Pat Buchanan's faulty diagnosis

Larry Craig may be sick, but being gay is not a disease.

Published August 30, 2007 7:25PM (EDT)

The right-wing insanity and hypocrisy over Sen. Larry Craig has reached new highs, but Pat Buchanan is in a class by himself. Debating him last night on MSNBC's Dan Abrams live, I almost lost it. Buchanan kept insisting Craig wasn't a hypocrite, preaching anti-gay "family values" while cruising for sex in men's bathrooms; Craig actually believes those values, the conservative pundit contends, but is just having a hard time living them. He compared him to an alcoholic priest who abhors drinking, but slips. I had to point out that alcoholism is a disease; being gay is not. You can watch it here:

I can't believe it needs saying, but I'll say it again: Closeted, self-hating gays who crusade against gay rights are sick, gay people are not. Luckily Buchanan is part of an aging cohort of pundits and politicians who will be replaced by a younger generation that accepts the humanity and the equal rights of gay people. This, too, shall pass -- but not fast enough.

I'm on MSNBC's "Hardball" today talking about Craig, and more.


By Joan Walsh



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