Megan McCain: "Joe the Plumber" is a "Dumbass"

If this is any indication, I can't wait to read the full interview with Meghan McCain:

...A recent Washington Post/ABC News poll shows a dramatic rise in support for gay marriage. Nearly half of all Americans in the new poll said they favor legal marriage for same-sex couples, an increase of 13 percentage points since June 2006.

Against those shifting attitudes, the resurfacing of Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher-- who told Christianity Today last month that he won't allow "queers" near his children -- feels comically out of touch rather than menacing. Even his mentor, John McCain, may be softening, to judge from the comments of his daughter Meghan. In an upcoming interview with Out, Ms. McCain draws a solid line between new school Republicans such as herself, who believe in gay marriage, and old schoolers like Wurzelbacher, whom she dismisses as "a dumbass."

I mean, obviously most Democrats and independents know that "Joe the Plumber" (neither named "Joe" nor a licensed "plumber," but be that as it may...) is a bigoted "dumbass" But to hear the daughter of John McCain, who (disgracefully and inexcusably) made "Joe" the centerpiece of his campaign during the fall of 2008, it's striking.

By the way, "Joe," how exactly do you know who the "queers" are in order to keep them away from your children? Also, what are you so worried about, that your kids might watch Adam Lambert on American Idol and suddenly decide that they've been suppressing their inner "queer" all along? Wouldn't your solid, blue-collar, salt-of-the-earth pseudo-plumber "values" prevent that? They wouldn't?!? Yeah, I'm really sorry "Joe," but it looks like the American people are increasingly going for Adam Lambert, Freddie Mercury, Brokeback Montain and Ellen Degeneres over...well, whatever retrogade homophobic bigotry it is you're peddling these days.

Randy Forbes Rants Against Anti-Gay Hate Crimes Legislation

If you can stand it, listen to this garbled piece of tangled syntax and tortured "logic" to get a glimpse of how too many Republicans think, and why increasingly the GOP is the party of a right-wing minority and not much else. In this case, it's Rep. Randy Forbes (R-4) ranting against hate crimes legislation to protect gays and lesbians.

Meanwhile, the Washington Times reports:

The U.S. Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop is among hundreds of clergy members urging Congress to support gay rights, including the passage of an expanded hate crimes bill that would give gay victims of violence new federal protections.

Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire and more than 300 clergy of various faiths plan to spend Tuesday on Capitol Hill lobbying lawmakers to push through a bill that broadens the definition of hate crimes to include those motivated by a person's sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. The legislation was passed by the House last week.

Clergy also will push for legislation providing protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Great work by the clergy. Shame on Randy Forbes and his fellow Republicans who "think" (using the term loosely) like he does.

Time to Repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell"

This article just emphasizes the point even further:

The Army fired 11 soldiers in January for violating the military's policy that gay service members must keep their sexuality hidden, according to a Virginia congressman.

It's time for this policy to end and for anyone who wants to serve their country to be able to do so, openly and honestly as the people they are.

h/t: Left of the Hill