Gasp! Inflammatory title! Indignation!
But seriously, Research 2000 recently did a poll of self-identified Republicans, asking them their beliefs on a whole host of issues. There are articles all over the place about this, and it has been in the news, so forgive the repetition if you’ve heard this, but I thought it worth commenting on.
I often rail against the Republican Party, since their ideas are socially destructive. Republican politicians use xenophobia (damn those illegals) and religion (praise Jesus, who hates pro-choicers) to convince people that they are the best candidates, and then don’t actually deliver any legislation on those issues (Republicans had both chambers of Congress and a Republican president for most of the last decade) so that they can continue using said issues to deceive. Then, what they do is pass legislation that punishes the poor and middle class while rewarding corporations and the wealthy.
Well, their campaign to reinforce stupidity has paid off! Take a look at these results (apologies to Kos, whose question order I cribbed) and feel free to either laugh or cry. Sure, it’s funny people are so stupid and ignorant, but it’s also sad, since these people vote, despite the lack of a viable frontal lobe. Pay particular attention to the “Not Sure” crowd. I’ve posted some of my favorite questions, along with some comments.
Should Barack Obama be impeached, or not?
Yes 39
No 32
Not Sure 29
Seriously? Why? This frankly makes no sense. But then again, Republicans tend not to.
Do you think Barack Obama is a socialist?
Yes 63
No 21
Not Sure 16
And what if he were? First off, he’s not. If he were, we would have single payer health care, we wouldn’t have a Congress owned by corporations, etc. Republicans often lump Socialist and Fascist all together when they hurl insults. Socialism and fascism are not compatible, dolts. Most people don’t even know what socialism is.
Do you believe Barack Obama was born in the United States, or not?
Yes 42
No 36
Not Sure 22
Really? 58% of you? There’s a birth announcement in not one, but two Hawaiian newspapers!
Do you believe Barack Obama wants the terrorists to win?
Yes 24
No 43
Not Sure 33
Yes, his election was a plot to give Osama bin Laden free reign to destroy our country. 57% either believe Obama is pro-terrorist or believe its up in the air. I’m having trouble even commenting on this. I may not be the brightest man, but I can’t lower my IQ enough to communicate on this level. What did Hunter S. Thompson call it? The New Dumb. Sounds about right.
Do you believe Sarah Palin is more qualified to be President than Barack Obama?
Yes 53
No 14
Not Sure 33
Ha! Well, that’s a legitimate belief. Come on, she couldn’t name newspapers she read (unfair question!) and she could see Russia from her house (great foreign policy experience).
Do you believe Barack Obama is a racist who hates White people?
Yes 31
No 36
Not Sure 33
Obviously Obama hates white people. Nevermind the fact that his mother was white. He hated her, too! Duh!
Do you believe your state should secede from the United States?
Yes 23
No 58
Not Sure 19
LET THE SOUTH GO! I’m all of the United States of New England. It would be a liberal progressive utopia.
Should Congress make it easier for workers to form and join labor unions?
Yes 7
No 68
Not Sure 25
Of course Republicans don’t want unions. Then corporations couldn’t exploit people and force wage slavery on us.
Should openly gay men and women be allowed to serve in the military?
Yes 26
No 55
Not Sure 19
Should same sex couples be allowed to marry?
Yes 7
No 77
Not Sure 16
Should gay couples receive any state or federal benefits?
Yes 11
No 68
Not Sure 21
Should openly gay men and women be allowed to teach in public schools?
Yes 8
No 73
Not Sure 19
Okay, okay. We get it. REPUBLICANS HATE GAY PEOPLE. I’m glad they admitted it. The funny thing is, this people answering this survey weren’t afraid to say these things. How many of them were embarrassed enough to lie? Well, 73% of Republicans want to deny gay people a job for being gay. That’s awesome. Obviously gay people can’t be allowed to teach, because, what, they’ll turn your kids gay? Is there some sort of airborne virus they carry? Discrimination. Bigotry. Republican.
Should public school students be taught that the book of Genesis in the Bible explains how God created the world?
Yes 77
No 15
Not Sure 8
Hahahahahaha! To hell with Science. Bring in the Bible! Why not dump Astronomy for Astrology while we’re at it? Substitute Alchemy for Chemistry?
Should contraceptive use be outlawed?
Yes 31
No 56
Not Sure 13
Do you believe the birth control pill is abortion?
Yes 34
No 48
Not Sure 18
These last three show that Republicans believe that reproductive rights are wrong, that women’s bodies are not their own.
Do you believe that the only way for an individual to go to heaven is though Jesus Christ, or can one make it to heaven through another faith?
Christ 67
Other 15
Not Sure 18
Obviously, if you’re a Republican Christian, you’re right and everybody else is wrong. It’s like Steve Colbert said at the Correspondent’s dinner a few years back, Republicans believe that every religion is valid, Buddhism, Islam, etc., because Republicans believe that all of them can accept Jesus Christ as their saviors.
With that kind of world view, no wonder they are so malleable when it comes to Republican politicians, and it’s why Republican politicians are so brilliant. Republicans believe their religion is better than everybody elses, so all the politicians have to do is use that to get elected.
R-Politician: I love Jesus!
Average Republican: Yay, I’m voting for that guy.
R-Politician: Jesus would want me to give tax breaks to the wealthy.
Average Republican: Yay, trickle-down economics will help me one day when things eventually possibly maybe trickle down to me!
All in all, this whole series of insights is pretty eye-opening, and depressing. So yes, my title is a little on the rough, inflammatory side. But it’s accurate. Reread the above evidence if you still disagree.