God loves Howard Dean

Simon--you do know that Gerry Studs is dead, right?

Yes. So is Strom Thurmond. How is that relevant to the argument on this thread?

Neither of the politicians you mention were "pimping" or committing "pedophilia". Do you think posting such stuff wins you points or something? And once again, a reminder, this isn't about them, it's about (or it's supposed to be about) Larry Craig. Back to topic, please.

Both Frank and Studds committed acts that most Americans (then and now) regard as utterly contemptible. Had either of them occupied a swing district, or shown polling weakness in his overwhelmingly Democratic district, he would have been ostracized and thrown to the wolves by the national Democratic Party establishment.

Parties respond to scandals based on political reality, not some abstract principles. That -- and only that -- the point I've been making here. Not saying the Republicans have a higher moral standard or that Democrats are uniquely tolerant of scandalous or obnoxious members of their party.

If early polling showed that most Idahoans thought Larry Craig was getting an unfair rap, GOP Senate leaders would be rallying around him. But because his conduct makes an otherwise safe Republican seat at least somewhat competitive, they're pushing as hard as they can to get him out.

Franklin,

I only WISH I could believe/agree with you that "Everyone has the same rights."

Clearly GLBT Americans do NOT. They're SUPPOSED to, according to the Constitution (the one you have, not the one bush wants to have), but they don't. Not yet, anyway. and guess which party fights against that equality??? (Hint: starts with an "R")

"Many don't have the opportunity or ability to exercise them."

Um, that would be because of the laws passed in America. The laws, in effect, DO mean that people do NOT have "the same rights" - by law, they DON'T. Clearly, gay Americans do NOT have the right to marry the person they love. Many gay Americans are still subjected to laws that deny them the equality to serve their country. Many gay Americans do NOT have the "same rights" to hold a job.

You are more than "splitting hairs with semantics"; you are denying the reality of what it means to be gay in America. Gay Americans do NOT have the "same rights" as heterosexual Americans - by law.