Jackson Free Press

Ultra-conservative columnist Matt Friedeman argues today in the Clarion-Ledger that next Tuesday will be a sweep for the Republican Party. You have to give the guy points for forthrightness: "We say we want a so-called "color-blind" society but based on election results, blacks apparently also choose, in large measure, to vote as a block for one political party. In a state that is moving toward the other political party, it seems a bit disingenuous to cry racism when people have a problem with you and your party affiliation. Only a matter of race? By their platform and public pronouncements, Democrats nationally are the party of the homosexual agenda, gun control, abortion rights, the welfare state, big government and higher taxes. If your race votes nine out of 10 times for people pushing that agenda, don't be surprised when voters associate that agenda with the color of your skin."

Previous Comments

ID

136235

Comment

A-MEN DONNA!!!!! On the other hand, like you said on many occasions, just getting out and getting to know "others" as individual people does a lot to break the stereotypes.

Author

Philip

Date

2003-10-30T23:04:26-06:00

ID

136236

Comment

Ummm...what exactly do they mean by "the homosexual agenda." Naive, I know, but is this a code I don't know about? Meaning, gay rights? Not all Dems support gay rights. Like, uh, Musgrove.

Author

Nia

Date

2003-10-30T23:19:37-06:00

ID

136237

Comment

I believe that would be the agenda of the homosexuals to bed down all straight men and turn them to the dark side. ;-)

Author

ladd

Date

2003-10-31T00:51:34-06:00

ID

136238

Comment

Nia, My God, Nia!! If you had to ask that question, then you've been outside Middle America too long . Better come back to Mississippi in a hurry before you find yourself citizen of a nation other than Middle America :P Seriously, the religous right leaders claim that "the homosexual agenda" is granting gay's special rights, as opposed to equal rights. It also fears h/s teachers in schools will teach children of "God-fearing Christian families" anti-traditional-family values. While I won't say that all born-agains who oppose gay rights will condone blatant outright homophobia (because of "love the sinner, hate the sin"), I will say many Fundies and Evangelicals seem to think that God called them to make America a "godly" country. This is why IMO quite a number of Fundies and Evan's tend to be fanatical about granting gays equal legal standing in marriage, hiring, renting, etc. IMO, I think the way to derail that thinking is to show conservative Christians that the Bible does not call on anyone to make any society "Christian" - but that theirs is a personal relationship with Jesus (I'm neither claiming nor denying this is true. I'm just relaying my personal experience with such people).

Author

Philip

Date

2003-10-31T00:52:12-06:00

ID

136239

Comment

Oh, I get it. The "gay death star." ;-)

Author

Nia

Date

2003-10-31T00:52:48-06:00

ID

136240

Comment

Ladd!!!! You are EVIL!!!!!! :p

Author

Philip

Date

2003-10-31T00:52:59-06:00

ID

136241

Comment

Got it. Half the people I know are gay men and the church I attend is one of those reconciling United Methodist churches. We've gotten in trouble for performing committment ceremonies and we march every year in the gay pride parade. The kids in the church love it! ;-) So I forget sometimes.

Author

Nia

Date

2003-10-31T00:56:12-06:00

ID

136242

Comment

No, I just had three cocktails and a lovely evening at Hal & Mal's among (pretty much) like-minded folks. So, shall we say, I'm a bit punchy. But, I must say, I haven't started comparing my closet with Philip's yet. ;-P Yes, I dealt with the Fear of the Homosexual Agenda when I helped start the alternative in Colorado Springs. You think Mississippi is conservative. Fear is definitely a four-letter word; people miss out on so much of life simply out of fear of the unknown and lesser understood.

Author

ladd

Date

2003-10-31T00:58:27-06:00

ID

136243

Comment

OK, I meant with Nia's closet. Forgot who I was talking to. Sorry, Philip.

Author

ladd

Date

2003-10-31T01:00:09-06:00

ID

136244

Comment

Friedman: "If your race votes nine out of 10 times for people pushing that agenda, don't be surprised when voters associate that agenda with the color of your skin." Philip: Well, Miss Whites may not vote Republican 9 times out of 10, but is 8 1/2 times out of 10 THAT MUCH of an improvement?

Author

Philip

Date

2003-10-31T01:05:44-06:00

ID

136245

Comment

Me, I like the notion that Democrats are the party of big government. Who is it that's increased the size of the federal government? Oh, yeah, that would be Bush.

Author

Kate

Date

2003-10-31T10:01:27-06:00

ID

136246

Comment

Sorry about the closet bit. :-) Couldn't resist the side comment after Philip's bit about the preppie's. That's funny, Kate. I've always thougth that Dems tend to believe in big government not as a principall but because they can't hep funding everything. Republicans seem to only want to fund big business--lots of it. I'm not sure how they think that's significantly different from big government..

Author

Nia

Date

2003-10-31T11:04:53-06:00

ID

136247

Comment

not to be kneejerk, but the above excerpt from the column is astonishingly offensive. wow, now there's some logic. i'm so bloody frustrated with the constant use of these kneejerk "lynchpin" issues- of which tort reform it appears is the newest members- instead of dealing with the substantial issues that really matter, not to horserace politics and mobilizing along these recidivist issues, but to the present and future of this state and country: education, infrastructure for development, vision for mississippi's economy (away from strictly service based economy, powered by local businesses), health care (and mississippi's general state of health), a viable, just criminal and civil justice system (on all levels civil society, courts, local, county and state law enforcement). In short, an intelligent, substantive engagement with the understanding and betterment of the standard of living, in all its facets, in Mississippi. And heaven forbid, perhaps an engagement with (the rhetoric of) race not as an immutable given to be organized around but as a process, construct, and gate keeper that can be moved, excuse my language, the fuck past.

Author

louisa

Date

2003-11-01T12:46:33-06:00