Today's Republican Party has, in my view, acquired two characteristics that coincide with the party's take over by the Christianists: (1) a growing tendency to engage in nearly constant shameless lies and (2) an increasingly open embrace of racism. To me, this negative transformation of the GOP by the Christianists base of the party comes as no surprise. All one need do is follow the websites of some of the leading "family values" organizations to see that this "godly Christians" are about as truth challenged as anyone you're likely to ever meet. They lie incessantly and will recruit faux experts who will deliberately fabricate bogus "research" to justify their agenda. The truth is never on their radar screen. In addition to this disregard for the truth is a fairly visible form of racism that directs lies and falsehoods about those who aren't white. Again, it's not surprising since many of these "family values" organizations are run by the direct descendants of rabid segregationist or have personnel with documented histories of dealing with white supremacists - e.g., Tony Perkins of FRC. A piece in Politcususa looks at this sad reality:
One of the finest lines in the Declaration of Independence is “all men are created equal” and even though Thomas Jefferson failed to put that sentiment in practice in his personal life, it is a noble concept. Jefferson’s intent was that every person starts out equal, but American history has shown that all men are not equal and it has nothing to do with their achievements or station in life, but because of genetics that no human being has control over and cannot possibly change.
The election of Barack Obama in 2008 appeared to show that most Americans had overcome their aversion to African Americans, but there was always an undercurrent of racial animus that has grown exponentially over the past three years, and Republicans have stoked racial resentment as their path to victory in the general election.
Throughout the Republican primary race, one after another presidential contender appealed to racists by implying that President Obama is guilty of taking something that belongs to white people and giving it to lazy African Americans, and it is nearly indisputable that the party’s standard bearer going into the November election is making this election about race. Willard Romney is having difficulty running on his record as a vulture capitalist, governor of Massachusetts, or head of the 2002 winter Olympics, so he has made a calculated decision to use brazen racism as his campaign strategy
As more Americans learn Romney’s economic plan is giving the wealthy resources he plans to steal from middle-class and poor Americans, and that he advocates for preventing women from making their own reproductive choices, he is resorting to the only thing Republicans have left; appeal to angry white males as a path to victory.
Romney is being helped in part by teabaggers, who adhere to racial and bigoted sentiments, and it is extremely unfortunate but at this point being a bigot and racist is part and parcel of what it means to be a Republican. The Republican primary gave all the evidence Americans need to understand that, for whatever reason, Republicans are counting on white supremacy, racial resentment, and bigotry to carry the day.
What is happening in the Republican Party transcends dog-whistle racism and birtherism; they are brazen racists counting on vengeful bigots to help them win an election and it defames the entire country.
What I personally find disturbing is the totally inability of many in the Republican Party to see the humanity in those who look ethnically different from themselves. They show not a shred of empathy or understanding that those they despise are likewise living, breathing individuals with hopes, aspirations and feelings too. It goes without saying that these same Republicans also look at LGBT citizens as somehow less than fully human. It makes me sick.
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