BVP's Weak Tea

I had completely lost track of Bob Vander Plaats until he showed up at the National Press Club Monday morning, and then in the national press. The president and CEO of The Family Leader appeared at a news conference with Tea Party leaders who are urging Republican congressional leaders to resist raising the federal debt ceiling or face electoral consequences.

One guy was dressed up as George Washington. Another was in full Revolutionary War regalia and, at one point, answered a question using a Scottish accent. Vander Plaats was not in costume and spoke perfect Iowan.

You can watch the video here or click the photo above.

So why was Vander Plaats, Iowa's social issues crusader, gay marriage fighter and top judge hunter hanging around with these budgetary minutemen? Well, apparently, in this case, fiscal and social are now happily married. Among the many demands of the costumed partiers who appeared Monday is reinstatement of the now repealed "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military. The group is worried about "effeminization" of the military.

So what does that have to do with the debt ceiling?

"I think it's a ripple," Vander Plaats explained. "When you start going away from the values issues, the ripple effect leads right to economic issues as well."

"When you leave the fundamental core values issues, it will only translate into poor economic policy. And that's what we're seeing today," Vander Plaats said.

He then pulled out a chart showing two lines. One showed the rising number of gay marriages. The second showed rising gasoline prices. OK, he did not do that. But you believed it for a second, didn't you?

This is the tired line Vander Plaats has been peddling now for a while. If you let things like marriage equity happen, the economy will slide right down slippery slope. Never mind that many of this country's most vibrant cities and profitable companies embrace equity.

It's all part of Vander Plaats' never-ending effort to pretend that his organization is not really devoted to taking fundamental civil rights away from his fellow Iowans and beyond. It's not really about "leading" their families backward to the dark days of legal limbo. It's really not about forcing soldiers to painfully, fearfully hide their identity while they're serving this country on the battlefield.

It's not about repression. It's all about avoiding a recession. Sure thing.

It's a pocketbook issue. No, wait, it's about the Constitution and separation of powers. No, sorry, it's a public health issue, because, after all, being gay is more dangerous than second-hand smoke.

No, wait, it's about how this will lead to polygamy etc. After two years of legal gay marriage in Iowa, we're still waiting for polygamists to file that big class action lawsuit. Any day now.

Always keep your real motives tucked neatly under your hat, maybe even your tricorn. But no matter how you dress it up, it's weak, bitter tea.