On the ground in Real America:
Some 83 percent of Kentuckians say gay people should be protected from discrimination in the workplace, in housing and in public places such as restaurants, according to a survey released Monday by the statewide Fairness Coalition. That is an increase of 18 percentage points since 2004, when a similar survey was conducted.
Yet, when Sarah Palin™ tweeted or burped or farted that she’s (edit) not attending CPAC but apparently unwilling to denounce GOPProud [R-teh ghey], who are attending, she gets this:
Palin’s comments didn’t exactly go down well with the American Principles Project, one of the group leading the GOProud/CPAC boycott. In a statement yesterday, APP president Frank Cannon called on Palin to explain her remark. “The concern of conservatives is over the participation of a group whose stated goals run at odds with that of core conservative principles, not over debate over those issues,” Cannon said. […]
Those “core conservative principles” are polling at 17% in Kentucky, so I hope Cannon can convince Palin™ that they’re worth defending to the bitter end.
c u n d gulag
“Those “core conservative principles” are polling at 17% in Kentucky…”
In KY?
Really?
Then how the f**k did that ultra-‘moran’ Rand end up winning?
Villago Delenda Est
“Core conservative principles” = The ghey is icky!
Zifnab
It’s 83% now. Wait till a bill hits the floor and the Wingnut Whirlyzer spins into high gear. By the time the “Fair Access Act of 20XX” goes up for a vote, it’ll be smeared as the “Butch Gay Prostitute Raping Your 16 Year Old Son Act” and support will bottom out.
See: Health care, immigration reform, tax legislation, etc, etc, etc.
It’s a silly game, asking what people believe before the GOP has had a chance to pretzel the issue beyond recognition.
amk
core conservative principle = let me get it on with as many women as possible, screw my wife.
Bulworth
I thought Palin was opting out of the CPAC event thing because of teh gay.
Ash Can
And how many GOP politicians will loudly proclaim that objecting to discrimination against gays makes one an extreme radical left-winger who’s far outside of the mainstream of American values?
General Stuck
Say what you will, but there are fresh storms brewing on planet wingnut. And in other places, a bit of human sunshine could be peaking out through the dark clouds. Stay tuned
Dan
Palin is a fraud and a fool, but I don’t think she’s a homophobe. Or at least she’s savy enough to realize this is a losing issue for the GOP.
Brian S (formerly Incertus)
@c u n d gulag: Rand won because while 83% might support it in the abstract, it’s not a dealbreaker of an issue for them. Paul can hate on the gays as long as he comes through on the other stuff like, well, whatever he’s supposed to come through on.
Napoleon
@amk:
I think Michelle B is – you may be confusing the two.
A Commenter at Balloon Juice (formerlyThe Grand Panjandrum)
I’m sure racial equality polls about the same. See how that changes when they ask if they would let your daughter date outside her race.
A Farmer
Opposition to teh gay is still pretty high in Western Ohio, so far as I can tell, except when it comes to when people know family members or high school friends who are gay. If a church is willing to go easy on teh gay, then it’s time to drop the pastor or switch churches. One local church dropped out of the UCC because of them going soft, another is splitting because a sizable portion of the church couldn’t handle the ECLA allowing practicing gays to be pastors.
NobodySpecial
Palin will go, because she needs the cameras and the media attention. Conservative ‘principles’ be damned, grifters gotta grift.
Violet
@Zifnab:
Yep, exactly. According to talk radio gays and lesbians are already protected because “they’re protected if they’re black, if they’re women, etc. They don’t need special protection.” That’s the kind of argument that works very well in places with people who think gays are icky and who don’t want to have any gay people near them, but also don’t want to be accused of being discriminatory.
geg6
@General Stuck:
We don’t often agree, but on this, I think you may be right. Lotsa cracks showing in the usual rock hard GOPer edifice these days. And there are signs of major buyers’ remorse going on among the indies.
