Why I’ll never be a Republican
John Kerry has just posted a fundraising letter on his campaign’s site that shows how intolerant the Republican party really is :
- wouldn’t be writing this email if what I’ve just seen didn’t anger me beyond words.
I think when you look at these pictures you’ll agree.Look, I’ve seen some ugly politics in the years since I came home from Vietnam. I’ve been targeted by the Nixon White House - the original masters of dirty tricks. I’ve seen the Willie Hortonization of politics. I’ve been disgusted seeing President Clinton attacked from day one of his presidency by a right wing machine. Most recently my brother in arms Max Cleland who left three limbs on the battlefield of Vietnam had his patriotism questioned by a vengeful and meanspirited GOP that tears people down to advance their agenda.
I decided to run for President to oppose that kind of politics that degrade our democracy and turn good people away from the process.Now I need you to join me in showing we reject the divisive politics some in the GOP are passing on to a new generation of Republicans.
These t-shirts were displayed and offered for sale at the College Republicans National Convention in Washington. The divisive slogans and graphic pictures are not to be laughed off as campaign rhetoric - they are racist, anti-gay and violent. I support the First Amendment and I am using my right to free speech to protest these products.
But our protest must come in actions not words.
Of course the rest of the letter is “blah, blah…gimme money” kinda stuff, but you really should see these shirts :
“Party of inclusiveness”, my ass.
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Those are awful shirts, but it looks like they all came from the same vendor, since they’re all (inexplicably) in “novelty stamp” format. The thing with conventions is that if you buy a booth, you can sell practically anything you want at one. Someone could have sold T-shirts of anime chicks getting raped at the ComicCon, but I wouldn’t tar the whole ComicCon community with that brush. Essentially, Kerry is seizing on an idiot subsection of the Republican party and trying to make it seem like the entire convention was in cahoots.
Aw, see what you made me do? You’ve got me defending Republicans. Bad Greg.
Comment by Kyle — September 26, 2003 @ 10:54 am
I’m not saying that all Republicans are like this by any means, I’m just saying that I could never be comfortable in a party that tolerates this kind of shit. I know they aren’t being sold by the party itself, but the GOP has a long history of turning a blind eye to the most hateful elements of their constituency. By contrast, for all the crap that the Democrats take for being too moderate, I doubt you’d find shirts that say “Jews Kill Palestinians, Dead” or “George W. Bush is a murderer and a drunk” at a Democratic convention.
Comment by greg — September 26, 2003 @ 11:22 am
Actually, GW is a murderer, a drunk, and a cokehead. But otherwise, point taken.
Comment by Ross Angeles — September 26, 2003 @ 11:54 am
At least some republicans ARE like this… I saw someone about a week ago with a bumper sticker of the “Clinton’s Legacy” one… He also had a “join Arnold” sign in his back window.
Comment by mona — September 26, 2003 @ 12:46 pm