GOP Out of Touch on Fighting Discrimination

Rand Paul's comments only serve to reinforce the notion held by many Americans, particularly minorities, that Republican candidates are out of touch and downright insensitive when it comes to defeating discrimination in America.

Rand Paul's comments concerning the Civil Rights Act only serve to reinforce the notion held by many Americans, particularly minorities, that Republican candidates are out of touch and downright insensitive when it comes to defeating discrimination in America.  Indeed, upon hearing of the need to defeat discrimination in America, many conservatives may right away ask "What discrimination? There is none anymore!"

By coincidence, this week Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill that would have given gay and lesbian couples custody of their deceased partners for funeral plans.  To any voter who sees gays or lesbians as at least close to being human beings, Pawlenty's decision looks cruel.  Like Rand Paul's opposition to the Civil Rights Act, Pawlenty makes the GOP look out of touch on issues like discrimination and other obstacles that minorities in America face.

Paul's comments risk fracturing the Tea Party supporters that he and the Republicans need to win in November.  Many Tea Partiers are not socially conservative; they are simply tired of out of control spending, and bailouts for everything from car companies to bloated Greek pensioners.  Shifting the focus to divisive social issues could take away an important component of the Tea Party; voters who are socially moderate or liberal but fiscally conservative.