More Room in the Clown Car...

Wednesday's insane racist Star Tribune drivel from Rep. Tony 'Clown Car' Cornish wasn't the only bit of racism and bigotry from Minnesota Republicans we had yesterday.  Nope, we actually had another example of how racism has permeated the MNGOP, this from a young plucky, intolerant newcomer.

Tara Mack, the Republican Rep. who was found in Lebanon Hills Park having a romantic 'document exchange' with fellow GOP Representative Tim Kelly (spoiler alert: not each other's spouse!) has wisely decided to leave Minnesota government.  MN House seat 57A is open.  The Minnesota DFL is running a spectacular candidate in Erin Maye Quade, an individual with tons of experience in politics, good ideas and a welcoming personality.  Ms. Quade IS modern Minnesota, coming from a multi-racial family and married to her wife Alyse.  Her running for office undermines the hatred and vitriol the Republicans bank on to make elections closer than they should be.

This doesn't mean the MNGOP is going to avoid hatred and vitriol.  Ms. Quade's Republican opponent is Ali Jimenez-Hopper.  She seems to be similar to Tara Mack, sans the indiscretions; a married mom, far right politically and an extreme Christian.  Yesterday, the LGBT news outlet, The Column, posted a piece from Andy Birkey about Ms. Jimenez-Hopper's speech at the Republican endorsing convention in May, a speech which has been put on YouTube.  Here's the link to the story:

http://thecolu.mn/23237/57a

The speech is a deep look into the id of the modern Republican.  There's a lot to criticize.

I could go with the Republicans clear hatred of the GLBT community, something which Jimenez-Hopper embraces as she oozes her own personal disgust for Quade's marriage.  Many Republicans want to revisit having the government regulate the GLBT community, but keep their mouth shut, due to the popularity if gay rights in Minnesota.  Being in what she thought was a safe environment, Jimenez-Hopper let her hatred flag fly, going back to the arguments the MNGOP used five years ago; "I believe in the traditional marriage...between a husband and wife..."  I'm not shocked by this, rather I'm surprised we haven't gotten more examples of modern Republican homophobia, which crawls underneath their thin public persona skin.

I could also rip on Jimenez-Hopper for her religious views.  She portrays herself as a strict follower of her Christian values, but lets cut the bologna.  There are numerous passages from the Bible she, and many other far right Christians, ignore.

(((Religious Disclaimer! - I'm Catholic.  You do, or don't do, whatever you do or don't want to do!)))

I'm sure Jimenez-Hopper's not calling for punishing people who work on the Sabbath, or closing all Red Lobsters because shellfish is a sin, nor is she for women having to marry their brother-in laws if their husband dies.  And most modern Republicans completely ignore the vast majority of Jesus' teachings, the ones which call for helping the hungry, homeless, sick and needy. They giddily refuse, unless they can label them as moochers, screaming about how lazy they are, or making them pee in a cup.  Jesus was about love, not shaming people.  Many politically right Christians today pick and choose from the teachings of the Bible, ignoring what they want, while insisting the very next passage is mandatory for all Christians and non-Christians alike.  When you realize that, you'll realize people like Jimenez-Hopper are using the Bible to validate their own personal hatred and bigotry.

The part which really upset me from Ali's speech is this little gem - (referring to Quade) "She brings up that she is half black and she uses that as a strength."  I re-read this a few times, wondering why she would reference Quade's mixed race upbringing at all.  Quade has never shied away from her heritage, but has never made it, or her lifestyle choice, the center point of her campaign.  Then it hit me.  Jimenez-Hopper was making sure all the Republicans at the convention knew 'she's one of THEM!'  Republicans have become so intertwined with racism today, she knew mentioning Quade's race to her core constituents would be beneficial to her campaign.

Jimenez-Hopper must have realized a few seconds later she might be on record, so she floated the line "Now while I don't have a speech formally prepared..."  This was a pathetic attempt for her to insist any blowback she gets from her race and sexual orientation comments could be played off as unpolished, off the cuff remarks, but don't worry far right Republicans.  She'll be winking at you as she rails against the 'liberal PC police.'

I don't know what I'm more amazed by; the sub sewer, intolerance mentality of the modern GOP, or the non-racist Republican friends I have who see and hear all of this, and not only say nothing, but are still trying to justify their inevitable Republican vote in November.  Jimenez-Hopper is just the latest MNGOP'er to try to win by embracing racism and bigotry.  Come September, if she's trailing Quade in the polls, she can always do what Erik Paulsen did to Ashwin Madia in 2008, and darken Erin's skin color in campaign materials, in a feeble attempt to make her look more ethnic.