While I completely agree that taking the lazy, politically convenient way out is, well...lazy and politically convenient, I don't consider very many of our Senators and House members to be any sort of "leaders." Most are purely followers. Followers of polls, followers of money, followers of anything that will allow them to keep their seat on the Congressional Gravy Train for the rest of their lives. Or at least until they land a sweet deal as a lobbyist for one of their corporate benefactors.

So the question deserves to be asked: do you really consider any of these people to be leaders? They were elected as representatives of their districts. This is a large part of why they always get re-elected; everyone hates every Congressperson except their own rep or Senator. Because they bring home the bacon. The crap that watchdog groups hold up as pork and earmarks, to a local constituent whose job depends upon the special earmark given to the turtle zoo or toothpick museum or even struggling manufacturing plant, those earmarks are his rent.

And he understands that in the end, the man actually paying his rent is one of the guys on that list.

Any one of them could easily call a town hall and try to explain to his constituents that homophobia and racism are outdated relics of a dark chapter in our history. Work to change habits, not excuse them. But that would require leadership. And bravery. These people aren't leaders. They're Washington teat-suckers.

Once you get all that free health care, the private subway system, the fancy office and kick-ass parties, the taxpayer funded junkets, it's pretty difficult to return to the lowly level of those whom you lead. Er, represent.

Too late to cut it short, but my point is fairly simple; is it really an excuse to say they couldn't get re-elected in their districts if they voted for this bill? After all, if they are representatives, shouldn't they be representing the people who voted for them? Even if those people are racist, homophobic assholes, if they live in a racist, homophobic district in a racist, homophobic state, doesn't our system of government provide them representation, too?

If they're still so uneducated, perhaps that is a larger indictment of our system. But I'm not so willing to brush off a vote against this bill as pure homophobia over old fashioned political expediency. Not all people are strong. Some are spineless, clueless and stupid. But if they can find people to represent them before Congress, well, sad to say...that's what our system is based upon.