By Micah Clark – American Family Association of Indiana

Of all the times in which one might think that Republicans might actually start to “get it” and see that Hoosiers are fed up with liberalism and political parties that mirror each other, this might be that year. Yet, in spite of political earthquakes in Massachusetts and now one here in Indiana this week, the Indianapolis Republican party leadership seems to be living on another planet right now.

Marion County GOP chairman (Tom John) appears to be fulfilling the stereotypical joke about the party observing that it has an uncanny knack for “snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory.” On March 1st up to 500 Republican Precinct Committee Members will gather and vote to fill a vacancy in an Indianapolis at-large city council seat. Several candidates are vying for this vacancy including some talented Hispanics and at least one well-known and respected African-American leader (Jackie Cissell).  I only mention these demographics because the party chair has reportedly justified his choice with an excuse that the party needs “diversity.”   The diversity Mr. John has apparently sought (according to the candidate himself) was found in Chris Douglas, a homosexual activist and the leader of the Log Cabin Republicans. Chris Douglas is also a founding member of several gay activist groups and a regular contributing author for several homosexual blogs.

Having a lousy mathematician as a political party leader becomes a problem when he thinks that somehow reaching out to 2% of the population will grow his party while he offends 34% of his party that identify themselves as evangelical Christians. Someone should ask Mr. John, how many homosexuals among their 2 to 3% of the US population, actually vote Republican, and if embracing one of their more radical leaders is a smart or a risky political move.  After all, when the Indianapolis Republicans surprised many observers with an election sweep in 2007 that put them back in control of the city-county council, only one Republican lost. That councilor was the most pro-homosexual member of the caucus. Scott Keller had authored and repeatedly pushed a sexual orientation ordinance. He even had a booth at the Indy Pride Festival and a car in the hedonistic gay pride parade. This otherwise talented and well-funded campaigner got trounced in a Republican sweep.

One may ask what the GOP leadership is thinking if it now supports Chris Douglas given the losing record of their last failed diversity experiment with Scott Keller. Well, perhaps Chairman John is now trying to get Julia Carson supporters to back the Indianapolis GOP. Chris Douglas has been a consistent Julia Carson supporter. In a blog post less than a year ago, and one the year before, Mr. Douglas tells homosexual readers that he had always voted for Democrat Congresswoman Julia Carson when she ran against Republican candidates with lesser “humanity” like Marvin Scott, Gary Hofmeister and Brose McVey. But he did not stop there. Douglas also admitted that he was also a financial supporter of Representative Carson’s.

In this post and others, Chris Douglas, advises homosexual readers not to vote for any GOP candidate if it means that the Republican Party might gain the majority. So, when it most matters to his party, this Republican candidate, (who recently attempted to become a State Senator in another Republican vacancy vote) recommends voting Democratic.

Contrary to what one must assume about the GOP chairman’s naïve support of this council candidate,Chris even told homosexuals to reject Republicans who share their own views on gay rights. Douglas explains that he was not only a faithful Julia Carson supporter but he also refused to support Republican Jon Elrod for State Representative. Representative Elrod was the most pro-gay Republican state legislators to serve in a decade. (Like Scott Keller, he too was only elected once.) Yet, Douglas never supported him. Why? It could be because he wants Democrats to hold political power while he blurs the political and philosophical lines in the minds of voters, and undermines the GOP.   Perhaps, Douglas’ motivation may found in his blog statement that “the House Republican caucus is a great threat to the Constitution.”

Douglas also tells readers in a posted response to his own article that he “is not a supporter of the Bush Administration.” So one has to wonder, why would the GOP want an office holder who doesn’t support the party at the local or national level and has used his influence to help elect Democrats? Isn’t that exactly what voters are sick and tired of? If the Marion County GOP leadership wants someone to hold a council seat who supports Democrats, maybe they should be honest with voters actually and actually hand the council seat to an open Democrat. (There are certainly good and honorable ones to choose from.) However, if Chairman Tom John is so self-loathing that he wants his party commit suicide then go ahead and give the council seat to a homosexual activist like Chris Douglas who will drive social conservatives away from the party and who advises those whom he influences to vote for and support Democrats just as he has been doing all along behind the scenes.

Evan Bayh Says Goodbye to the US Senate
As you know, the big political news this week was the announcement of Senator Evan Bayh that he will not seek re-election. There is a lot of speculation about why a relatively popular incumbent with $12 million in his campaign war chest would quit. The constant political talk this week surrounds who will run for his seat on the Democrat side, and which of the Republicans will win the May primary.

I have never been a fan of Senator Bayh’s political views and his voting record on issues such as life or marriage protection. His consistent support of the Clinton and Obama Administrations contradict his image as a moderate. However, if this is the closing of a political legacy, then it is a time to commend a public servant who always held every office with dignity, free from personal scandal and dishonor.   Evan Bayh leaves office with something AFA of Indiana stands for which too many public officials have found that they have sacrificed only after it was too late. By all accounts the Senator has been blessed with a wonderful family, a lovely wife a two great twin boys whom he obviously adores. His love for his family often comes out in his interviews and comments. My prayer for our Senator is that he can spend time with his family, set aside politics for at least a while, and enjoy what truly matters most in this world.

Parental Rights Issue Appears in Legislature
I will focus on the Indiana General Assembly in next week’s AFA-IN email, but I had a legislator ask me to look into two pieces of legislation that are moving through the Indiana House and Senate simultaneously. Senate Bill 59 and House Bill 1055 concern the delicate matter of parental rights during custody and divorce cases. Both bills concern the issue of grandparent visitation and rights. There can be cases made from a family perspective both in support and opposition to these two bills. The intent of the supporters is to alleviate some of the litigation ordeals some grandparents may go through in an effort to visit their grandkids in a difficult situation involving marital dissolution, parental death or remarriage.

Opponents argue that parents should have the presumptive right regarding who will care for or associate with their children and that there may be legitimate reasons for their choices about visitation.
Both grandparent visitation bills are moving through the process. You may want to read these bills and contact your legislators with your views on this matter. You can look up these bills and your legislators at this General Assembly link: http://www.in.gov/legislative/index.htm

Grassroots Event this Saturday
Here is a final reminder about the grassroots training event this Saturday morning that is being hosted by the Indianapolis TEA party. Learn more about the event and registration at http://www.indianapolisteaparty.com

No related posts.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 2:15 pm and is filed under Congressional Races, Politics, Pro-life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.