Thanks to Rachel Maddow, I learned that Virginia’s new Republican governor Bob McDonnell has just rewritten their non-discrimination policies for state employees to exclude sexual orientation from the list of protected classes and wants to refuse funding to Planned Parenthoods in the state.  I’m fascinated with the intersections of the politics between what Republicans do, and what Democrats don’t do.  It was crystalized for me when watching the following segment.

Notice the argument Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University Melissa Harris-Lacewell makes about who is responsible for creating an environment where hostility and discrimination towards the LGBT community and women is acceptable.

She argues that Blue Dog Democrats who have made women’s reproductive health in health care reform an ok target to demonize during the last few months are responsible for setting this tone by classifying women’s reproductive health to be attackable.

Professor  Harris-Lacewell also argues that  Democratic leaders who do are not agressively addressing discrimination and taking a hard stand around citizenship based on  sexual orientation as evidenced by the delay in the repeal of “Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell” are also to blame.

And like a rockstar that she is, she then goes on to say that these discriminatory laws need to also address the discrimination in employment and housing faced by those who do not conform because of their  gender expression.

Most importantly, according to Professor Harris-Lacewell as Democrats “we need to set a new tone.  We need a new standard of citizenship.”  Amen, sister.  (Hat Tip: JoeMyGod)