When Republicans Don’t Take the High Road (updated)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on June 22, 2009
Another update, August 21, 2009: Michelle Malkin: The bottom line on Tom Ridge: Weasel
Updated, June 24 – July 1: Now we can add lovelorn, sniveling Republican Gov. Mark Sanford to the list, disappearing without a word during Father’s Day weekend and worrying his family and other lawmakers, all for his extramarital affair rendezvous with a “dear friend” in Argentina… that’s just peachy.
Michelle Malkin: Dear Mark Sanford: Buy a one-way ticket to Argentina already and be gone and Bastard and Two disappearing acts, one tabloid circus and The dignity of Jenny vs. the jerkitude of Mark
Hot Air: Sanford: I “crossed lines” with other women too. Also, Maria’s my soulmate and Video: The freaky deaky Mark Sanford press conference; Update: Wife told him to leave two weeks ago; Update: SC paper reprints e-mails to mistress and Sanford implodes, admits affair
The Wide Awake Cafe: Gov. Mark Sanford and his “Dear, Dear Friend”
Neoavatara: Republicans Behaving Badly
Associated Press: AP Investigation: ‘Frugal’ SC gov flew in style
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When I read about a Republican who’s been a heartless jerk, has been caught cheating on his or her spouse, has ruthlessly backstabbed a party colleague for nothing more than political gain, has been caught misappropriating/stealing funds or getting caught in a whopping lie, I usually become more disappointed and riled than I do about Democrats doing the same thing (like John Edwards, that cheating low-life). Fair or not, I expect Republicans and/or conservatives to strive to do the right thing, to always opt to “take the high road.” I don’t expect the same of liberal Democrats. Most in government are unscrupulous and until caught, enjoy breaking those pesky rules and laws. And from what I’ve seen, they don’t expect it of each other.
But, I expect Republicans to always strive to take “the high road.” To serve as an example, to rise above the gutter. To live a life of honor and integrity. Not expecting perfection, mind you, but I’m expecting behavior and principles that strive to be close to it.
So, last week, when I originally heard about this first story about an idiot Republican, I was flabbergasted and angry. Then I read the full Boston Herald accounting posted here.
First, the story:
Boston Herald: South Carolina pol: Sorry for comparing Michelle Obama to gorilla
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A former chairman of the South Carolina Election Commission has apologized after his posting on Facebook suggested a gorilla that escaped from a Columbia zoo was an ancestor of first lady Michelle Obama.
Minutes after the gorilla’s escape was reported Friday, Rusty DePass posted: “I’m sure it’s just one of Michelle’s ancestors — probably harmless.”
The comment has since been deleted, but DePass confirmed to WIS-TV that he made it, apologizing and saying it was a joke about statements Obama has made about evolution.
DePass is a former chairman of the Richland County Republican Party. He didn’t respond to a phone message Saturday from The Associated Press.
Former state Republican chairman Katon Dawson says the comment was sad and disappointing
Originally, I had heard that DePass had said that Michelle Obama looked like a gorilla. Now, based on what he had stupidly posted on his Facebook account (when will idiotic people learn that whatever you put on social network sites are for the whole friggin’ world to see?), I see that he said an escaped gorilla from a zoo was probably a harmless ancestor of Michelle’s.
Not as incendiary nor racist as I had originally believed, but still stupid and “low road.” Assuming DePass’s “evolution” tie-in is indeed truthful—I’m a bit skeptical—that runaway gorilla is also an ancestor of mine, yours, and every one else on Earth. However, lest we forget, prior to the Civil Rights Movement, and for a number of years following it, derogatory, demeaning terms for blacks included such hateful things as the N-word and “gorillas” and other similar nasty things. These ugly names should be long-since buried and forgotten, never to be used again.
I haven’t seen liberal blogosphere coverage about this. Perhaps cooler heads are prevailing, because with just a bit of liberal media manipulation, this could take on a hideous life of its own. It was a blatantly stupid thing for DePass to write. Don’t care if someone is Republican or Democrat. This is not acceptable. Everyone makes mistakes, but this was beyond a mere mistake. He has apologized, and I believe he is sorry, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for him.
And now, this piece of trash. Read and see what is on this blog: La Shawn Barber’s Corner: Spook President.
To quote La Shawn:
Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw. Funny stuff. We get it. All the other presidents are white, and Obama’s a spook because he’s half-black. Very original.
Goforth says she sent it to the wrong list. You sure did, honey. Best of luck dealing with the fall-out of your stupendously stupid actions. Get ready for all the venom leftists will heap upon you. They think you’re a racist anyway because you’re a Republican.
I’m not posting the racist graphic here. La Shawn eloquently smacks Sherri Goforth, the legislative aide to Republican Tennessee senator Diane Black of District 18, upside the head for sending this racist graphic out in an email. Goforth said it went out “to the wrong e-mail list.” Like that makes it OK… no, Sherri, you twit, it doesn’t. Not only is this racially biased, but this was, I’m assuming, sent while you were SUPPOSE to be working. Since you work for the Tennessee taxpayers, this means you were frittering your work time while the hardworking folks in TN paid your salary. Not a wise thing to do, especially during this economic turmoil and people losing jobs left and right.
Criticize Obama and his wife and others for their politics, their ideologies, their actions. Do not attack someone because of their race or gender or religion. We’re expected to be better than that. Judge the content of someone’s character.
Are there Republicans or conservatives who are racists? Of course. Regrettable, but true. Are all Republicans racist, as Janeane Garofalo and Keith Olbermann and Al Sharpton ardently believe? Of course not.
But the “low road” behavior cited here makes me and millions of other Republicans/conservatives ashamed of people in my party… I had to say it out loud. Republicans, you have decided to be “the good guys.” You’ve disappointed us when you give in to behavior like this. Not only should you be espousing others to take the high road, but you have the responsibility to live by and act upon your purported principles. Even when it’s not convenient, when taking the low road is easier.
Otherwise, you’re no better than the other hypocrites.
Additional reading:
Jim Blazsik: The Republican case for Traditional Marriage: a response to Maura Flynn
PAWaterCooler.com: Tom Ridge – The Latest Bushie to Make Stuff Up to Sell Books
Michelle Malkin: Republicans: Clean your own house and Ensign continues to drag GOP down and Lying Sanford’s days are numbered. Hurry up. and Dear Mark Sanford: Buy a one-way ticket to Argentina already and be gone and Bad taste award and and GOP govs, stimulus strings, and the legality of the Punish Mark Sanford Amendment
Ztower: John Edwards’ Mistress Testifies Before A Grand Jury And I’m Reminded How Much I Dislike Charlie Gibson. Sorry, That’s Just How My Mind Works!
Law Of Increasing Conservatism: You Stay Classy
Michael McGruther, Big Hollywood: Moral Relativism; The Liberal Lynchpin
Jeffrey Jena, Big Hollywood: The Real Housewife of South Carolina
The Other McCain: Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reached for comment
Teh Resistance Blog: Compassion, What a Concept
About the author
I’m not sure what all the fuss is about? The fact that Conservatives are involved with sex scandals, at least their doing it with members of the opposite sex and are of legal age. For Conservatives…that’s progress!
Now we got this ACU and Norquist’s “Americans For Tax Reform” involved in pay to play politics. “Americans For Tax Reform” must have charged UPS quite a bit of money for these tea parties.