Posted on 04/28/2003 2:25:50 PM PDT by Remedy
The Rick Santorum controversy has illuminated a serious problem in the Republican Party: its leaders seem woefully ill-prepared to defend the pro-family position on homosexuality. As an attorney who trains pro-family activists how to debate this issue, I would like to offer my fellow Republicans the following advice.
First, don't dodge the issue in fear of political correctness or pro-"gay" media bias. Stand confidently upon the essential pro-family presuppositions that resonate with people of common sense: 1) normality is that which functions according to its design, 2) the heterosexual design of the human body and the natural family is self-evident, 3) respecting the design of life produces good results (conversely, rejecting that design produces bad results) and 4) simple observation validates these assumptions. No special education or "scientific" study is required.
Failure to articulate the logic of our position cedes the moral and intellectual battleground to the militant "gays," and leaves the impression (even among our own supporters) that we have no reasonable response, other than religious belief, to their attack on family values.
Second, contest the hidden false assumption underlying most pro-"gay" arguments that homosexuality is immutable. We have a strong case on this point since 1) proponents of the "gays are born that way" justification for normalizing homosexuality bear the burden of proof, 2) proof is absolutely necessary due to the severity of social change which is contemplated by their demands, 3) proponents cannot prove that homosexuality is immutable (Indeed, ex-homosexuals can prove that it is not.), 3) if homosexuality is not immutable, then logically it must be acquired (children being the most likely to acquire the condition because of their vulnerability to social conditioning), and 4) society must err on the side of caution, actively discouraging the normalization of homosexuality in order to protect children and others from the possibility of acquiring a homosexual condition with its attendant health risks.
Third, expose the deceptive terms, such as sexual orientation, diversity and homophobia, which are used by pro-"gay" proponents to confuse the issue and control the debate. This requires nothing but making them define their terms at the start of argument, then focusing the debate on clarifying the definitions and exposing their illogic and hypocrisy.
Consider sexual orientation, for example. Does orientation mean "state of mind" or conduct? If it includes conduct, which conduct? Does it include sodomy? Fisting? Rimming? Sadism? If not, why not? Regarding diversity, what is the standard used to decide who gets to be in the circle of inclusion? They don't have one, but you'll have fun with this -- especially if they attempt to draw the line at "hate" groups. What is their definition of hate? (and by that definition, do they "hate" us and thereby invalidate their own membership in the community of diversity?) Speaking of hate, remember that they have defined homophobia as "hate and fear of homosexuals." Ask them to identify some examples of non-homophobic opposition to homosexuality. They can't do it because they define all opposition as "homophobic." Do they really believe that disapproval of sodomy/rimming/fisting/sadism is irrational bigotry? You get the idea. You'll find that this technique derails virtually every pro-"gay" argument because each one relies on deceptive rhetoric.
Fourth and finally, get off the defensive and take the offensive on the homosexual issue by purging "gay" activism from the Republican Party. The implicit goal of the "gay" movement is the normalization of an anything-goes sexual morality -- the antithesis of the family values so dear to our Republican base. Instead of inviting into our tent the very constituency that many Republicans have spent years and fortunes opposing, why not conduct a meaningful family-values outreach to ethnic minorities? Let the Democrats continue to be the party of sexual deviance and let us exploit that identification to woo away their healthy families to the higher Republican standard.
What is needed from Republican leaders is articulate, confident and continual advocacy of the pro-family world view. Without it, we might as well say farewell to Rick Santorum and other defenders of family values, because if things continue as they are, these courageous people will have no place in the future GOP, the Gays' Other Party.
They also die earlier,on an average 7 years before the non-smoker. This is financially beneficial to society since they pay into Social Security until they retire but then die seven yeas before the average thus saving all those government payments they would have received.
Now you may argue that homosexuals die twenty years sooner than the average American male;however,they die before they retire so they are not helping defray expenses of SS because their premature death stops their payments to the program.
You might also consider that I have heard managers say (when one could still talk about it) that they had hired homosexuals but would not do it again. Seems they could expect a married person would probably not get divorced more than once and would use time for lawyers and some time off for stress but homosexuals had a bad relationship that required time off every six weeks.
I am generalizing but just want you to have some other information.
Private consensual acts include incest. They also include bestiality. I take it you're against a prohibition on both? (And don't try the bogus 'animals can't consent to sex' argument; they can't consent to being killed and eaten either, but we do that)
We pass many laws whose prosecution is made very difficult by the constitution or sheer practicality. Of all the instances when someone exceeeds the speed limit, how many are prosecuted? 0.01%? Do we argue against speed limits because to really enforce them we'd need massively intrusive action by law enforcement? Nope; we prosecute the speeders we catch, and hope that acts as a general deterrent.
Wow,then you go read through his 26 page post and tell me how it answers my question. Ok?
I'm not going to it.
I simply asked him to document his claim that it costs more to treat an AIDS patient than any other disease.
All that requires is a short list of the average cost of treatment per AIDS patient, compared to the next few most expensive diseases on the list...and then cite a source for the information.
Anyone could do that in a few brief sentences.
If they actually knew the answer.
The idea that I'm supposed to sift through a 26 page article to find info to support somebody elses argument.. well it's just not going to happen. It didn't even have a freakin title.
Most of those with expensive health care problems now, did most of their smoking back when cigarette taxes were still low...and when it comes to those who are working, health insurance premiums are not paid by taxes anyway.
Sure, high cigarette taxes do help fund a lot of govt expenses....bu I am against these huge increases in so called sin taxes. What are they going to do next...raise taxes on McDonalds because hamburgers are unhealthy?
That is however another debate. Your point is well taken.
Of course not. There are numerous acts that we all agree should be criminal, that can indeed be committed in private.
I don't think anyone is arguing that because something can be committed in private, we therefore must make it legal.
We pass many laws whose prosecution is made very difficult by the constitution or sheer practicality. Of all the instances when someone exceeeds the speed limit, how many are prosecuted? 0.01%? Do we argue against speed limits because to really enforce them we'd need massively intrusive action by law enforcement? Nope; we prosecute the speeders we catch, and hope that acts as a general deterrent.
This is reasonable.
But when it comes to homosexuality and adultery, I don't think the issue of legality is merely a pragmatic one when it comes to enforcement...but that the majority of Americans simply don't want people arrested and jailed for such things even if police happen upon such acts while in their house for some other reason.
And that is of course the circumstance of the case Santorum was commenting on.
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