Category Archives: Teabaggery

Gays, Welcome To The Tea Party?

by D Gregory Smith

I was the first blogger to break the news of the hateful dialog in which Montana Tea Party president Tim Ravndal was caught. In short, he appeared to advocate the torture/lynching of gay people, conjuring up the disturbing image of Matthew Shepard. And yet, as a gay man living in the West, I couldn’t help but be surprised and somewhat impressed with the official response of the Big Sky Tea Party leadership in announcing Ravndal’s termination:

“We continually make it known that we will not tolerate bigoted dialog, behavior or messages at our functions, our meetings or within our ranks. “If a person demonstrates bigotry relative to race, sex, ethnicity, etc. they are not welcome in our organization. The Tea Party movement is about standing up for individual freedom for everyone,” said chairman Jim Walker.

Wow. Not bad.

So I naturally have to ask myself, “Is the Tea Party officially more gay-inclusive than the Republican Party?” Let me explain.

The Montana Republican party has in its platform plank (as, similarly, does Texas) explicit language calling for the criminalization of homosexual acts:

We support the clear will of the people of Montana expressed by legislation to keep homosexual acts illegal.

As a party that touts its tolerance, this seems to me to be quite intolerant. In fact, the Big Sky Tea Party now comes across as much more inclusive, less bigoted and homophobic than the Montana GOP, whose official platform (since 2008) clearly is loaded with prejudice, bigotry and intolerance.

I want to be clear- I am not a Republican, a conservative or a Tea Party member. I am an Independent, liberal, gay man living in Montana. But I can’t help but be struck by the diplomacy of my so-called right-wing adversaries vs. the silence and established prejudice of the Grand Old Party.

Which brings me back to the question, “Is the Big Sky Tea Party more supportive of basic human rights than the Montana GOP?”

I find it amusing that we even have to ask the question- and yes, I can honestly appreciate the full-on irony of this moment. But still, no major Republican or Republican groups (even the gay one) has denounced this plank publicly, or even made any semblance of a fuss. Hell, the Democrats haven’t even said anything officially- maybe because it’s too easy. Whatever. It’s just been a few gadflies with an outraged sense of injustice.

So, the answer to the question, on paper anyway, seems to be “Yes”.

Tea anyone?

Update:
Jay Stevens has a more in-depth analysis on Left In The West. Thanks Jay!

It’s Gettin’ Harder To Keep Up

by D Gregory Smith

…but Jay Stevens is tryin’. He posted an excellent article today on Left In The West. Which by the way, I could have written myself (not as thoroughly or beautifully, of course- he’s a pro), but I agree with most of his points.

Check it out.

More to come….

Tea Partier Of The Week

by D Gregory Smith

Scary- and the gun's creepy, too.

Tea Partier of the Week: Montana GOP legislative candidate Kristi Allen-Gailushas

That’s the headline over at Crooks And Liars– Read it to believe it.
Oh, and they explain the picture. Yes, that’s her.

Oh, and check Cowgirl- the Tea Party membership is apparently furious with the leadership for firing Ravndal, backpedaling ensues…

A Kitty Whimpers

by D Gregory Smith

I called for a roar of courage.

What I got was an irrelevant whimper of agreement.

Dennis Rehberg, the highest ranking elected Republican in the State of Montana, through a spokesman, admitted he hadn’t seen the posting that outed Tim Ravndal as a homophobic and possibly violent bigot. But- and this is very important, folks:

“…he believes the movement to control government spending and protect small business from record tax increases is bigger than any one person so the folks running the Big Sky Tea Party made the right decision,” said Evan Wilson, Rehberg’s campaign manager.

Huh? A significant episode involving threatened brutality/murder to a specific group of human beings by a political official and this is the best he can do?

Not a word about the violent hate speech. Not a word to Montana’s gay people reassuring them of their safety. Not a word about anything, really. Well, unless you count  the subtle reassurances to small business, which is always more important than addressing specific threats of violence towards the citizenry, apparently.

Beh.

Independent Record story here.

And an excellent history of Rehberg’s homophobia from the Beaverhead Dems.

