Intolerance is real problem of GOP

“Thou shalt speak no evil of another Republican” So said Ronald Reagan. Is it possible that a corollary is also true — speak no truth about the Republican Party.

A few years ago I thought the shunning and banishment of David Brock (author of “The Real Anita Hill” and “The Seduction of Hillary Rodham”) was simply because he was gay and that he crossed the line by coming out. (I guess that’s why “don’t ask/don’t tell” is so popular among conservatives.) Then there was Bruce Bartlett. All he did was write a book in 2006 critical of George W. Bush (how prescient) and he was out. Now the American Enterprise Institute has fired another apostate, or is he?

David Frum spoke the truth and lost his job for it. OK, that’s his employer’s prerogative. But, the larger problem is the denial his firing projects. Frum was right, AEI was wrong and the Republican Party will pay for it, if only because it refuses to look at itself and consider change. The guy Republicans should really fire is Michael Steele. But he was primarily picked for his race and his firing would be viewed by many as racist. What’s the term for that, oh year, “hoist on your own petard.” Isn’t it a shame that so many conservatives view Obama as incompetent because of his race and yet Steele apparently has earned the imprimatur of competence solely because of his political affiliation. And yet, the reality is just the opposite.

Intolerance is the real problem of the Republican Party. I’m not even sure the Superfund could clean up your mess.

BOB WYNHAUSEN

Sandpoint