More McCornthyism

Liberals have circulated a McCornthyite list of closeted gay staffers on the Hill, and yet all this piece in The Nation is worried about is whether the Rev. Don Wildmon is advocating the firing of gay staffers.

It should go without saying that no one should be fired simply because of his (or her) sexual preference. And, in fact, if one scrutinizes the key Wildmon quote, it's not entirely clear that he actually supports the measures attributed to him. Here's part of the quote:

There should be no organization among staffers in Washington of that nature, and if they find out that they're there and they're a member, they oughtta be dismissed el pronto."

In fact, what it sounds like is that Rev. Wildmon was opposing any kind of formal pro-gay organization among Republican staffers -- not seeking their dismissal simply because they are gay.

Just when one is tempted to believe that the Democrats couldn't act with any more political opportunism than they already have, one has to wonder whether they're trying to use the Foley scandal as a vehicle for seeking special preferences and/or protections under the law for homosexuals.