Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 26, 1993 TAG: 9303260553
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
GOP FUNNYMEN
BLACKS, GAYS, Hispanics, Asians, Jews, Catholics . . . perhaps we should add to all the groups that have been unfairly stereotyped in this country one of our political factions: right-wing Republicans.They aren't narrow-minded bigots. The press just expects them to be and, so, grabs hold of any supporting evidence and blows it out of proportion.
That, according to the Republicans involved, is what happened in news accounts of their recent "roast" honoring former Rep. Stan Parris. If their jokes about gays and blacks hurt anyone's feelings, they sure are sorry. But that darn press . . . .
As U.S. Senate hopeful Oliver North grumbled, his biggest mistake was giving "the assembled media" an opening "to make of me personally - [and] the conservative Republicans I was with, generally - less than what I know us to be."
Come, come. Didn't a similar spirit of cynical divisiveness dominate last year's GOP National Convention? It might have dominated the presidential campaign, too, if it had played well at the nominating convention.
It didn't play well, and neither does the feigned shock - "Gay-bashing? Moi?" - to the revelation that their remarks hurt some feelings.
It would have been reassuring to hear some faint indication that they could see a problem - other than political - with public officials and political hopefuls using a term like "fags" before an audience not noted for its empathy for homosexuals.
Instead, those involved appear to be less sorry that their comments caused offense than that they drew widespread criticism. Their apologies are halfhearted - and late.
But don't stereotype Republicans. U.S. Sen. John Warner, a Republican, last week quickly and commendably said that the controversial remarks "were clearly out of line." Too bad he wasn't talking for North.