Winners & Losers in GOP Platform
At a recent campaign stop, Paul Ryan repeated a common conservative talking point in this election: “Government’s job is not to pick winners and losers in the economy.” No, but apparently Republicans think it’s their job to pick winners and losers in society more broadly — which is exactly what their new party platform does.
Republicans apparently welcome an expansive and intrusive role for government in engineering and re-engineering our social norms and relationships. Nowhere is that more clear than in the proposed 2012 Republican Party platform, which one platform committee member boasted is “the most conservative platform in modern history”. Here’s a look at who should win and who should lose in America, according to the Republican Party:
Losers: Gay people
The Republican platform committee rejected the input of gay Republican groups and embraced the extremist language of conservative hate groups to write that the battle over marriage equality is “an assault on the foundations of our society, challenging the institution which, for thousands of years in virtually every civilization, has been entrusted with the rearing of children and the transmission of cultural values”. And rather than hiding behind a feigned moderate position that gay rights issues should be left to the states, the draft platform activists “applaud the citizens of the majority of States which have enshrined in their constitutions the traditional concept of marriage, and we support the campaigns underway in several other states to do so”. The Party also embraces altering the United States Constitution to take away rights from loving, same-sex couples. The platform section then goes on to insult not only gay families but single-parent households before ending with an ironic assertion that “all Americans should be treated with respect and dignity” — an assertion wholly undercut by the platform itself.
Winners: Fertilized eggs
While the Republican Party platform would take rights away from loving gay couples, the party would give more rights to fertilized eggs — promoting a constitutional “personhood” amendment to declare that, at the moment of conception, a microscopic fetus has the same legal rights and protections as living, breathing human being. The consequence of such a measure would be to not only to ban all abortions but restrict certain forms of birth control and fertility treatments and, potentially, subject women who even inquire about abortion services to criminal penalties. And despite the fact that over three-quarters of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in all or some cases, the Republican Party platform bans all abortions outright with no exceptions in cases of rape or incest.
Losers: Women in the military
Not only are women directly affected by the Republican platform’s draconian, anti-choice positions, the draft platform condemns “social experimentation” in the military and would move to keep women soldiers off the front lines of combat. Notably, the platform committee tried to paint this as an effort to protect women’s rights: “We support the advancement of women in the military…[and] We support women’s exemption from direct ground combat units and infantry battalions.” It’s very kind of the Republican Party to want to support women to not get hurt by bumping their heads on the glass ceiling of opportunity by, benevolently, moving opportunities for women further out of reach.
Winners: Military contractors
Apparently not reluctant to “socially engineer” the United States Constitution, the Republican Party platform endorses a constitutional amendment that would make it infinitely more difficult, if not impossible, for our government to raise taxes. Yet, while the anti-choice amendment does not include any exceptions in cases of rape or incest, the tax amendment does include an exception — for military spending. And so while the Republican Party wants to downgrade the rights and liberties of women who have been raped and gay couples, it wants to protect the ability of military contractors (and donors) to bilk taxpayers. How else would the supposedly deficit-cutting GOP be able to propose increasing defense spending during a recession, as Paul Ryan does in his House budget plan.
Losers: Police
Of course, if you don’t allow the government to raise taxes — ever — then it becomes hard to pay for vital public services like police and firefighters, for which many cities and states rely on federal spending to subsidize. This is a problem for unemployment, which despite over 29 months of consistent private sector job growth, has remained high largely because of public sector layoffs. What’s more, especially in tough economic times, not only are Americans more reliant on public spending like food stamps and unemployment checks, but cutting public jobs means cutting the spending that those workers put into our communities and small businesses. But certainly, in the wake of so many mass shooting incidents, Republicans must see the need for police and first responders who can make sure our kids get to school safely without needing to pack heat, right? Wrong…
Winners: Gun vigilantes
Although many police oppose so-called “Stand Your Ground” laws, the GOP platform embraces such laws and supports federal legislation to extend carry laws. And, in a sign that conservatives are more allegiant to ideology than facts, the head of the Family Research Council secured a plank in the Republican platform that would expand gun rights in the District of Columbia — in spite of the fact that the FRC was the recent target of a shooting. While even the vast majority of NRA members and other gun owners support basic, common sense gun laws, the Republican platform would put more guns in more people’s hands and let them use them in more legal ways — and yet limit the number of cops ensuring public safety.
