Smerconish's Friend, My Son and the Bachmann's

When I read a recent column by Michael Smerconish at the, I said to myself, "Wow, I could have written this myself -- perhaps even better than Smerconish."
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When I read a recent column by Michael Smerconish at the Philadelphia Enquirer, I said to myself, "Wow, I could have written this myself -- perhaps even better than Smerconish."

Now, don't get me wrong, I am no Michael Smerconish -- I can't even spell his last name correctly without constantly referring back to his byline. But, first, allow me to briefly review what Smerconish wrote.

Pointing out how a Republican friend, Ben Haney, could have been "a real asset" to Michele Bachmann's campaign, Smerconish describes Ben as an upstanding young man, who was raised Catholic and comes from a great, conservative family. "I can personally attest to his character," Smerconish says.

But, Smerconish continues, Ben is troubled by Bachmann's signing of the so-called pro-marriage pledge at the request of the "Family Leader," not only "the part about black kids being better off under slavery than they are today," but also "the verbiage about sexuality being a choice."

Smerconish reminds us of Bachmann's 2004 remarks at the National Education Leadership Conference on the gay lifestyle: "It's a very sad life. It's part of Satan, I think, to say this is gay. It's anything but gay."

Smerconish also points out that pesky little issue haunting Bachmann's husband -- Marcus -- who, after obtaining "his Ph.D. by virtue of a correspondence course," runs a mental-health clinic that allegedly engages in attempts to "pray away the gay," and he reminds us of Marcus' 2010 radio interview on parenting homosexual children where he says:

We have to understand: barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined. Just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn't mean that we are supposed to go down that road. That's what is called the sinful nature. We have a responsibility as parents and as authority figures not to encourage such thoughts and feelings from moving into the action steps. . .

Smerconish mentions that Ben, a proud Notre Dame alum, "doesn't appreciate the reference to the devil, nor being compared to barbarians."

Naturally, Ben would not appreciate such comments. See, Ben is an outstanding, upright young man who happens to be gay.

Now back to my seemingly self-aggrandizing comment that I could have written Smerconish's piece "better" than the renowned author and commentator. Of course I cannot even begin to approach Smerconish's superb eloquence, style and authority. Perhaps I might be able to write about the challenges and hardships facing a young, gay person with more insight and passion. Perhaps by "better" I mean with more sadness, anguish and, yes, indignation.

You see, I have intimately known for almost 50 years a "young" man (he will always be young to me), an upstanding young man who, just like Ben, was raised a Catholic and came from -- at the time -- a conservative family and hopefully a good family. I can also very personally and without hesitation attest to his character.

That young man, like Ben, is gay and happens to be my beloved son.

Perhaps the reader will understand why it pains me and even angers me every time so-called "family values" conservatives such as Michele and Marcus Bachmann disparage and demonize my son.

As a matter of fact, I have written about my son, about why I am no longer a Republican and, ironically, about Michele Bachmann and her own "conversion" -- albeit not as well as Mr. Smerconish.

In "Bachmann's Epiphany and My Own 'Conversion,'" referring to how Michele Bachmann "shed her youthful Democratic roots and became a Republican," I write why I shed my youthful Republican roots and became a Democrat. There were several reasons for my own epiphany, but perhaps the most powerful and poignant one has to do with my son's sexuality and how my then-party viewed and treated gay and lesbian Americans.

I wrote, in part:

Perhaps it was because I came to the conclusion that "compassion," "tolerance," and "inclusion" are a way of life with Democrats, not just hollow quadrennial campaign slogans.

There were other reasons for my "flip-flopping." But the most personal and compelling reason was that so many from my previous party allege that my son is immoral, a biological error, or worse. A person who does not deserve all the rights and privileges other Americans enjoy...

I fully agree with Ben Haney's observation that such beliefs may win Michele Bachmann the votes for the Republican nomination, "but they all but guarantee that [she] will not win the moderate voters who continually decide presidential elections. To them and most of the nation, [her] positions are out of touch, insulting, and downright flaky."

No, I am no Michael Smerconish, but when it comes to my son, it is my paternal duty to be "better" than this great personality in speaking out against those who would defame, stigmatize and discriminate -- perpetrate hate -- against my son. And I hope that you will join me and Michael Smerconish.

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