paul stam

I've been away for a month, watching the sad collapse of North Carolina from the other side of the world. Upon my return this morning, I discovered that Gene Nichols has done the hard work of chronicling the ongoing GOP assault with a column in the News and Observer: On being governed by brigands.

I have only one problem with Gene's column: it shows too much restraint. To label Tillis & Co., as "brigands" is too kind by a wide margin. Because what is happening in our state is nothing less than good, old-fashioned gang rape.

APEX, NC - Representative Paul Stam told Triangle radio listeners today that the General Assembly will soon take up - and pass - legislation that will define abortion as murder in North Carolina.

"This Thursday, on Valentine's Day, the mighty hand of the Lord is going to strike back against the legions of whores, baby-killers, and fornicators who have ignored His holy commandments," said Stam. "Abortion is not just murder, it's premeditated murder. Those found guilty must be put to death."

Mirroring a proposal now making its way through the Iowa legislature, Stam says his bill will finally put women in their place. "The Bible says women are good for one thing and one thing only. Breeding," said Stam. "That's why my bill is identical to the one introduced by my friend Rob Bacon, a devout conservative Christian serving God in the Corn Hole State.

It's no secret that the Republican party in North Carolina is fundamentally racist and misogynist. This inescapable conclusion can be drawn not by looking into their hearts and minds, but by examining their actions and choices. Christianists like Skip Stam and Phil Berger have spent their political careers trying to subvert the rights of black people and women to receive equal treatment before the law.

Koch Industries, the Kansas-based oil and chemical conglomerate whose owners Charles and David Koch have played a leading role in financing the fight against government regulation, is stepping up its investment in North Carolina politics at a critical moment for the state's energy future.

Image by Sara Davis | Getty

The growing firestorm over Todd Akin's scientific ignorance would be interesting if it were not grounded in a belief system shared by Republican leaders here in North Carolina. Not unlike our own GOP lawmakers, Akin makes the mistake of believing everything he thinks.

Akin (R-Missouri): "First of all, from what I understand from doctors, [pregnancy from rape] is really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Aldridge (R-North Carolina): Women do not get pregnant when raped because "the juices don't flow, the body functions don't work" during an attack, a state lawmaker said yesterday. Aldridge made the remarks to the House Appropriations Committee as it debated a proposal to eliminate a state abortion fund for poor women.

These guys are like second-graders making stuff up out of thin air to justify their otherwise indefensible positions on abortion rights. But make no mistake, they are not lone voices. They are mainstream Republican voices echoing the anti-women sentiments of candidates like Thom Tillis, Paul Stam, and Pat McCrory.

The biggest obstacle to Representative Paul "Skip" Stam being the next N.C Speaker of the House is now three months away, November 6th, 2012. Voters in District 37 will have the opportunity to prevent the Architect of Amendment One from continuing to push his policies through the North Carolina Legislature. One of the very important things at stake is our public schools. Represtative Stam has continually attempted to privatize public education, but has so far failed to have any of his legislation approved. Another term will give Representative Stam ample time to create yet another tax incentive for parents to pull their children out of public schools. As Speaker of the House, the influence Stam carries will be far reaching. He succeeded in writing discrimination into the Constitution, he succeeded in destroying the Racial Justice Act, he succeeded in ensuring that a mistaken vote ushered in Fracking and he will succeed in dismantling our public education system.

Which of North Carolina's Republican leaders reminds you most of Pontius Pilate in this clip from Jesus Christ Superstar?

As they seek to defend the crucifixion of gay families on the altar of the North Carolina Constitution, which of these small men will be remembered throughout history with such deep disdain?

As with Pontius Pilate, all their belated hand-washing will do nothing to absolve them.

It was bad enough that Republican leaders like Skip Stam put their (considerable) weight behind getting their little buddy elected to the Apex town council. It didn't matter that the guy had been arrested for drunk driving, he had friends in high places. So it comes as no surprise that Scott Lassiter is looking for a way to avoid taking responsibility for his actions.

But hey, at least he's creative.