How extremists are destroying GOP: Missouri legislators ousted after trying to block anti-gay laws (voters, Congress)

[pbmaise]

"Religious freedom" laws, which are designed to discriminate against LGBT community have been ruled by Courts as illegal.

A legislator who helps block laws which are hateful and illegal is surely a moderate.

This is exactly what Missouri Republican Anne Zerr did and she paid the price of being a moderate.

Republican lawmaker who blocked anti-gay law defeated in GOP primary challenge · PinkNews


According to Brian Brown, NOM's president, who gloated over her defeat...
"We did what we promised and went after her, and I couldn't be happier that she has been defeated. Zerr joins a long list of Republicans who have ended their political careers by voting against the interests of people who support marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

Source: NOM’s Promise to Missouri Voters Fulfilled - Turncoat Republican Anne Zerr Defeated in GOP Primary

Herein rests the biggest problem for the GOP.

The primary system motivates voters with the greatest amount of hate in their hearts to vote. As a result the GOP ends up having a slate of candidates all on the extreme side even though the moderates have been proven to be standing on the correct side of the issues according to both popular opinion and Court rulings.

[wrench409]

There is no '*****' religion - it does not exist.

[pbmaise]

What GOP Governors and legislators have usually been doing is voting for these anti-gay laws even though they know the Courts will toss them out.

Who has been paying the price?

Taxpayers like the ones in Florida who have had to pay huge legal fees incurred trying to defend the indefensible.

Workers in places like North Carolina where businesses are boycotting.

Sad.

Perhaps someday the extremists will be shouted down. For now, they are obviously winning their primaries. Someday the GOP will conclude it is more important to win the actual elections than the primary.

[Clark Park]

On the other hand, Kansas Republican congressman Tim Huelskamp - noted for being one of the most anti-LGBT politicians if not THE most anti-LGBT politician on the national stage - was defeated in a primary two days ago.

Organizations like NOM (the National Organization for Marriage) are struggling to even stay alive, so they are pinpointing a local election where they score some sort victory. They need this in their constant and unceasing fundraising appeals. The fact is since the US Supreme Court Obergefell decision they are becoming irrelevant.

In any case I agree that the so-called "religious freedom bills" - more accurately anti-gay license to discriminate laws - will have to be struck down in the courts.

[~HecateWhisperCat~]

11 conservative lawmakers in Missouri were unseated as well.