tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post114717576108959375..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1150772235425497282006-06-19T21:57:00.000-05:002006-06-19T21:57:00.000-05:00Gary, I had no idea you were a closet Leninist! I haven't heard such a spirited version of the make-it-worse-so-the-masses-will-rise-up strategy since the Revolutionary Social Workers gave it up years ago.Marla R. Stevenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17302849430351280361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147299006949906892006-05-10T17:10:00.000-05:002006-05-10T17:10:00.000-05:00Well said Lori.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147298837384665952006-05-10T17:07:00.000-05:002006-05-10T17:07:00.000-05:00Mr. Anonymous I have a question. How does one ride the fence on discrimination and bigotry? If you do nothing, if you ignore it, if you look the other way and do nothing to stop it, you condone it. You may make yourself feel better by thinking otherwise but in reality, that is truly all you are doing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147296401762719852006-05-10T16:26:00.000-05:002006-05-10T16:26:00.000-05:00Ok. I think I understand it now.<BR/><BR/>"You're either with us, or you're against us."<BR/><BR/>Where have I heard that line before? <BR/><BR/>Isn't it funny how nuanced positions transform into unacceptable apostasy the closer they are to home? <BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, to those on the outside, the insistence on Inquisitorial purity looks petty and self-defeating.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147205520249473892006-05-09T15:12:00.000-05:002006-05-09T15:12:00.000-05:00Anonymous--on the question of equality, you are either for it or against it. If civil rights advocates had taken the approach as the GLBT community has taken in Indiana with respect to both Democrats and Republicans, the Rosa Parks would still be sitting at the back of the bus. The so-called middle ground, as you suggest, is to do nothing. A moderate position would be to at least agree on amending our civil rights laws to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, but these so-called moderates can't even do that.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147195742178400232006-05-09T12:29:00.000-05:002006-05-09T12:29:00.000-05:00I'm with Kevin -- show us some examples of this "quiet support" and we'll take that into consideration. But we keep hearing the explanation that negotiations have to take place behind closed doors, and that we "can't strategize publicly" as reasons why we can't be shown examples of such support. I'm not inclined to go along with a "just trust me" explanation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147195678941369402006-05-09T12:27:00.000-05:002006-05-09T12:27:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06748743390966004262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147194263530762542006-05-09T12:04:00.000-05:002006-05-09T12:04:00.000-05:00anonymous,<BR/>please cite examples of this "quiet support" of which you speak.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147193446151656802006-05-09T11:50:00.000-05:002006-05-09T11:50:00.000-05:00Wow--if activists such as the two of you are unwilling to recognize or appreciate even quiet support from moderate R's, then why *should* our party engage in any outreach? In your quest for total acquiescence, you risk alienating the vast majority of people who are somewhere in the middle.<BR/><BR/>When I read posts such as thism it seems to me that you're the ones drawing a line in the sand. As a moderate R on GLBT issues, I see that as a huge mistake.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147192734402824512006-05-09T11:38:00.000-05:002006-05-09T11:38:00.000-05:00In one respect your very right Jerame. If his departure results in more strident efforts to make GLBT second class citizens, it will present an even uglier face of the Republican Party the majority of Hoosiers want no part of. It will also further galvanize the GLBT community to action, as it did so successfully in the fight for passage of Indy's HRO. His departure isn't a loss; it's an opportunity. And we should make the most of it.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1147190934246339482006-05-09T11:08:00.000-05:002006-05-09T11:08:00.000-05:00Agreed, Gary. Garton was not a true enemy ala Brian Bosma, but he certainly was no friend. He may have been pliable here and there on an issue because he didn't care one way or another...But he certainly wasn't ever going to be accused of being a big hearted lug that believes in equality for all citizens. He certainly wasn't trying to moderate his Senate colleagues when it came to the marriage amendment or adoption bans.<BR/><BR/>I say good riddance. Let the true face of the Republican party in Indiana take the lead and show people what they really stand for today. It certainly isn't sound fiscal policy and social moderation.Jerame Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08025077204551965394noreply@blogger.com