Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy and politics go hand-in-hand. Jefferson wrote, “All men are created equal…” while possessing slaves and fathering children by one of them. We still love you, Tom. Bill Clinton insisted, “I did not have sex with that woman Miss Lewinsky” then qualified it with “It depends on what your definition of “is” is”. That Yale Law School degree was not wasted on you, Bill. Trump said, “I don’t know Stormy Daniels” while his “fixer” presented her with $140 K to keep quiet. No excuses. You’re simply an idiot, Donnie.

Last Wednesday, Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn Thompson voted against the Respect for Marriage Act which reaffirmed same sex marriage. He toed the party line with 157 other House Republicans. Glenn would never be re-elected if he could be seen as “soft on homosexuality”. Two days later. Glenn and his wife attended their son’s marriage to another man. Glenn was unapologetic. In a press release, he stated, “We are thrilled to celebrate our son’s marriage as he begins this new chapter in his life.”

Glenn’s staff attempted to minimize the damage with a subsequent press release. “The Gay Marriage Bill was nothing more than a “messaging stunt” for the Democrats in Congress who have failed to address historic inflation and out-of-control prices at gas pumps and at grocery stores!”

That “messaging stunt” became necessary when Clarence Thomas suggested that previous Supreme Court decisions legalizing same-sex marriage and even contraception on the Federal level should be reconsidered and tossed back to the states just like abortion was. Imagine having to cross state lines to purchase prophylactics. Glenn Thompson’s son would be eligible to visit his spouse in a New York ICU (Immediate family only) but not in Pennsylvania. What the hell were you thinking, Clarence?

Before Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi and other deep red states begin competing with each other to restrict same sex marriage, Congress should pass a law legalizing it.

The current “historic inflation” has been blamed on a number of things — Biden’s stimulus spending, COVID, Putin’s war, supply chain issues, and others. I was not aware that Gay Marriage was among the reasons for $5 per gallon gas and 33% more expensive eggs. Now that abortion is illegal in many states, maybe McDonald’s hamburgers will go back to 15 cents. Hot Button social issues near and dear to Republicans must be the cause of inflation. Who knew?

When a politician’s hypocrisy is revealed, the standard response is to shift the public’s focus with a “what about?” “I support my son’s gay marriage, but no one else’s. What about inflation though?” I wish I could vote against you, Glenn.

By Ed Dufton