That said, I’m anxiously awaiting La Palin’s candidacy announcement. I think she HAS to do it, for ego and, of course, monetary reasons. I plan to donate the minute she announces.
Ash Can
@geg6: I can certainly understand why you’d want to contribute, but I’m breaking out in hives just thinking about the mailing lists that would land you on.
Sko Hayes
Sarah is not attending CPAC.
cathyx
I would like to read the questions that were asked in the survey. I find it hard to believe that 83% support discrimination protection. Sometimes the conclusions drawn are not exactly what they should be.
geg6
@Ash Can:
Meh, I can deal. I get the Chamber’s newsletter and a couple of other conservative things like that just to see what they are up to.
Roger Moore
@Zifnab:
This. My prediction: Republicans will say that the law makes it illegal to say no when a gay propositions you. It’s a win/win for Republican legislators. If the law fails, they’ve gotten their way. If it passes, they have a built in excuse for the next time they’re caught in a gay tryst.
Kryptik
Somehow, I think this is a nonstarter.
Predominantly, Americans seem to ALWAYS prefer the more socially liberal option when polled on one thing…until an ideological label or bill or resolution is attached to it. Then all of a sudden about 30% who agreed whole heartedly attack it as the height of librul fascism.
This is how Paul got elected. People love freedom and equality until it’s proposed by a hippie.
Paul in KY
@Brian S (formerly Incertus): Also, Mr. Conway’s campaign made some bad moves near end of campaign that (IMO) sealed the loss for him.
If was ever going to win, it would have been 50.5 – 49.5 or something like that.
c u n d gulag
@Brian S (formerly Incertus):
And what the ‘frack’ is that supposed to be?
Oh, never mind, I think I just answered my own question!
Ash Can
@Sko Hayes: Crimeny. If that broad ever said anything that I was actually able to understand, I’d faint dead away.
PurpleGirl
@NobodySpecial: Don’t forget the speaking fee. She doesn’t do these events for free, you know.
ETA: Point about speaking fee still stands even if she isn’t doing CPAC. She’s gotta get paid for her speaking events. I wonder if they just don’t pay enough to suit her.
4tehlulz
“Some 83 percent of Kentuckians say gay people should be protected from discrimination in the workplace” but of those, only 15% bother to vote.
Stefan
Well, I’ve never attended a CPAC conference ever so I was a little taken aback this go around when I couldn’t make it to this one either and then there was a speculation well I either agree or disagree with some of the groups or issues that CPAC is discussing. It really is a matter of time for me.
As usual with Don’t Cry for Me Alaska, I read this five times, still have no idea what it says. I mean, “was a speculation well I either agree or disagree with some of the groups or issues that CPAC is discussing. It really is a matter of time for me.” — that’s just a masterpiece of meaningless obfuscation.
Stillwater
@A Farmer: another is splitting because a sizable portion of the church couldn’t handle the ECLA allowing practicing gays to be pastors.
Actually, I sorta agree with this. Only experienced, expert gays should be allowed to be Pastors.
Pococurante
That 17% sends her money, buys her books, watches her TV, and upholds her as one of them.
The 83% does not.
Basic MKTG 101.
Comrade Dread
So they’re against more tax cuts for the rich and gutting environmental, ethical, and preventative regulations for businesses?
Ah, okay, so they want to use their right to pursue happiness in ways that some folks don’t agree with. Well, I can certainly see why the GOP would be upset about that.
Stefan
Predominantly, Americans seem to ALWAYS prefer the more socially liberal option when polled on one thing…until an ideological label or bill or resolution is attached to it. Then all of a sudden about 30% who agreed whole heartedly attack it as the height of librul fascism.
This is why when polls ask people about broad ideological orientation, about 20% of Americans identify themselves as liberal versus 40% as conservative, leading to the impression that this is, as repeated ad nauseum, a “center-right nation.” However, when you poll people about their stands on individual issues (minumum wage, workplace protections, equal rights, civil liberties, etc.) the positions suddenly switch and far more voters favor the more liberal position.
