I have a post up at Greg's place taking on former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's anti-gay dog-whistling on DADT repeal.
More disturbing than Pawlenty's unworkable proposal for reinstating DADT or defunding repeal is that even in 2012, a Republican primary candidate might feel it necessary offer disdain for gays and lesbians as a selling point. Ultimately, though, it feels a little desperate, a way for a relatively bland candidate to distinguish himself from his more colorful rivals. The message was presumably received by Iowa's heavily evangelical Republican caucus voters; we'll find out soon enough how impressed they were.
Dave Weigel wonders whether he's doing it to distract from his support for a bill banning discrimination in the 1990s, but judging by the latest stuff he's said to Igor Volsky, I really think he's just trying to make himself less bland. On some level, I think he and the people who work for him are probably trying to get a piece of that reactionary affection conservatives have for anyone who draws the ire of liberals; right now Sarah Palin seems to be hogging it all.