In the Republican Party vision for the future of America, there are very clear winners and losers. This isn’t hyperbole. This isn’t a misrepresentation. This is the draft Republican Party platform, the clearest statement of the party’s priorities, crafted by its most prominent and celebrated leaders. If Republicans really object to government picking winners and losers, they should stop enshrining social castes in their party platform. And if Republicans really object to being labeled extremists, they should stop pursuing such an extremist agenda.
If you like it, share it!
36 Responses to Winners & Losers in GOP Platform
Leave a Reply
NEW YORK TIMES PROFILE
SOCIALIZE WITH ME!
TV DOESN’T PAY THE BILLS
Make a tax-deductible contribution via our fiscal sponsor, the Grassroots Policy Project
Thank you for this well-written op-ed which is spot on.
Thank you for a well written article.
According to the Republicans–Sperm meets egg, and says-”Hi we are now a Person”. That is what comes from the Paul Ryan & Akin “Personhood” bill, that was wandering around the House of Represenatives. Can we say, undereducated, illinformed Religious Zelotts, that have no right to be in any position of power?
I don’t find the critisisms well thought out or accurate. These statements, mind you, are coming from a pragmatic radical, she proudly admits it! Arrogance infiltrates all her opinions and she states them as if they are factually correct when infact, she does not correctly show us where she gets her info! Key to being able to identify a radical extremes: the tone is self rightous even when it comes to defining whether or not a fetus (because it is not yet able to breath on it’s own..which opens the discussion to ethenasia..) has more or less rights than an already able bodied breather. So, this is what it boils down to..if you can breath, you can live? Typical radical. I could go on, but I’m mad enough that we give air time to ignorant people who can’t do anything but critisize the conservative side. The conservatives are always attacked vehimently for everything they say or do regardless of the truth. What of Janet Reno and her play money? Immigration fiascos? GSA partying on our dime..Overturning the Texas voter ID law suit filed by Eric Holder..so all with brown skin can vote regardless of identification. Nope, you’ll never hear a word of condemnation about these crimes! The bad thing about the last point on the voter ID for those folks with “brown” enough skin, your skin is white enough when your about to get on a plane or to buy some beer!
That’s because this Kohn woman and her groupies think they can play God as to who lives and who does not. Could be that they think we came from aliens and that there is no God.
Roberta: pragmatic is a good thing, go look it up. Vehement is spelled with three 3s. Ms. Kohn doesn’t need references when she is reviewing the bill. The BILL is her reference. “In fact” is not one word. People infiltrate, not thoughts. “Conservatives are attacked regardless of the truth.” Tell the truth, and maybe there won’t be anything to attack. “Brown skin people can vote regardless of identification.” WTF, lady. Could you be less informed and more bigoted? If a brown person is a citizen they can vote. There is almost no proof of voter fraud and the bill targets brown skinned people who are bigoted, like yourself.
You don’t find her critisisms well thought out or accurate ? Your final words don’t even make sense…what crimes? No one has been able to show anything of any significance with regard to voter fraud and those that have been demonstrated wouldn’t be covered by an ID law anyway
….after that you simply degenerated into some sort of racist diatribe, I guess that’s what it was…it was pretty intelligible
I too consider many of my views as conservative but I believe that God is inclusive. I believe that life begins at conception…. actually the word “fetus” is “baby” in Latin (ironically). In His infinite love our Creator allows us free choice, with that it is our obligation and sacred duty to educate ourselves independently of party and use our beautiful minds to sift out universal truths that undergird the vision of our founding fathers. It is our covenant responsibility ratified by sacrifice that we include the weaker of our citizenship’s voices in the process. Who knows exclusion may come knocking at your door someday in the way of the big insurance companies denying you healthcare perhaps for some future ailment. In that moment, I don’t think you would be concerned about the color of your brown sisters and brothers——only that they showed up for you.
We owe it to ourselves and the gift of citizenship to vet the rhetoric. Around the world, people die every day for the opportunities we almost “knee jerk” take for granted. We are in this thing together. This includes the brown people, black people, Asians, immigrants…all of whom built this country, laboring at jobs that are invisible to the naked eye but fundamental all the same
We are the great experiment, handed a voting ballot to effect change peacefully…Please please as a citizen of this great country …dig for the truth
well i have noticed that the people that are all for abortion have already been born
Ronald Reagan.
Apparently intelligent life did not start when your egg was fertilized.