It’s really all about labels to most people.
Violet
Ha ha ha ha ha. Fox must be getting desperate for ratings or something.
I wonder if they could go around and interview other random 20 year olds and ask them if they’ll “rule out” a run for President.
asiangrrlMN
@Stefan: Scarily enough, I actually understood that. “…and then there was a speculation well…” should be “…and then there was a speculation whether…”. She said she’s never gone, so there’s no reason to question why she’s not going this year. Like the woman said, it’s just a question of
moniestiming.New Yorker
This post forgot the “I can’t believe we’re losing to these people” tag.
Also too:
@Violet:
Jimmy McMillan also hasn’t ruled out a future political run. “President McMillan” has a nice ring to it….
A Farmer
@Stillwater:I think Catholic church protocol is to train them as alter boys, then send them to seminary to practice. After 5 years, they are ready to run a church.
RalfW
This is what is insane about American politics right now: “Palin hasn’t commented on the issue publicly since the tweet. Her only other comment on the issue was last February”
Why on earth is anyone giving her even 5 seconds of attention? She “retweated” a comment, and that’s all the tea leaves we’re supposed to interpret?
If this trademarked woman won’t actually field legit pres inquiries, then she is to be ignored, utterly and immediately.
EconWatcher
This will be the first (and probably last) time I ever have anything positive to say about Palin, but I have to go with Dan: Stoking bigotry does not seem to be particularly her thing.
Sure, you could read things into her talk about “real Americans,” but I think that’s really just a shot against liberals and “elites” (you know, people who can read and write above an 8th grade level). I’d offer the same very limited praise of our most recent past president.
Ash Can
@Violet: If the Fox studios were ever to have their water supply spiked with lithium, Fox would turn into MSNBC.
Ash Can
@EconWatcher:
Except on the campaign trail.
Sly
Very few people actually like bullies.
It’s very hard to argue that someone who fires an employee for being gay, or a hospital administrator who prevents a gay person from seeing their loved one on the latter’s death bed, is not being a bully.
So I chalk these survey results to a dislike of bullies more than acceptance of gays.
EconWatcher
Ash Can: do you have an example? I don’t mean that in a snarky way; maybe I’m not remembering. But, for example, I think she didn’t do the “Barack Hussein” thing during the campaign (it became news when apparently she did it once late last year).http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/23/palin-calls-obama-barack-hussein/
Don’t get me wrong, I agree she’s gratuitously nasty and has lowered the level of discourse. But I don’t recall a lot of stoking of bigotry.
4tehlulz
She doesn’t need to stoke what’s already burning.
Villago Delenda Est
@NobodySpecial:
Yup, that’s pretty much the deal.
Sarah would wither and die if she’s removed for any substantial period of time from klieg light exposure.
Bubblegum Tate
@NobodySpecial:
I like this as Palin’s motto. Somebody needs to make a version of the haters gonna hate gif with Palin thinking “grifters gotta grift.”
Violet
@Bubblegum Tate:
Didn’t B-J have a logo contest for something back in the day? Perhaps that should be revisited for this one.
ETA: Ah yes, the United Pastry Jihad: https://balloon-juice.com/2009/01/24/pick-the-logo/
Zifnab
Somewhat OT, but Kos is reporting that the Republicans have forgotten how to whip votes.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/2/9/942276/-House-GOP-has-the-wheels-come-off…-on-Day-12
Patriot Act fail.
TAA Extension fail.
This should be an amusing process going forward. Seems like the Tea Party Revolt is kicking into gear. That, or Boehner has absolutely no idea how to operate a majority party.
Ash Can
@EconWatcher: To be honest, I don’t recall anything completely overt, but the stuff about Obama being an outsider, not one of us, etc., along with her utter lack of negative reaction to the racial/violent things the crowds shouted didn’t exactly equate to non-bigotry for me. I should emphasize that I’m not looking to argue; it’s just that as soon as I read your sentence the first thing that came to mind were the scenes at her speeches. It seemed like there was an awful lot of dogwhistling going on at the time.
