“I recognize and celebrate that our country is founded upon Judeo-Christian values. And I have pledged my life to defend America and all her values, the values that have made us the noblest experiment in history. But political intolerance by any political party is neither a Judeo-Christian nor an American value. The political tactics of division and slander are not our values. They are corrupting influences on religion and politics and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country.” – John McCain, in the 2000 primary, a speech that all but guaranteed his defeat. Marshall Wittmann draws some lessons for today.
IN OKLAHOMA: Check out this conclusion to a superb Washington Post story of conflicting emotions as homosexuality comes out in the heartland. A protest by the vile Fred Phelps leads to a backlash against those who would berate a young gay man in the congregation, Michael Shackleford:
Inside the church, the congregation was standing and the six-piece guitar band was rocking. The Lord reigns … Great is the Almighty. The music and energy built until Pastor Eubanks bounded onstage. “Welcome to the reign of life,” he said. “Amen?” “Amen!” the crowd shouted, whistling and clapping. “There is darkness and there is light and we are in the middle of the light,” Eubanks said, to more thunderous applause. “Say it: God loves us all. All of us!”
After the service, several people came up to hug Janice. One woman held her in an embrace that lasted two minutes, whispering to Janice the whole time. A burly man with a crew cut gave Michael a thumbs-up. “Man, you be who you are,” Shannon Watie said, holding his Bible. “We got your back.”
Not everything is black and white. Or red and blue.
The Dish 