If she can do anything to change this, then I will help her, gladly.

However.

Meghan, you need to understand the full force of the hypocrisy of what Sanford did, plus what his job is as Governor of a state of four million plus people.

Sanford was one of the ones insisting that Clinton be kicked out because of the affair with Monica Lewinsky. So, really, he needs to live and die by the rules he sets. I agree with McCain that politicians’ sex lives are really none of our business, but Sanford’s sex life became our business once he insisted that Clinton’s was too.

Secondly, and much more importantly, he abandoned his job. I can think of few, if any, jobs where one can just not show up for few days and not be fired. There is a reason Governors live in residences provided by their states and get a security detail. It’s because their jobs are important.  They require someone to be available 24/7.  McCain is the daughter of a serious man who had a serious job, and should know this. However, growing up as she has with substantial privilege, she has most likely never had to face this reality herself as a grownup holding down a job.  Hell, the last time she even updated her much-touted blog, McCain Blogette, was in May.

Finally Meghan, if you want to write a well thought-out column talking about Mark Sanford, look at this one. Maureen Dowd is not my favorite person but she knows how to think. Start thinking.  Secondly, going back to last week, if you want to be taken seriously while on national TV,  look at your fellow Real Time panelist Katty Kay, another blonde, but one who has no problem being informed–I never noticed her saying that she was “just a blonde”.   Start reading. And if you want to improve your overall performance on TV, look at, well, just about everyone else you ever see on TV.  They prepare for their appearances and you need to as well. Start preparing. You can do it.

Unless you really are an idiot.