Hot and bothered about Republicans
"The president believes strongly that for the purpose of research it's inappropriate for the federal government to finance something that many people consider murder. He's one of them." -- White House spokesman Tony Snow
OK, so here's it played out today. First, upon hearing that the Cook County Democratic Committee officially nominated Todd Stroger to run for Board President in his father's stead, I decided that, come November, I will, for the first time in my life, vote for a Republican. Tony Peraica doesn't seem like a super guy, but I'd rather vote for him than endorse this nonsense.
Then, just hours later, as I was coming to terms with my own creeping moderate-ism, I listened to highlights (if you can call them that) of the Senate debate on stem cell research.
Yes, I tried to remind myself, thinking people can disagree on this subject. It's a big ethical question. Etc., etc.
But, really, I just don't believe that. For me, it is, like gay marriage, a complete no-brainer. Harms no one, could benefit many.
I do recognize that it's the "harms no one" that is up for debate in the stem cell research question. The President, along with Rick Santorum and lots of other religious conservatives, believes that the use of an embryo in a lab for research purposes is, in fact, harmful to the point of murderousness.
(I have my doubts about whether Bush really, really believes that or if he's just playing to his base, but let's leave that paranoia aside for the moment and take the man at his word.)
If the roughly half a million frozen embryos locked up in labs right now are all people in a state of "suspended life," isn't their routine disposal the equivalent of a holocaust?
And if that's going on, why aren't these passionate advocates of life doing everything they can to "save" those babies? They should be recruiting thousands of women to carry these embryos to term. Hell, the Bush daughters are of child-bearing age, surely they could each take a year off to save a human life.
Thus ended my brief flirtation with bipartisanship.
But I'm still voting for Peraica.
Comments
I couldn't agree with you more - on both points. It is a sad day when our local Democratic party resembles a monarchy, providing us an heir to the Cook County throne. Being a die-hard Democrat, I am pretty disappointed with the handling of the whole issue.
I wonder if it is about Bush's "base" because enough of his party disagrees with him to put the bill on his desk in the first place.
Posted by: Yasmeen | July 19, 2006 10:51 AM
I enjoyed reading your article today. Peraica has been speaking about the blatant disregards for the voters and taxpayers in cook county. Alderman Beavers and his arrogance and many others like him are going to receive a huge wake up call in November. The voters are not going to sit and let this type of backroom deals go over anymore. Keep up the good work and spread the word for Tony and lets get this county back again.
Posted by: Marc A. Wiley | July 19, 2006 01:31 PM
The voters only have themselves to blame for high taxes and corruption. They keep electing these corrupt officials. Now is the time to clean out the County Board.
Posted by: john Laskey | July 19, 2006 02:20 PM
You're in luck, consistency mavens, they already are going after IVF.
Posted by: Paul Smith | July 19, 2006 04:54 PM
Debra, you have never voted for a Republican before? You cannot be one of those pinko, dimwitted liberals, can you? Remember what Winston Churchill said back in the 40's. He said "when you are in your 20's and you're anything but a liberal, you have no heart, but once you get out of your 20's and you're anything but a conservative you have no brain".
PICKETT replies: It's true. I still have my Republican cherry. But I haven't been out of my 20s for THAT long . . . .
Posted by: Jerry | July 26, 2006 04:22 PM
I'm in my 30's as well, but I came to my senses and started to vote for the GOP when I was 28 or 29. Give Peraica and the GOP a chance. Especially seeing how corrupt the Democrats in this city and county have been for the last fifty years or so.
Posted by: Jerry | July 27, 2006 03:32 PM