They will turn on you in a heartbeat

The Republicans, that is.

Yesterday Larry Craig's quiet guilty plea to disorderly conduct came to light, along with a strange tale of footsie in the men's room at Minnesota's airport. A minor charge if ever there was one, which did not result in anything actually lewd or lascivious even if Sen. Craig was apparently giving the universal sign for "wanna find a glory hole and get busy?"

Today, he is already vilified by the professional vilifiers. No "let's have an explanation," no "well this is pretty minor." They're all in agreement--he should resign. Immediately. And his behavior is "reckless and repulsive."

Yes, I suppose to people who have built their political strategy on fear and loathing of teh gays and their gay sex, finding out that your own party is filled with them must be repulsive. But get used to it, boys, because if you want to continue the culture of shame and self-hatred for gays and lesbians then we will continue to force them into the closet. And while in the closet they will continue to sublimate who they are by publicly crusading against it--from within your party. Now if you consider giving people the freedom and acceptance to live how they feel compelled to live, as long as they aren't hurting anyone, then perhaps that closet won't seem so necessary.