Hypocritical "family value" Republicans

Remember Republican Congressman Mark Foley, of Florida, who served as Chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, but spent his free time sending dirty emails to teenage interns and trying to seduce them? link

Remember Republican Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia, who sponsored the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act, saying “The flames of hedonism, the flames of narcissism, the flames of self-centered morality are licking at the very foundation of our society, the family unit,” when it turned out he was married three times, paid for his second wife’s abortion, failed to pay child support to the children of his first two wives and while married to his third wife was photographed licking whipped cream off of strippers at his inaugural party. link

Remember when Attorney General Gonzales was accused of failing to prosecute officers of the Texas Youth Commission after an investigation documented that guards were sexually abusing the institution’s teenage inmates? link

Remember when it was revealed that VP Cheney’s former top aide and now convicted criminal, Lewis Libby, had published a book featuring pedophilia and bestiality? link

And remember when the Bush administration issued press credentials to and allowed a gay porn-star prostitute with no journalistic experience to pose as a White House correspondent? link

Well, just this past week, Republican Senator David Vitter, of Louisiana, made news for apparently screwing high-priced hookers. link

[quote][Vitter] has apologized for “a very serious sin in my past” after his phone number was linked to an alleged Washington prostitution ring. . .

he did not provide details about the exact nature of his “sin”, saying he wanted it to remain private out of respect for his family.

“This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible,” Vitter said. “Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling.”[/quote]

And Florida Republican state lawmaker and family man Bob Allen, sponsor of a failed bill that would have tightened the state’s prohibition on public sex, has been charged with offering to perform oral sex for $20 on an undercover male police officer. link

[quote]“It just seems sad and tragic,” Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday when asked in Miami about Allen’s arrest.

Veteran’s Memorial Park was under surveillance when Allen was seen coming in and out of a restroom three times, said police Lt. Todd Hutchinson. Allen, 48, then approached an undercover officer and was arrested.

He has been charged with solicitation for prostitution, which has a maximum penalty of one year in jail. Brevard County jail officials said Allen posted a $500 bond.

While being transported to jail, Allen told WFTV Channel 9 that the situation was “a very big misunderstanding.”[/quote]

What’s with the Republican party? Why so much closeted perversion and hypocrisy? Are they no better than the Catholic church?

Do you seriously believe that if they did the same dirt-digging on prominent Democrats they’d find anything different?
Human foibles based on political affiliation? For the love of god! :unamused:

Assholes who happen to be Republican.

So?

Politicians would run on stone washed jeans if it would get them elected.

Perhaps, at least in terms of the private conduct. But, I think MT is pointing (somewhat gleefully) to the hypocrisy of political leaders publicly spouting off about “family values” with righteous indignation, yet acting contrary to these “values” in private. It seems that THIS type of hypocrisy is more common within the Republican party.

Personally, I could care less if a male Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green Party member or whatever wants to perform oral sex on another man, even if he wants to pay money to do it. Just shut up about the family values crap, which many Republicans talk about by attacking homosexuals.

Bullshit. You’re bullshitting me, aren’t you? Hypocrites? Politicians? Come on! Get real!

Bullshit. You’re bullshitting me, aren’t you? Hypocrites? Politicians? Come on! Get real![/quote]

Nope. Dead serious, especially in this case where homosexuality is often demonized by the “family values” crowd. It might seem funny from Taiwan, but in the US, this is a very serious issue so I think it is important to point out the hypocrisy here (even if it’s no shock that politicians are hypocritical). When you are dealing with people who think the world will come to an end because a teacher is gay, or their neighbor is gay, or a gay couple may want to marry, you need to point out the “bullshit,” as you say, whenever you can. Cheers to MT! :beer:

Do you think it’s wrong that MT started this thread?

[quote=“sandman”]Do you seriously believe that if they did the same dirt-digging on prominent Democrats they’d find anything different?
Human foibles based on political affiliation? For the love of god! :unamused:[/quote]

The difference is that, unlike the Democrats, the Republicans have appointed themselves America’s morals police.

So though both Democrats and Republicans are both prone to human weakness, the Republicans are seen as hypocrites in such cases.

Hypocrisy is universal, but when it leads to destroying people’s lives, that’s a whole other ball game. Nasty.

You always give the Republicans a pass, even though to my knowledge you’re an Independent. Why is that?

As others have said, Republicans are the ones putting on the air of moral superiority in the US, not the Democrats. Some of these guys went out of their way to legislate morality while in office. They campaign on Family Values, which is a code word for anti-gay fascism. Rosie O’Donnell once remarked on the irony of the term “Family Values,” since what the Republicans are trying to do is make her break up her family (same gender SO, adopted children). I don’t think much of Rosie, but I think she hit the nail on the head with that one.

