The Republicans Got it Wrong

I have watched a couple of Republican debates now and I have been impressed with Herman Cain lately.  After watching the last debate, when I retired to bed my wife asked me who I liked.  My response was that I liked a guy that was not garnering any attention so far.  And then the Florida straw poll showed Herman Cain as a big winner and the last Zogby poll showed that he has a strong national lead.  I know it is early in the process, so I will wait to throw my hat completely in his ring.  I would encourage you to check out his website at http://www.hermancain.com/ however. 

But I was extremely disappointed in Herman Cain and every one of the candidates when they could have shown great leadership and did not in the last three debates.  Let me explain.

First, the crowd cheered in the September's debate at the Reagan Library when Brian Williams prefaced a question to Rick Perry by noting that under his leadership Texas "executed 234 death row inmates, more than any other governor in modern times". Before Williams could finish his question, the crowd erupted into cheers.  That is wrong.  That is stupid.  And quite frankly, it is unacceptable.  Personally, I think there is a time and place that the death penalty is appropriate.  But to cheer and celebrate the death of 234 souls is wrong.  It was a turn-off to me so I can only imagine what those individuals on the fence thought.

 The next incident happened in September's Tea Party debate in Tampa.  Wolf Blitzer asked Ron Paul about a comatose patient with no insurance. Blitzer asked if we should allow a patient to die if he couldn't pay for his own care.  Before Paul could answer, several audience members shouted out "Yeah!"  I try to imagine if the patient was related to me and how I would react.  I would not cheer and shout a hardy "yeah" if it was a loved one that was facing that situation.  I know that Obamacare is an absolute abomination to our country and to our constitution, however, I can not believe that those in the Tea Party would cheer when the most vulnerable amongst us are facing death.

The third and final shameful act happened in the most recent FOX News/Google debate in Orlando.  A gay soldier asked Santorum if he would "circumvent the progress that's been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military".  Before Santorum could answer, several audience members loudly booed the gay soldier who asked the question.  I don't agree with the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".  I don't approve of asking heterosexuals about their sexual preference either.  I understand this issue has been forced upon the politicians by the gay/lesbian advocates. But for the crowd to respond that way to a serviceman that is giving his life to protect our freedoms is ridiculous.  I don't agree with the homosexual lifestyle, but I am grateful for this gay serviceman's duty to country and the two issues should be seperate.  I find it ironic that some of those in the crowd shouting were fat slobs and one of the deadly sins listed in the Old Testament is gluttony.

Not one person at the debate, not the moderators, no one in the audience, and not one candidate applauded or thanked the soldier for his service to our nation. No one ever said that booing the soldier was inappropriate and offensive. They should have.  It's called leadership.

I have blogged about the distasteful actions of the Black Caucus.  I have posted my opinion regarding the violent actions of the union thugs and their followers in Madison, Wisconsin.  I have watched Tea Party "crashers" hold up vile and offensive signs and use abusive, offensive language to shout down supporters of conservatives.  I have looked at "lib prog" blogs that contain hate speech throughout their posts.  I have seen conservatives like Michelle Malkin have racial insults and filth hurled at her from Hollyweirdos like Alec Baldwin on twitter.

And obviously, the conservatives have some cavemen on their side too.  Don't get me wrong, conservatives win the battle all day long on the issues such as healthcare, tax reform, Medicare, unemploment, home foreclosures, immigration and illegal aliens, the environment, welfare, the free market, etc., etc., etc.

But when the caveman "crazies" show up at the debates, someone needs to be a leader and take a stand.  Believe me, it will guarantee that person a positive bump in the polls simply by doing the right thing.