Is This the True Spirit of the Republican Party?

I’m not accusing all Republicans of holding these views, but I haven’t heard many cries of outrage or calls for disavowal.

I guess being brought up by liberal Democratic parents, I was predisposed to believe this is how Republicans really think of the poor. But I know that’s not true of all of them.

On the other hand, why the silence? Here, I’ll give Republicans a chance to say that isn’t how they think. and please don’t waste your breath telling me Democrats think bad things. It will indicate to me you are avoiding the question because you can’t answer it or the answer is damning. The question about your party’s soul.

Wouldn’t you be ashamed to be in the same party that encourages the likes of this repulsive pol? I’m talking about South Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate, Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer, who delivered himself of this wisdom:

(CNN) – South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, under fire for drawing a comparison between needy people and “stray animals,” said Monday that he regrets his choice of words.

In a phone interview with CNN, Bauer, a Republican candidate for governor, said, “I wish I had used a different metaphor.” Bauer told an audience Friday that people receiving government assistance are like “stray animals” because “they breed” and “don’t know any better.”

No Andre, you’re the one who doesn’t know any better. Thousands of years of moral evolution that have placed a high value on helping the unfortunate passed you by, you amoral ignoramus. And don’t compound it by lying, you heartless creep. You don’t regret it; you only regret the momentary media revelation of your repugnant true nature.
“Wrong metaphor” doesn’t cut it. You only regret being caught telling the ugly truth about yourself. You know you still think it, believe it, probably get big laughs from it at your country club after church.

Any Republicans out there calling for him to drop out? I’m not hearing of any. And please don’t try to wriggle out of your responsibility, Republicans, by quoting idiot statements made by Democrats. Or telling me that a Republican freed the slaves. Won’t wash anymore. Not after the racist Southern Strategy brought shame to Lincoln’s memory.

This one’s your responsibility, Republicans. What are you going to do? It would be great if you demanded his resignation. Cc me on the emails you send demanding it. Are you too busy e-mailing to prevent the poor from getting health insurance? (Bet I get a single one.)

It doesn’t seem to be a complex issue, but silence equals complicity. I’ve always gone by the maxim: “There but for fortune go you or I.” That’s what my parents believed. They weren’t rich but they identified with a party that however many flaws it had, genuinely cared about it. But I guess Lt. Gov. Bauer thinks he’s so brilliant and talented he got where he was on his own merits, however invisible they may be. What makes you different from the allegedly inferior breeders you disdain, Mr. Bauer? I know: They probably have at least a semblance of a human heart.

And guess what: I hear there’s more than one religious tradition that is built around teaching its believers to help the poor, not to make stupid, ridiculing wisecracks about them.

I don’t know what Jesus would do if he heard Bauer’s remark. I’ll leave that for believers in Jesus to argue about. But because I honor His honoring the poor among you, my personal opinion as an outsider: I think He’d puke.

To use an outworn phrase, “where’s the outrage?”