Follow the Leader

On Monday, we saw a major turnaround. In a fascinating about face, both Governor Brian Sandoval (R) and Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto agreed to drop their plan to defend the state’s ban on marriage equality in federal court. Overall, their decision has been met with many sighs of relief here in Nevada. Why waste the state’s time and money on a losing war to deny thousands of Nevada families their civil rights?

However, not everyone feels that way. Already, Nevada’s top G-O-TEA politicians are going against their own Governor and decrying his decision to stop fighting marriage equality in court. Attorney General candidate Adam Laxalt (R) has been trying to differentiate himself from Sandoval, Cortez Masto, and his likely Democratic opponent this fall (outgoing Secretary of State Ross Miller) with his loud opposition to marriage equality and a promise to reinstate the state’s legal fight against it. And Washoe County District Attorney Dick Gammick (R) went on "Nevada Newsmakers" yesterday to declare he's sick & tired of LGBTQ Nevadans "throwing it in his face" (whatever that means).

We've known for some time that Brian Sandoval has very little juice left in his own party. But now, it's becoming crystal clear that most Nevada Republicans would rather take marching orders from G-O-TEA Shock Jock Rush Limbaugh than from their own Governor. Wait, what?!

No really, think about it. Earlier this week, Rush Limbaugh had a panic attack when University of Missouri football star and potential NFL recruit Michael Sam came out as gay. He then went on to declare that heterosexuals are somehow "under assault". How?



As usual, "El Rushbo" made absolutely no sense. He just doesn't like the idea of out athletes. He probably also doesn't like out Eagle Scouts, out Bandstand dancers, and/or out Navy SEALs. And he still refuses to accept 21st century America.

But then again, so do the 21st Century Know Nothings who consider him, Laura Ingraham, and the other leading G-O-TEA Shock Jocks to be the "true leaders of the movement". They're afraid of 21st Century America, and they see growing acceptance of LGBTQ Americans as a "threat to traditional values". And because they are the base of today's Republican Party, G-O-TEA politicians (such as Adam Laxalt & Dick Gammick) will pander to their fears in order to further their own careers.

That's all we're seeing now. G-O-TEA politicians are just following their leaders. And no, Brian Sandoval isn't one of those leaders.