Please let McCain embrace this advice:

"[H]e needs to touch on some of the social issues which energize the right," Barnes said. "In particular, gays in the military for one. We know Barack Obama is for allowing gays in the military, and Bill Clinton tried to do, but backed off. This is not a popular issue. Gay marriage is another one. These are both issues that I think McCain's going to have to use. You can't ignore the right. If he does, he'll lose." 

I think it's somewhat sickening to note that hate of homosexuals somehow "energizes" the right wing. Nonetheless, this message will backfire:

Barnes seems to believe polls show general opposition to allowing otherwise-capable gay volunteers to serve in the military during a war. Reality shows otherwise. As Matt Corley explained, "Polling consistently finds that the public supports allowing openly-gay people to serve in the military. In fact, that support is growing even stronger with time." 

Let's do a little thought experiment. What if...what if you turn the clock back about 40 years and see how virulent this kind of talk is:

"[H]e needs to touch on some of the social issues which energize the right," Barnes said. "In particular, niggers in the military for one. We know Barack Obama is for allowing niggers in the military, and Bill Clinton tried to do, but backed off. This is not a popular issue. Nigger marriage is another one. These are both issues that I think McCain's going to have to use. You can't ignore the right. If he does, he'll lose." 

These are rotten times, indeed. We are still the most backward industrialized nation in the world.

tags: barnes  gays  military  marriage  hate  speech  

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