This Is Getting Good

by D Gregory Smith

I just love watching these right-wingnuts go further and further in their idiocy…. will they learn their lesson?

Not Tom Burnett.

Montana Cowgirl Blog:

One of Tim Ravndal’s “friends” on Facebook is Tom Burnett, candidate for the Montana Legislature in Bozeman.
Burnett keeps a really unique blog, and below is one of his posts, almost as awful as Ravndal’s comments.

Read the whole sorry thing here.

Tea Party President- Fired!

by D Gregory Smith

I wonder how he likes getting a pink slip? Start anymore queer slurs for ya, Tim?

There have been so many articles posted, it seems like all we need is another one, but, Mediaite does a great job of putting it all together: Well done, Colby Hall!

(thank you to Brody Levesque)

Update: This from  The Huffington Post

AND THIS FROM THE WASHINGTON POST!

From The “Gotta See It To Believe It” Department….

by D Gregory Smith

(c) Green Day

Montana Cowgirl Blog:
Kristi Allen-Gailushas Declares War on “the Gay Community”

Seriously, you’d think these Christianists would give up Facebook altogether, but No-ooo….
I’m too smug to get immediately ripped up about this one- they just end up shooting themselves in the foot sooner or later. I think I’ll just stand back and report the idiocy as it comes- it is Labor Day after all….

Update: OMG! Wonkette spells it all out! Including the term “forced down our throats”… Excellent!

The Cowardly Lions That Refuse To Roar

by D Gregory Smith

Wow.

It’s not even Halloween and Montana’s political leaders are scared shitless.

Our political leadership has been strangely silent on the subject of the recently discovered homophobic/murderous rants by a leader and members of the Montana Tea Party.

Dennis Rehberg, who is a member of the US House of Representatives Tea Party Caucus should be particularly enthusiastic about these revelations.

And yet, surprisingly, given his homophobic history – silence. Which is probably to be expected given his non-response to the Montana Republican Party’s platform plank calling for the criminalization of homosexual acts. Self-serving at it’s very best- which represents his entire political career, basically.

However, more deeply disappointing  and disturbing is the non-response of Max Baucus, a man whose national campaign for the health of all Americans doesn’t seem to give two shits about the safety of his constituents back home. Or maybe he is too frightened to upset a homophobic voter in Central Montana. Or a lobbyist in Manhattan (not the Montana town, that other one on the East Coast). Being politically correct pays the bills – being morally couragous. Not so much.

Maybe Denny and Max are afraid for their safety. But they’re not alone.

Take it from me, some of those constituents are definitely scared. In Montana, apparently, being gay means being the target of violent words advocating the displaying of your tortured body as a decoration or sport for everyone else. That’s scary. One of the most beautiful places in the world, and suddenly I’m not admiring the mountains or the scenery as I’m driving. I’m looking at people in the cars around me wondering, “If they knew me would they would want to kill me and hang my body on a tree like a piece of strange fruit?”

And it’s not okay.

Whose fear is more relevant here? Whose safety is more important? A political leader who has lost touch with his constituents, or the constituents themselves?

If someone targeted any other group of human beings – say, Native Americans, women, children, the handicapped, etc., the cries to heaven and the media would be deafening. The voices would be politicians, clergy, parents, doctors, bankers, rodeo cowboys, hunters and car dealers.

But it’s The Gays. They’re not people- they’re a political liability. Fuck them.

It’s not okay.

And someone who’s been elected as a leader in this state should say so. Brian Schweitzer? Jon Tester?

Who’s the Wizard going to give courage to?

Anyone?

Montana Tea Party Hosts “Hanging Of Fruits”?

by D Gregory Smith

Is it safe to be gay under the Big Sky?

Fuck no.

Innuendo, bullying and under-the radar criminalization of gay people just aren’t enough. Threats of violence and lynching seem to be the only way to deal with these uppity queers in Montana.