To everyone else,

Can we stop with the tired old “Politicians always lie” line? Republicans place a great deal of confidence and faith in their candidates, especially Bush, and then when he is caught lying (which seems to happen frequently), they suddenly become very cynical of all politicians, for about five seconds before they go on about their loyalty to Bush and what not.

That wasn’t directed at you sandman. I realize you’re not Republican, or American at all. You’re English.

:laughing:

Not at all. I’m all for case by case lynchings of political scumbags.

I guess the “hypocrisy of Republicans” never struck a chord with me because I never bought that their “family values” was anything more than political posturing. It’s not like they MEAN it. It’s only hypocrisy if you believe them in the first place.

It’s like getting mad at a political party for not balancing the budget after one of them spends 10,000 dollars on hookers.

And I’m an independent with a small “i.” Thanks. :smiley:

sandman, yes there are deviant democrats too. But as others have said. . .

In fact, you’ll notice that a few of those cited in the OP are particularly hypocritical, acting as though they’re cleaning up the filth in society when they are committing the very acts they claim to be concerned about. Congressman Foley serves as Chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, while trying to boink teen interns. Congressman Barr goes on about trying to save marriages from immorality through legislation, while he marries multiple wives, fails to support his children and covorts with strippers. Bob Allen sponsors a bill to crack down on public sex, while he cruises public restrooms for prostitutes.

Psychology can be perverse. Its one thing to engage in illegal or immoral acts – we all stray – but it’s another to do so while choosing to step up on a soap box and make a lot of noise about ones opposition to the very acts one is committing. :loco:

Seems to me that attacking the Catholic Church would be more productive in finding hypocrisy where it concerns family values.

You get no argument from me there. The Church seems to be thoroughly tainted by hypocrisy. Another example of do what I say, not what I do. But that’s a different thread.

Not at all. I’m all for case by case lynchings of political scumbags.

I guess the “hypocrisy of Republicans” never struck a chord with me because I never bought that their “family values” was anything more than political posturing. It’s not like they MEAN it.
[/quote]

Uh, isn’t that pretty damn well the dictionary definition of hypocrisy?

And while it might not strike a chord with you, to the multitude who have/would have suffered if/when these hypocrites have their way, it matters a lot.

Remember the kid who got ten years for getting a blow job? Don’t you think Vetter would have been up there hailing that great strike for
morality?

I mean, these were the people who were outraged when the Supreme Court said you can’t throw people in jail for the crime of sodomy.

You’re absolutely right, it is a problem. It was painfully obvious during the impeachment proceedings that there was little difference in Clinton and and most of his accusers. It’s also true that since most democrats aren’t as adament about moral standards, this particular form of hipocrasy is probably more prevalent among Republicans.

On the other hand, that’s not to say democrats don’t have their hypocracies. How many supposed advocates of the poor and middle class are running their own little scams at the expense of the taxpayer? How many supposed minority advocates are lining their pockets by stirring up racial unrest?

Not at all. I’m all for case by case lynchings of political scumbags.

I guess the “hypocrisy of Republicans” never struck a chord with me because I never bought that their “family values” was anything more than political posturing. It’s not like they MEAN it.
[/quote]

Uh, isn’t that pretty damn well the dictionary definition of hypocrisy?

And while it might not strike a chord with you, to the multitude who have/would have suffered if/when these hypocrites have their way, it matters a lot.

Remember the kid who got ten years for getting a blow job? Don’t you think Vetter would have been up there hailing that great strike for
morality?

I mean, these were the people who were outraged when the Supreme Court said you can’t throw people in jail for the crime of sodomy.[/quote]
Those are good points mike.

Theologically speaking, as the “body of Christ” the CHURCH can never be tainted by hypocrisy (let alone hypocracy, which is not even a word. Or would that mean rule by hypocrites?) It’s the people IN the church who keep giving it a bad name.

In Judaism there’s a tradition that even if one doesn’t keep a particular commandment, it’s a good thing if one at least acknowledges that the commandment exists, perhaps along with a lament that one is presently unable or unwilling to keep it.

What the bible says of such hypocrites:

“They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.”

You betcha baby.

[i]"He wanders about–food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.

What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider’s web."[/i]

I hear you Lord.

[i]"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you
will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of
heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you
evildoers!’

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’
For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

“'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from
me.”[/i]

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy

:laughing:[/quote]

Or is he Scottish? Oh well, they’re basically the same thing…right? :smiling_imp: