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Is Voinovich's 'Southerner' Code for 'Religious Conservative'?

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The reason Republicans get hit harder when caught cheating or in sex scandals is because they run as "family values" candidates. The Dems don't get holier than thou and kowtow to the religious right. Every Republican caught in a sex scandal lately has been a darling of the religious right. And they dont get kicked out, they make tearfull confessions and are forgiven because they are usefull tools.

PettyD of IA 10:50AM July 31, 2009

The Bob of Oregon mentions airport bathroom sex, visiting prostitutes, having affairs with your married staff, having phone sex with young male congressional pages as though Barney Frank, Bill Clinton, and numerous other Democrats are moral--Politicians of both parties have demonstrated that they have human failings, the difference is when a Republican commits one of these immoral acts; he is crucified. When John Edwards has an affair and pays his mistress with campaign funds, while his wife is fighting Cancer--the liberals say to bury the story because that's his "personal" life.
My opinion is both parties are full of hypocrites, but at least the Republicans purge those they find--the Democrats celebrate the diversity of their "moral compasses" and purge anyone who points out the problem with a Democrat.

C E Wilson of CA 9:43PM July 30, 2009

Listening to Vitter defend "core Republican Values" is hysterical. And those values, Senator, include airport bathroom sex, visiting prostitutes, having affairs with your married staff, having phone sex with young male congressional pages? All the while wrapping yourself in a veneer of the Family Values Party?
To be honest, I love talk of succession by right-wing religious conservatives. The parallels between them and the Taliban become closer and closer.

thebob.bob of OR 10:35AM July 30, 2009

Someone might remind the Yankee Senator from Ohio that we tried to get out of the Union once and his forebears wouldn't hear it. Perhaps he would like to reconsider.

F. Sumter of GA 9:40PM July 29, 2009

In the early 70's the segrigationist south left the democratic party for the republican part. In the beginning it was good it gave the republican party an almost unsurmountable electoral advantage. After 40 years of supply side or voodoo economics, religious and racial bigotry. The Southerners have successfully taken over the control of the republican party. After alienating Women, Blacks, Hispanics, and intellectuals, what do you have left? It was a wild ride wile it lasted but you woke up in bed with something that makes you want to cut your arm and sneak out. But you find out you married it.

Patrick of MS 6:57PM July 29, 2009

The Republicans are disintegrating. There is an interesting related post from a moderate Republican at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588

carly of NY 6:10PM July 29, 2009

I lived in Ohio for much of my adult life, and I agree 100 percent with Sen. Voinovich. He may have been a bit tactless in saying it the way he did, but, seriously, why do you all think Ohio went for Obama? The Republican party - as dominated by Southern religious conservatives - no longer speaks to most Ohioans (or, apparently, many states in that part of the Midwest). I was born and raised a proud Republican. We were pro-business, pro-limited government and pro-personal liberty and responsibility. Despite serious concerns about taxation issues (we make over 500K/year), I am now a registered Democrat, solely because I cannot abide the Republican party's kow-towing to the religious right, to the exclusion of other, far more important issues facing us as a nation. Thank you, Sen. Voinovich, for speaking our truth. I just wish you would have started this discussion sooner.

Roberta of NV 11:52AM July 29, 2009

No one cares what you think George. You only said this to get some face time in the news since you can't seem to do anything worthwhile. What have you accomplished for this country or Ohio? Quit whining and crying, why not be a man and do what Arlen Specter did, join your real Party.

Linda of OH 7:28AM July 29, 2009

The Republican Party needs more moderate politicians like Voinovich. Ditto for Snowe, Collins and Lugar. They are an endangered species in a party largely populated by reactionaries and extremeists.
The Republicans also need fewer voters who delude themselves into believing the party line that Republicans stand for limited government. No Republican president has even bothered to submit a balanced budget since Nixon's first year in office in 1969. George W. Bush doubled the federal debt, adding over $5 trillion dollars in his eight years in office, more than all 42 prior presidents combined. When Jimmy Carter handed the reins of the federal government over to Reagan, the entire federal debt was a mere $980 billion.
What's wrong with the GOP and their clueless voters?

Skye of AZ 2:10AM July 29, 2009

Any time there's a change in power, the losing party is going to go through some search for identity. Voinovich is a big government Republican like Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe. These people are NO different to Democrats outside of the size of spending increases. Jim DeMint and Tom Coburn are excellent representatives for the Republican party. Voinovich, Hastert and the rest of these Repubics are the reason why the Republicans lost.
For people like Edward from CO, vote for Obama and compromise your values. Relax on the anti-religious fervor. Hold your nose or we're ALL GOING TO LOSE.
I'm not religious and I don't have an immature bone to pick with Christians. This American hatred of religion has got to stop.

Malcom Z. of CA 11:12PM July 28, 2009