The other Republican Party

While Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature move closer and closer to the edge of the world (which they know is flat), Republican governors in two other states have shown that there is another side to the GOP, at least in some states.

GOP leaders in the legislature here have voted to ask a born-again, wingnut law firm -- whose leader accused SpongeBob SquarePants of being gay -- to represent them in a lawsuit over benefits for domestic partners. They are against giving such benefits, of course. The Republicans are also pushing an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to outlaw same sex marriages and civil unions.

Meanwhile, the Republican governor of Connecticut has signed a bill legalizing civil unions. And last fall, the governor of California -- some guy named Arnold -- signed a bill into law that requires insurers to offer registered same-sex partners the same health coverage as married couples.

Other Republicans have not been as receptive or tolerant. Maryland's GOP gov just vetoed a bill giving unmarried partners more rights to make health care decisions, making some noise about the "sanctity of traditional marriage."

"I think he's vetoing the bill because there is no longer a moderate wing of the Republican Party in Maryland," said Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland, a gay rights group. Story

The same could be said of Wisconsin. What do you suppose it is that makes the Wisconsin GOP so rabid? Will it change when John Gard leaves, or is in it the party's bloodstream now?