Punchy
The whole poll looks largely strawman. Are gheys currently regularly banned from restaurants? From housing? Where?
OTOH, if they had added shit that really applies, like “marriage” or “spousal bennys”, watch that value plummet to sub-20% range in the Grewgrass State.
jrg
@EconWatcher:
How about “Obama sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists”? That seemed to me as stoking bigotry, given the truth of his relationship with Ayers, combined with the fact that a lot of right-wingers still think he’s a Muslim (and, let’s be honest, Muslim = terrorist in many of these people’s “minds”).
WyldPirate
Off-topic, but my TeeVee just said that Jim Webb D-VA, won’t seek re-election in 2012.
I think George Allen is going to run again.
The Rethugs are going to walk away with a filibuster proof margin in 2012–wait and see.
Stillwater
@A Farmer: Exactly. I’ve heard that well concealed protocols call for a period of ‘indoctrination’ into the deeper, more subtle, mysteries of the Church. Only after going through this rite of passage can the initiate be truly called an expert gay pastor.
Ash Can
@Zifnab: Hell, I’m surprised the TAA extension got any consideration at all in a GOP-controlled House.
TuiMel
I saw one of the head muckety-mucks for GOProud on with Lawrence O’Donnell last night. When it comes to bigotry (he was crowing about illegal aliens) he seems to give about as well as he gets. It made me feel zero sympathy for the opposition he is enduring. The company he has chosen to keep defines him in many respects as far as I am concerned.
Tsulagi
Ummm, as mentioned in your link, the gas she passed was that she’s not attending CPAC, and the American Principles principled outrage is she dared say it wasn’t because of Gooper toe tappers.
Could be she had advance briefing of deep thinkering intel done by a RS frontpager. CPAC has now been laid bare: It’s fronting for the Muslim Brotherhood…
There you have it, Muslim mosque building toe-tapping R-gays, now that’s a real two-fer for TP con-movers like the American Principles Project and Teabagger-Proud Red State.
Suffern ACE
@Zifnab: Six members of the tea party caucus “revolted” about the same share as Republicans in general who voted against the renewal. Yes, it’s some revolt going on. If every person who votes out of step with Republicans gets labeled a TEA party member, one is going to forget that the TEA party is just the Republican party that you grew up with.
Mike in NC
The name needs more wingnut. How about “Real American Core Conservative Principles for the Next American Century Project”?
Don K
@c u n d gulag:
A majority (maybe even a large majority) of people support equal rights in the specified areas for me and my brothers and sisters in the abstract, but when it comes time to vote, there are damned few people for whom opposition to those rights is a deal-breaker. I would guess the number for whom support of those rights is a deal-breaker is far larger, and probably is a majority in most if not all Republican primaries.
That’s why we can’t get a gay rights bill through the Michigan legislature. Ferchrissake, we can’t even get an anti school bullying bill passed as long as sexual orientation is one of the criteria. I would guess the results of a poll in Michigan would be strongly in favor of both, particularly in the Detroit suburbs, but for most of those in favor it’s just not a particularly salient issue on which to cast a vote.
Bubblegum Tate
@Violet:
I’d do up the gif myself, but I have precisely zero visual arts skills. But still, I think that gif would be tremendously funny and just a perfect encapsulation of Sarah Palin (patent pending).
mistermix
Sorry about getting her CPAC status wrong – I fixed the post.
Nellcote
LaPalin’s media withdrawl via Funny or Die:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5bc6d41ec7/sarah-palin-media-addict
Bubblegum Tate
Wow. Senator Man-on-Dog knocks St. Sarah for skipping out on CPAC to get her grift on. This is the first time I have ever said this, and I imagine it will be the last time I will ever say it, but Rick Santorum is correct.
The only question: How long before he has to walk back his remarks? Less than 6 hours?