Anti-Gay Politicians Watch 6: “Red State” report

Pictured (l-r): Melissa Westmoreland (UNCG CR President), Daryn Iwicki (UNCG CR Vice President), Representative Dale Folwell (NC-74), Vernon Robinson (Candidate, US Congressional District 13), Michael Moore (Candidate, NC-65), Jim Rumley (Candidate, NC-59), Representative Laura Wiley (NC-61), Marcus Kindley (Guilford Co. GOP Chair), Bob Crumley (Candidate, NC Attorney General).

So… as I promised, here is my post regarding the UNCG College Republican’s “Red State Day”, the Monday kick-off event for their “Morals Week”.

In an earlier post I had told you all that I would try to give an LGBT Issues Questionnaire to all the representatives and candidates present at the event. I was so caught up in talking to people that I was just not able to get around to all the representatives and candidates, but I was able to give the questionnaire to Represenative Laura Wiley (NC-61), candidate Jim Rumley (NC-59) and Bob Crumley, a 2008 candidate for NC Attorney General. Hopefully the three will fill out the form and send it back so that LGBT and LGBT-friendly voters can get a sense of where these folks stand. I did try to give the questionnaire to US Congressional District 13 candidate Vernon Robinson but he refused saying that he had hardly had the time to fill out papers for groups with which he agrees. I guess that Robinson really doesn’t need to fill out the questionnaire, though. I’m pretty sure everyone knows just about where he stands on LGBT issues.

During my short chat with him, one of the points Robinson was adamant about making was that he is sure of his ability to oust Congressman Brad Miller, the Democratic incumbent. One of the things he mentioned to me during that pre-function meet and greet was that one of the biggest rules in political campaigns is that the incumbent never recognizes the opponent. According to Robinson, Congressman Miller has already messed up on this point. But… I was able to get my handshake (two years in the making). I told Robinson I had been waiting on that handshake for a long time, too. He responded saying that he was trying to make a “political statement” by ignoring me that day in April 2004 outside of the Old Hickory Council, BSA, headquarters.

In his keynote speech Robinson continued to spout his anti-gay rhetoric, claiming that unlike his opponent he stands firmly against “homosexual rights” such as marriage. Other issues, like Congressman Miller’s support for the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (which Robinson calls the “Foreign Homosexuals Importation Act”), is something that would help him to get elected come November. Robinson calims that up to 90% of Miller’s constituency would disagree on his stances and voting record when it comes to homosexual rights and he is surely going to try to use Miller’s fair and principled voting record against him.

At one point in his sermon.. *cough**cough*… I mean, speech… Robinson started to outline what he says are the primary “differences between the center-right majority and the left”. The biggest difference, or so he claims, is that the left believes people are naturally good, while the center-right holds that people are inherently “sinful” and are “flawed sinners”. Now, I’m sure there is some truth to that statement, but I just don’t think terms like “sin” (a religious, Christian term) has any place in politics and the workings of the government. I also hold that there is no place for Robinson’s insistence of a “centrality of religion” in government, by which I am sure he meant a centrality of Christianity. There is nothing wrong with Christianity (heck, I am a Christian) or religion. I think that religion should be able to be celebrated openly, but unlike Robinson, I believe that one should NOT force his or her religious beliefs onto another person.

During Robinson’s rant about the differences between the left and the “center-right majority” Robinson noted the comparison between the ACLU (according to him the “Anti-Christian Litigating Unit”) fighting what he believes are good, Christian organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and then, on the other hand, defending groups like NAMBLA (The North American Man-Boy Love Association). When I asked him why he had compared homosexuals to pedophiles, Robinson denied he did so, but I beg to differ. By comparing the ACLU’s litigation against the BSA (based directly upon their membership policies on “avowed homosexuals”, as well as atheists) to the ACLU’s actions regarding NAMBLA, Robinson was, in a sense, lumping together issues involving the gay youth members and leaders of the Boy Scouts with the criminal, psychotic, demented and sickening actions of pedophiles. Point blank: Robinson is playing on people’s fears (and using copyrighted material to do it, too!).

Although Robinson tried saying he hadn’t compared the gays to pedophiles, it is very clear from his campaign materials that he is doing just that:

Brad voted to force these faith-based charities and churches to hire atheists and homosexuals (and even a pedophile who confesses that he supports the political efforts of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) to decriminalize sex with children). (From a Robinson email to supporters)

“As an Eagle Scout, I’ve been very angry at the public war waged on scouting by the homosexual lobby, the North American Man-Boy Love Association and the American Civil Liberties Union,” said Robinson. “This victory is a model for the nation. Hopefully, this will inspire others to demonstrate the courage of their convictions. This is the best birthday present I could ever receive (Robinson turns 45 on Saturday).” (Quote from news article on Robinson’s site)

Notice how the words “homosexual”, “pedophile” and the organization NAMBLA tend to appear right next to each other?

Robinson also went into a long description of what he wants American’s to be able to do: “Live more, Learn more, Earn more and Keep more”. When I asked Robinson why he was opposed to offering same-sex couples marriage (or at least rights and privileges similar to it) so that they could “live more, learn more, earn more and keep more”, he tried his hardest to dodge the question, stating something to the effect of, “Well, those are my beliefs and I believe marriage is between one man and one woman and we just disagree”. Later, after the event and in the auditorium lobby, Robinson told me (I guess in an attempt to show me that he really isn’t anti-gay) that he helped a lesbian couple start a charter school after other officials started to raise objections. At that point I said, “So, you supported this lesbian couple in their effort to start a school but you are unwilling to support them in the efforts to take care of each and their children by granting them marriage or rights and privileges similar to it? Why is that?” Robinson responded saying some worn out, cliche statement about a “slippery slope” (like we all haven’t heard that line before).

I just can’t figure out what makes Robinson tick. If anyone could help me figure it out I’d be greatly appreciative. I can say this one thing for certain though: VOTE FOR BRAD MILLER and stay as far away as possible from Robinson. His views and his political stances are horribly short-sighted, bigoted, homophobic and prejudiced. On the flip side, Congressman Miller is a person who stands up for what it is right. Miller has principle and faith, ones which lead him to stand up for those who are currently, by law and practice, unequal and remanded to a position of second-class citizenship.

But I must say… the entire event wasn’t horrible. Representative Laura Wiley is a very nice lady and one with great passion. One of the things she told stressed to the audience (comprised mainly of college-aged folk) was that we should all continue to be involved and continue to work for what we all believed. She also stressed to us that we all ask ourselves one question: “Why do you want to be involved?” If it is for glamour, she says, then just go ahead and stay away. You know, depending on where she stands on LGBT issues… I think Representative Wiley could just be the type of Republican to which I might (stress on the word “might”) give my vote (well, more like support since I’m not in her district).

Although I am friends with many of the UNCG College Republicans (including most of their executive board) I am really disappointed that they chose to bring such a polarizing and bigoted figure as Robinson. In my opinion, there is no room for hate, bigotry and prejudice within our government. Robinson brings those horrible characteristics and nothing more. A vote for Robinson is a vote for hate and a vote for the demise of our great and wonderful nation.

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Posted in Anti-Gay Politicians Watch |