Republican or can’t

Carolyn Coons, Print Editor-in-Chief
February 6, 2012
Filed under Commentary

Some fear that 2012 will mark the end of the world- an opinion which seems ridiculous. However, if one of the idiotic GOP candidates manages to win the election this year, the end of the world seems truly imminent.

No matter if you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent you cannot deny that the Republican presidential candidates have absolutely no redeeming qualities.

Let’s begin with Mitt Romney. If his laugh isn’t enough to turn you off, then look at his undeniable history of flip-flopping. From abortion to health care to gay marriage, he just can’t seem to make up his mind. When it suits him he’s pro-choice, and then as soon as someone condemns him for it he backs down immediately. He has no backbone or opinion to speak of.

And then there is the issue of his income and tax record. Romney makes as much as the average American family in one day, and pays a smaller percentage of his income. Oh, but he is just following the tax code, obeying the law. Little do his supporters know, back when there was a proposed increase in income tax on the wealthy, Romney and his well-paid lobbyist fought it and won.

Newt Gingrich is seen as the opposite of Romney. I mean this man has been a leader for years. He was there when the Cold War ended- and apparently also brought down the Berlin Wall all by himself! But his history in office is only evidence of his erratic and idiotic behavior. In many respects he is no different than Romney.

He was once featured in a commercial promoting carbon reduction, but now that his success is contingent on the support of polluters his once environmentally-friendly stance is out the window.

And now it seems all he wants to do is keep Romney out- Anyone but Romney has become his campaign slogan. And with this battle comes the various super PACs and their many ads. Bashing each other seems to be the new sport for many Republican candidates with Gingrich being the heavyweight champion.

Despite what Gingrich believes, he will soon be forgotten along with countless others who have tried and failed at a presidential bid.

After finally winning the Iowa caucus, Rick Santorum has emerged as competition for both Romney and Gingrich. If he is elected, he seeks to get rid of welfare and other government programs to assist the poor. He said that suffering was a part of life, and it keeps people from becoming “entitled”. His attitude towards the poor and disenfranchised should be of deep concern for those who are dependent on things such as welfare or Medicaid- if he’s elected he will be sure to take back those “privileges”.

His attitude towards the gay, bisexual, and transgender community is completely disgusting. He compared these people to people who have sex with animals and children. Such a hateful person would never be able to represent America.

Ron Paul is also completely ridiculous. He, unlike the others listed, holds to his libertarian views, but they are frighteningly radical and just down right stupid. His view on gay rights, sexual harassment, and equality in general are so regressive America would become unrecognizable.

He cannot be taken seriously as a candidate; his performance in the primary and during debates ensures it’s only a matter of time before he’s out.

But is there is something vaguely familiar about him- an elf who bakes cookies in a hollowed out tree perhaps?

The Republican Party is not completely incompetent, but these candidates sure seem to be. They are being bullied by loud and raucous right-wingers and Tea Partiers. But really, who cares?

If Americans know anything at all, and let’s hope they do, Obama will win the election with ease. He’s made his share of mistakes during his past term, but that shouldn’t matter come November.

As Obama said recently, it shouldn’t cost too much to keep up his campaign- the Republican candidates are making fools of themselves all on their own.