Remember when the rw meme was "we can't legislate morality" ?

[salin]

Oh, that was to fight off "Hate Crime Legislation."

They also referred constantly to the "Nanny State".

Never thought I would long for the GOP to return to those memes.

While Rick Santorum is among the worst per statements that suggest that he would like to legislate things like - turning the "right for states to ban/legislate birthcontrol" are frightening - but he is far from alone.

This year alone we saw a whole side show on Schaivo, and while I recognize that some who supported the "keep her alive" side were well intended (though I didn't agree) - the rhetoric from some on the religious right grew more and more extreme - including the suggestion that living wills should be disallowed (wtf?).

Just the other day there was a piece of state legislation that was introduced to limit the number of eggs that could be implanted in IVF - to reduce the number of these eggs - in response to the prolife rhetoric on the stem cell debate which refers to these eggs as "preborn." How soon before there are attempts to stop IVF altogether on these grounds?

There was some rwreligist who during the Schaivo sideshow (that this family's tragedy was turned into a sideshow is a travesty, imo) - who said that people (re: women) who intentionally remain single are part of this country's problems, because these women are not fulfilling their God directed role to procreate. This came from an extension of the only married people, defined as man and woman, debate - point being the rationale for that debate was that the sole purpose of marriage is procreation - ergo those intentionally staying out of the marriage and procreation game are somehow part of the problem.

The extension of these GOP-rwreligios arguments are patently absurd, probably even to many of the voters who regularly vote for these folks. However, the extensions are logical ones (from their warped rhetoric), and the fact that the extremists in those ranks feel more empowered to be on the record with these extreme views suggests that they honestly believe that their views are sellable - and indeed folks who run on the light version of this rhetoric, keep winning elections and policy battles.

Given how well the "you can't legislate morality" resonated with the general public last decade - can't WE use it to our advantage?

[bryant69]

1. Double Edged Sword

It could be used, because it's self evidently true. You can't pass a law that makes single somen want to get married and have babies(taking you example from above). But the comeback is to change the field. Instead of trying to legislate morality you are trying to protect the innocent or preserve American values?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Armstead]

2. Their self-righteousness should be their undoing

The fundies don;t really support legislating "morality." Rather they are trying toi legislate their version of socially acceptable behavior.

There's a big difference. They don;t give a rat turd about morality, in terms of right and wrong and compassion. They want a nanny state in terms that most people do not really want imposzed on them.

There will be hop;efuilly a split betwwen the real libertarians and the "Family values" crowd.

[sexybomber]

3. Yeah, exactly

They're not legislating morality. Infringing upon people's rights to do whatever they want regarding marriage, fertilization, procreation, and death (I mean, within the bounds of normality, of course*) is, quite frankly, totally IMMORAL!

* i.e. no animals, etc.

[Patiod]

4. I'm making damned sure EVERYONE in my area knows

about Ricky Santorum's views on birth control. I will stop at every single f$cking door in the section where I'm a committeewoman, even/especially those ones with the little stickers that indicate that the family is Catholic, and leave information on his views about outlawing birth control.

Catholic teaching or no Catholic teaching, not ONE family living in this specific area has more than 4 kids. Not one. I've walked these streets for 15 years recreationally and at every election, and unless the rythym method is an astounding success in my corner of my little town, every damned one of those people used birth control to plan the size of their families - normally 2-3 kids. I wonder how they'd like that option taken away from them?

Since the abortion issue is off the table next year (rightly or wrongly, PA Dems are running a "pro-life" candidate against Santorum), I'm thinking the choice should be an easy one for these birth-control-using working-class Catholics. I doubt any of them would be happy about being forced to add a new baby every year or two.

[Armstead]

6. It feels ;like a replay of the 1950's

[DeepModem Mom]

5. kick