The anti-gay industry is made up of charlatans who lie, distort and defame with reckless, giddy abandon. Everybody knows that. It’s all too easy to provide evidence of their lies, distortions and defamation, because they constantly provide new examples. But the fact that their power continues unabated means that exposing them for what they are continues to be important.
Today, it’s an example of their rank hypocrisy.
The SPLC-certified anti-gay hate group, the “Family” Research [sic] Council has given a “True Blue” award to a teabagger US Representative from Illinois, Republican (of course) Joe Walsh. The designation comes because of what “F”RC calls Walsh’s “unwavering support of the family”.
Oh, really?
Walsh is a deadbeat dad who owes more than $117,000 in child support he refuses to pay. A judge rebuked Walsh for not showing up in court personally for further legal proceedings on this matter. Walsh's lawyer suggested Walsh deserved special treatment because he’s a congressman, but the judge didn't see it that way.
But to the “F”RC, even deadbeat dads can be “True Blue” heroes—as long as they vote the way “F”RC wants, their personal anti-family history is okay.
And what, exactly is involved in being a “True Blue” defender of “faith, family and freedom”? They have to “have voted to repeal Obamacare [sic], de-fund Planned Parenthood, end government funding for abortion within the health care law [even though it was never funded in the first place], uphold the Defense of Marriage Act, and continue support for school choice [which is rightwing code for taxpayer support for private religious schools].”
In accepting his hero of the family designation, Walsh said: “Defending American values have always been one of my top priorities, and this reward reaffirms my dedication to that fight.” Too bad looking after his own kids isn’t a priority, top or otherwise, for this “True Blue” supporter of the “family”. But he's typical of the sort of person that Tony and the “F”RC love: People who are lousy humans but who vote in lockstep with religious extremists’ demands.
In the reality-based world, there’s no connection between Tony and “F”RC’s far-right agenda and real family issues—they just call their agenda “pro-family” because it sounds so much nicer than “fascist”.
Tony and his “F”RC matter because of the power they wield in the Republican Party and the influence they have in the mainstream US newsmedia. As long as that continues, it’s important that they’re held accountable for their lies, wilful distortions and defamation of GLBT people. Standing up for families makes someone pro-family, not fighting against them. I know which company I’d rather keep, and Tony and his ilk are not them.
Tip o’ the Hat to Joe.My.God.
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