Tim Ravndal, (whose Facebook page lists the following information:
Tim Ravndal, Montana Constitutional Warriors, Montana Coordinator for the Second Amendment March, Montana Coordinator for the Tenth Amendment Center, Montana Coordinator for the National Nullification Center, Montana Tea Party Movement, Organizer
PO Box 287
Townsend Montana 59644
1-406-266-5212 or 1-439-5860
thornyacre@dishmail.net )
hosts a conversation on his Facebook page where he comments on an article by the Billings Gazette on the lawsuit by the  Montana ACLU by seven same-sex couples, condones torture and hanging of “fruits” and makes explicit inference to Matthew Shepard’s murder.

Transcript:

Tim Ravndal: “Marriage is between a man and a woman period! By giving rights to those otherwise would be a violation of the constitution and my own rights”

Kieth Baker: “How dare you exercise your First Amendment Rights?”

Dennis Scranton: “I think fruits are decorative. Hang up where they can be seen and appreciated. Call Wyoming for display instructions.”

Tim Ravndal: “@Kieth, OOPS I forgot this aint(sic) America no more! @ Dennis, Where can I get that Wyoming printed instruction manual?”

Dennis Scranton: Should be able to get info Gazette archives. Maybe even an illustration. Go back a bit over ten years.”

But see for yourself:

(click screencap to enlarge)

Disgusting. I found it here.

And it’s not the only public homophobic comment by a Montanan lately. This one’s running for office.

MTCOWGIRL’s also on it….

Andy Towle’s take on the story here.

And this from Left In The West.

And, finally, excellent local media coverage.

Why Montana Matters

by D Gregory Smith

I’ve been getting some exposure over my post Montana Republicans Are Now Officially Homophobes and Bigots. Andrew Sullivan linked to my blog. Outrage was expressed on the Montana GOP’s Facebook page. Another Facebook page wants to “Tell MT Republicans to Remove Hate from their platform“. The Missoulian published my editorial. Several other media outlets picked up the story. I’ve been doing my best to keep the legs under this issue. Other people have been great at spreading the news.

It’s not enough.

People are asking me if I’ve lost my mind- “Why does this matter so much to you?” “Why can’t you let go?” Let me explain.

As long as that plank is in the Montana Republican platform, it sneers at all LGBT persons throughout the United States. As long as that plank exists, it allows bigotry and homophobia to claim official  sanction.  It encourages intolerance, hate and the violation of human rights. It promotes ignorance, both social and scientific. It takes a segment of human society and seeks to criminalize them because of their biology, their sexuality, their choice of self-expression. It creates confusion, shame and fear in the minds of children, parents, institutions and churches. It also creates attitudes of moral superiority and bullying, mocking that phrase “all men are created equal,” substituting Orwell’s “some are more equal than others”. In short, it’s in the best interests of every human being in this country to see that this plank is changed.

Why?

Because you never know who’ll be next.

Sure, Montana isn’t exactly the political mainstream- it isn’t mainstream at all, really. Sure, there aren’t a lot of LGBT persons here. Sure, there isn’t a lot of impact on the rest of you. But this is a STATE. One of Fifty. And along with Texas, it’s discriminating against a specific group of Americans. Where does the creeping stop? Will Wyoming jump on board? Is Idaho next? Utah? Nevada? Arizona? Alaska? Who knows?

Make fun of us if you want, but if you discount Montana and it’s impact on the United States of America, you misread history. Montana’s natural resources and people have nurtured this nation since Lewis and Clark pioneered the Missouri. This isn’t just the home state of Gary Cooper, Myrna Loy, Ivan Doig, Norman MacLean, Evel Knievel, Charlie Russell, Henry Plummer and Ted Kaczyinski. It’s the place that nurtured such prominent political and social figures as Mike Mansfield, Jeannette Rankin, Chet Huntley, Lester Thurow, Lee Metcalf, Jack Horner, David Lynch, Marc Racicot, etc. Political leaders have made this a place to see and be seen. Teddy Kennedy on a bucking bronc in Miles City, or candidate Obama marching in the Butte fourth of July Parade- in fact he was here twice- and returned as president.

It matters. Maybe not to you. Not yet.

But stopping this now will be a hell of a lot easier than later, when it’s YOUR bedroom they’re talking about.