It seems that some folks are mighty upset about the passage of California's Proposition 8 and others about the election of Barack Obama.  Let's take it look at those who've so rudely disrupted our post election bliss (?).

Proposition 8

Over the weekend, gay rights activists staged protests around the country, including some 500 people here in Atlanta, over the passage of California's Proposition 8 the successful ballot initiative that amended the California state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. "Taking to the streets in furious indignation, activists created an 'enemies list' of those who had contributed to support the measure, targeting them for boycotts and protests," (Associated Press, November 16)

These protests brought to mind the massive demonstrations of March, 2006, calling for the legalization of illegal aliens. The sight of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators waving flags of Mexico and carrying signs saying "BROWN IS BEAUTIFUL," "CHICANO POWER," and "THIS IS STOLEN LAND," was disturbing, offensive and ultimately counter productive to their cause.  The Bush Administration's 2007 immigration "amnesty" effort failed, in part, because of the memory of this in your face-style of protest.

The gay rights movement is headed in the same direction. At a rally in Chicago, one sign read "Catholic Fascists Stay Out of Politics" Catholics and others might find that just a tad bit offensive. One sign in Boston read, "Gay is the new black." This sign carrier overlooks the fact that African-Americans accounted for a large portion of the margin of votes for Prop 8. 

And in San Francisco, accoridng to the Associated Press (November 16), "demonstrators vilified the Mormon Church and its abandoned practice of polygamy.One sign read: "You have three wives; I want one husbandd.'"  Take that Harry Reid, Orrin Hatch and Mitt Romney!

These "activists" want to thwart the will of a majority of California voters.  They are also stretching the tolerance and goodwill most Americans have for gays and lesbians. The Proposition 8 hysterics are tarnishing their agenda just like the demonstrators in 2006 did to theirs.

Voters have spoken on this issue in 30 states.  All have said NO to same-sex marriage.  It's time gay "activists" get over it, chill out and move on.

A congressman's hysteria over Barack Obama

And then there's the predictable hysteria over the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. No real surprise about that but this particularly nasty dose came from a member of congress no less and, regrettably, one from my home state.

Everything I had read and heard about Georgia Republican Congressman Paul Broun of Athens impressed me. He was elected in a June, 2007 special congressional election to fill the seat vacated by the late Charlie Norwood. His very first vote on the floor of the House was to give the states the power to decide the issue on the use of medical marijuana.  Broun gave a moving and compelling speech on his reasons for the vote. My libertarian leanings applauded heartily.

While the measure failed - as it always does - I thought the congressman's vote was a principled and courageous one. He said that he voted for the bill as matter of states' rights. My federalist tendencies were also heartened. Broun also said he always carries a copy of the Constitution in his pocket. Wow, I thought, he's my kind of congressman...that is until just over a week ago.

It took the congressman all of just seven days after the 2008 presidential election to render his opinion on what the election of Barack Obama means to America. Congressman Broun drew national attention when he criticized Obama's call for a civilian national security force, suggesting that Obama might use it to establish a Marxist dictatorship.

In an interview with the Associated Press (November 10), Broun said, "That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did. When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist." Broun later clarified his statement by saying, "We can't be lulled into complacency. You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential of going down that road."

Broun cited a July 2008 speech by Obama in which the then-Democratic presidential candidate had said, "We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

The following day, November 11, Broun seemingly backed away from his statements but his office later said he was "not taking back anything he said" and a spokeswoman said, "We have not issued any official apology" for the remarks.  Congresman Broun said his comments had been "sensationalized" by the media.  Now that's a sound bite right out of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's playbook.

Broun's fellow lawmakers distanced themselves from his remarks. Both of Georgia's Republican U.S. Senators, Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss, expressed disagreement with his comments. His hometown newspaper, The Athens Banner-Herald, harshly criticized  his comments.  And, of course, Democrats have had a field day castigating Broun and mocking Republicans generally.

With all the potentially calamitous issues facing the country, Congressman Broun's ill advsied and intemperent remarks are even more outrageous. His remarks were just as offensive as those gay rights "activists" marching and chanting about "equal rights"and villfying those who don't agree.

Both the Proposiiton 8 hysterics and Congressman Broun have similar characteristics. One is the erosion of civilty and reason in our discourse on public policy issues; the other a vivid example of the politics of demonization and fear. And both are bad for our country,