“well i have noticed that the people that are all for abortion have already been born
Ronald Reagan”
Ronald Reagan’s dead he can’t here you anymore.
“here” you anymore?
Damn! even responding to you people lowers a person’s intelligence !
I agree as well, I hope people learn to get their own independant information so that they understand that its 95% of us that will pay the price for some of these gop policies
In you description of Paul Ryan’s speech you seemed to like words starting with the letter D. Well, here’s one for you…………….DIKE. Make that large ugly opinionated dike.
what planet are you on? planet of evangelical pigs!
Hmm..Having trouble coming out of the closet are we?
Talk about cow dung — your piece is a big cow pie! Typical distorted reality of someone so immersed in bias that their twisted, set-in-concrete mental filter results in conclusions only distantly related to reality. I have three words for your Ryan piece: bull dung, frazzled, and ridiculous. Your version of logic is why I could never be a radical liberal. You have much more in common with a raving evangelical preacher than you know.
you are a asshole!!
why don’t you analyze the words full of lies of Obama and see . open your eyes before is to late for the country , o you don’t dare, the lgl is trying to spoil all the apples in the bucket because that way you’ll fell more normal and accepted, or are you afraid of black people like most Americans you been emotionally blackmailed with the race card. at least be honest .
Fox News should put you and Juan Williams in the same box and mail you to Obama Land. This country is in real trouble financially and if we stay on the course we are on we will surely become a socialist country. We need a change and it is not Obama for a second term. Open your ears and eyes and become aware of what the last four years have been, excessive spending, lies, promises which never came to past and more promises and pleas to give Obama another chance to do what, more of the same until he runs America into the ground. Hopefully, Americans are waking up and see that our future and our freedoms are at stake and we cannot let that happen.
you are a moron
Guess you did not want my post to be seen. I gave the required fields.
How does calling each other names further understanding? If you disagree with someone’s statement, rather than name-calling, respond with actual facts (?) hard as it may seem. Then I’d have some respect for your response(s).
Shut the fuck up Garry! What you want to have discussion like an adult? Go to fuck town and go fuck yourself! You must of got brain washed by your liberal socialist college professors.
Ah, yes Michael – clearly Garry has wasted so much effort educating himself. Your cogent message makes that so clear!.
Thank you for giving us such clarity on your reasoning.
Sally,
A friend posted your latest on fb and it’s getting liked by some wonderfully intelligent people. I posted a link to your site and there is a buzz… we love where your coming from and the sanity you are adding to the current political discourse. We are all starved for dignity and thoughtfulness- Thank you!
Sarah
The liberal media strikes again! What a surprise!
@linn, She works for Fox News… so, blame your right wing conservative media for publishing her article!
She sounds like an atheist to me, trying to make sure Obama gets back in.
I never did care for Sally Hanson< omg!!! I meant Sally Kohn lol D= Different . So, what is your problem? Get a REAL LIFE.
It is obvious you are a Democrat. you should have given your opinion stating up front…. Views from a Democrat. Bill Mayer speaks and says what you say, but we know he is an extreme liberal. Your opinion has seeds of Bill Mayer. Three Words about Kohn… biased, blameful, batty.
I love these replies. Nothing but name calling and claims of her being inaccurate. How about some actual facts people? It seems most of you have no idea what you’re getting when you vote for Romney. Just about all of what she posted is based on policies that he and Ryan support.
Hmm no idea what this bear is in my pic. Never posted here before
Like I said to Garry. Shut the fuck up William! What you want to have discussion like an adult? Go to fuck town and go fuck yourself! You must of got brain washed by your liberal socialist college professors.
Thank you. Please do not be dissuaded by name calling ideologues.
The best way to refute Sally is to present factual information. Just the facts folks. Opinions are not facts. Profanity has no bearing on facts. Show me the facts where Sally is wrong. Read the GOP platform. Regardless of political affiliation, the Fact Check web site can help in sorting out truthful and fallacious statements. Most news organizations are truthful in their material, their reputation depends on it. Talk show hosts are mostly provocateurs, so don’t rely on them unless they provide factual information. Thank you
Let me quote Barack Obama from his acceptance speech: “If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.” Make it about the little stuff.
Stop being pawns.
It’s nice to see the research showing conservatives are less intelligent being born out in the field.
Lower Cognitive Ability Predicts Greater Prejudice Through Right-Wing Ideology and Low Intergroup Contact – Psychological Science http://pss.sagepub.com/content/23/2/187