Republicans revealed a little more of the crazy this week — and it may just peak at next week’s convention.
In direct contrast to the Democrats’ inclusion of marriage equality in their platform this year, the Republicans this week opted to oppose same-sex marriage, as well as host of other actions taken by President Obama and his administration.
The platform specifically criticized “the Administration” for supporting an “activist judiciary” and its “handling of immigration cases, in federal personnel benefits, in allowing a same-sex marriage at a military base, and in refusing to defend DOMA in the courts.”
With regard to marriage, the platform is squarely opposed to same-sex marriage, embracing the one man-one woman version as the best, as stated in the “Defense of Marriage” section.
“We reaffirm our support for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We applaud the citizens of the majority of the States which have enshrined in their constitutions the traditional concept of marriage, and we support the campaigns underway in several other states to do so.”
Under a separate “Marriage” section, the platform touts the benefits of marriage, calling it the “foundation of civil society.” The platform goes on to laud the benefits to children, the economic wellbeing of individuals and freedom. The logic is a little faulty here, and the writers demonstrate problems with internal consistency in the next part, here.
“We recognize and honor the courageous efforts of those who bear the many burdens of parenting alone, even as we believe that marriage, the union of one man and one woman must be upheld as the national standard, a goal to stand for, encourage and promote through laws governing marriage. We embrace the principle that all Americans should be treated with respect and dignity.”
As the platform clearly doesn’t endorse respect and dignity for all Americans, are they saying that they “embrace the principle” but have no intent of putting it into practice?
Considering that Family Research Council president Tony Perkins said he wrote the plank on marriage, LGBTs should be highly skeptical.
Gay Republicans themselves are conflicted on the result of the platform process, particularly as this was the first time the Log Cabin Republicans were part of it.
In the end, the Log Cabins put a positive spin on the outcome, noting the progress the document demonstrates: It didn’t advocate a reintroduction of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
That’s progress all right.