Sheep's clothing

Don't be fooled -- the Bush-Cheney ticket is anything but inclusive, moderate, or compassionate

The image put forth at this week's GOP nominating convention has been nothing if not inclusive, moderate, and, yes, compassionate. There was Colin Powell on Monday night calling for more minority membership in the Republican Party. There was Laura Bush stating her commitment to early-childhood education. Heck, there was even a blind mountain climber leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

But don't be fooled. The Republican ticket of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney is anything but inclusive and is far from moderate. Just take a look at what the 2000 GOP platform has to say about social and cultural issues.

* Abortion: "We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children. . . . Our goal is to ensure that women with problem pregnancies have the kind of support, material and otherwise, they need for themselves and for their babies . . . " Translation: if you've become pregnant as a result of a rape, you'd better sign up for Lamaze classes. Ditto for women whose lives are endangered by pregnancy.

* Immigration: "As a nation of immigrants, we welcome all new Americans who have entered lawfully and are prepared to follow our laws and provide for themselves and their families. . . . To ensure fairness for those wishing to reside in this country, and to meet the manpower needs of our expanding economy, a total overhaul of the immigration system is sorely needed. . . . We call for harsh penalties against smugglers and . . . more resources both to border control and internal operations. . . . [W]e support increasing the numbers of H- 1B visas to ensure high tech workers in specialized positions . . . " Translation: please stay in your own country unless you're an IT professional.

* Employment non-discrimination: "We will attain our nation's goal of equal opportunity without quotas or other forms of preferential treatment. It is as simple as this: No one should be denied a job, promotion, contract, or chance at higher education because of their race or gender. Equal access, energetically offered, should guarantee every person a fair shot based on their potential and merit." Translation: it is as simple as this -- we think white people deserve jobs.

* Homosexuality: "We support the traditional definition of `marriage' as the legal union of one man and one woman, and we believe that federal judges and bureaucrats should not force states to recognize other living arrangements as marriages. . . . For the same reason, we do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in the law. . . . We support the First Amendment right of freedom of association and stand united with private organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America, and support their positions." Translation: we wish the homos would just shut up about it already.

* Gun control: "Although we support background checks to ensure that guns do not fall into the hands of criminals, we oppose federal licensing of law-abiding gun owners and national gun registration as a violation of the Second Amendment and an invasion of privacy of honest citizens." Translation: just say no to more gun-control laws.

* Pop culture: "Just as environmental pollution affects our physical health, so too does the pollution of our culture affect the health of our communities. There is much to celebrate in contemporary culture, but also much to deplore: The glorification of violence, the glamorizing of drugs, the abuse of women and children, whether in music or videos, advertising, or tabloid journalism. Still, there are individuals and organizations using their power as citizens and consumers to advance a cultural renewal in all aspects of American life." Translation: go, Bill Bennett! Go, Disney-boycotting Baptists!

* Criminal justice: "Crimes against women and children demand an emphatic response. That is why the Republican Congress enacted Megan's Law, requiring local notification when sex offenders are released, and why we advocate special penalties against thugs who, in assault against pregnant women, harm them or their unborn children." Translation: we will continue to deal with these issues in a knee-jerk, exploitative fashion. Plus, crimes against men don't count.

* Religion: "We assert the right of religious leaders to speak out on public issues and will not allow the EEOC or any other arm of government to regulate or ban religious symbols from the workplace." Translation: we'll let you set up a nativity scene at City Hall, but we draw the line at Buddhas and menorahs.

The GOP may have gotten its act together this week -- no Pat Buchanan and no wacko religious extremists -- but as its platform shows, it's still the same old party.

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