The Republicans like to present themselves as tolerant. They've even coined a term for their party's tolerance -- the big-tent party. The big tent metaphor is supposed to connote a place big enough to include all walks of American life.
But as usual, the Republicans are just cynically saying whatever the polls suggest they say, e.g., be more tolerant. All the while knowing good and well that there will be no room made in the party for, say, gays, pro choicers or pro unionists.
Here's a good example of how a powerful Republican group views tolerance. It's from Tom McClusky, chief lobbyist for the far-right Family Research
Council.
The big-tent strategy could ultimately spell doom for the Republican Party. All a big-tent strategy seems to be doing is attracting a bunch of clowns.
Here he's talking about the acceptance of gay staffers for Republican congress members. There has been a lot of see-I-told-you-so comments like this by the religious right since the recent scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley. The Pedo Foley incident has increased tensions between anti-gay
Republicans and those who believe the GOP should welcome all (a shrinking minority),
regardless of their sexual orientation.
The big tent is a big sham.
The Republicans are led by right wingers who won't tolerate certain Americans in their party. Period.
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