First, there was the incendiary remarks of Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema from Michigan, who made a Facebook post was entitled "Everyone Should Know These Statistics on Homosexuals," citing a doctor that claimed in part that gays are to blame for half the murders in large cities.
So started the firestorm.
Agema has refused to apologize, and many Republicans have rallied in his defense, even as other Republicans called for his resignation.
If nothing else, the divide between Republicans over Agema shows a larger philosophical divide in the GOP.
And if emails sent out by the tea party are any indication, there's not doubt the Republican Party is internally fractured.
Sunday, the SE Michigan 9.12 tea party group sent out a "freedom alert" referencing a blog post with the title, "Local Grassroots Leaders to RNC: 'Join Us or Get the Hell out of the Way'," which pretty much sums up the split between the tea party folks and social conservatives, who remain adamantly opposed to things like Obamacare and same-sex marriage, and more moderate and pragmatic Republicans in their party's mainstream.
At least on the issue of gays, gay marriage and the like, the GOP is missing the boat to widen what they complain about is an ever-shrinking umbrella of influence in America.
Here's an idea for them: Embrace same-sex marriage and other same-sex issues as economic issues rather than social issues.
Just using same-sex marriage as an example, wedding planners could see a boost in their business if it were approved. Lawyers eventually would, too, since there's nothing to suggest that gays would marry and divorce at a rate that's any different than straight people.
Just a thought for the struggling GOP trying to find its identity before the 2014 elections.
So started the firestorm.
Agema has refused to apologize, and many Republicans have rallied in his defense, even as other Republicans called for his resignation.
If nothing else, the divide between Republicans over Agema shows a larger philosophical divide in the GOP.
And if emails sent out by the tea party are any indication, there's not doubt the Republican Party is internally fractured.
Sunday, the SE Michigan 9.12 tea party group sent out a "freedom alert" referencing a blog post with the title, "Local Grassroots Leaders to RNC: 'Join Us or Get the Hell out of the Way'," which pretty much sums up the split between the tea party folks and social conservatives, who remain adamantly opposed to things like Obamacare and same-sex marriage, and more moderate and pragmatic Republicans in their party's mainstream.
At least on the issue of gays, gay marriage and the like, the GOP is missing the boat to widen what they complain about is an ever-shrinking umbrella of influence in America.
Here's an idea for them: Embrace same-sex marriage and other same-sex issues as economic issues rather than social issues.
Just using same-sex marriage as an example, wedding planners could see a boost in their business if it were approved. Lawyers eventually would, too, since there's nothing to suggest that gays would marry and divorce at a rate that's any different than straight people.
Just a thought for the struggling GOP trying to find its identity before the 2014 elections.
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