ABC Wednesday, brought to you by the letter “L.” I could have declare my last posting, a limerick, as my “L,” but today they are counting votes in Wisconsin and I haven’t gotten in trouble for voicing my polarizing views on political morality (oxymoron, I know) in almost a week. So get ready, here it comes, from the cranky menopausal mom…! Amy
Loud, Lecherous Legislators
Family Values legislators jump through hoops
to prove they love Jesus, America, and “traditional marriage”
(not necessarily in that order)
Problem is, their hero is Newt Gingrich
who has been married three times
who left his first wife while she was in cancer treatment
who the Bible says is a fornicator, since he re-married
with this ex-wife still alive.
(Maybe Mitt gets a pass on his three marriages because he’s Mormon?
Except they don’t condone divorce, so is he really Mormon now?
Lord, this gets confusing, using the Bible as a salad bar.)
Family Values should be about loving families
but for these louts, the family must be straight
and have two parents of opposite gender
and produce children (so infertile people must not count)
and not rely on any public assistance
(even as their corporate masters take massive tax breaks,
sucking on the public teat like it’s a Dairy Queen)
Family Values lackeys are also homophobes
The louder they scream how they don’t believe
in “Adam and Steve,” the more often
get caught on the Down Low, their lover
ensconced in a cozy nest (charged to taxpayers)
or sliding a loafer under the men’s room stall
“It slipped.” (No, you slipped, sir)
Lest I be taken as a “lying Liberal,” I admit:
The Left does it too, in spades
We know most of them screw around
I mean, look at Bill Clinton
The difference is, they live and let live
They don’t tell us how to pursue love
or where, or when, or how many times
or with whom
So when you hear from “Family Values” candidates, remember
their values are flawed and loose
and their families often vamoose
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
SandySays1
Gosh does that mean that humans who truly have family values are bad? I thought it was alright to have different ideals and that humans had evolved enough to accept many points of view without wanting to send the others to gas chambers.
Sandy
Sharp Little Pencil
Gas chambers? Huh? I’m a pacifist, so the idea of sending anyone to a gas chamber is abhorrent to me, not only as a follower of Jesus but as a human being.
Family Values Politicians is the point, Sandy. Those who say one thing and do another. It’s called hypocrisy. That’s what I was getting at. Sorry if I offended you, but I stand by what I wrote. Peace, Amy
Roger Green
My real problem with Newt, specifically, is that he seems to operate entirely on the basis of whatever way the wind blows. I became specifically aware of that over the so-called “WTC mosque”, when he laid back until others else could be the stalking horses for the issue.
But I’m not convinced of the “they all do it”; mostly because I never thought of Bill Clinton as a liberal. After all, he got that awful telecommunications bill passed, cut welfare, and of course, brought us Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
Sharp Little Pencil
Well stated. Clinton was indeed a left leading moderate. I think DADT was a “mea culpa” to the Conservatives for Monica Lewinsky, as was “the Defense of Marriage Act,” but that doesn’t excuse the fact that he sold his gay and ally constituency (including me, a PFLAG mom and 30-yr activist) down the river.
And maybe you’re right; perhaps I should have said, “Most of them do it.” Of that much, I am sure – the women as well as the men in Congress are infamous for this. Pages, interns, lobbyists… it’s a petrie dish of ick.
Molokai Girl
Well, there is no arguing to any of that whether I am left or right or in between! Amen to that, I say!
P.S. yes, there is a song about Leilani and that it is referred to as a heavenly flower. Very akamai (smart in Hawaiian)!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for remembering that song. My mom said the male singer in her band used to sing it a lot.
chubskulit
Very interesting L.
Please come and see my Letter L, thanks!
Sharp Little Pencil
I did visit and loved your offering. As I mentioned in the post, nice images, and involving your son in the project was touching. Thanks for stopping by! Amy
Meryl Jaffe
You are so right about all of this!
My problem with Bill wasn’t so much that he screwed around (I mean that was bad) but what I found worse was that the President of the United States lied under oath – in front of us all. What kind of example is that? And where is the outcry of the mockery he made of our legal system?
Again, as you say, they all do it . But he did it as President. Not the type of role model/leader I want for my family.
Depressing, isn’t it!
Sharp Little Pencil
You’re right, Meryl; in fact, I’ve said EXACTLY the same thing about my real disappointment with Bill Clinton lying under oath. His smarmy parsing of details on the stand, “What do you mean by ‘sex’?” It also greatly hurt Hillary’s chances of becoming the first female president, in my opinion.
The greater point for me is that at least he wasn’t telling others how to live their lives. But as a leader, lying under oath is my idea of falling short in a big way. Thanks for this comment! Amy
Tumblewords
Ah, yes. It’s such a surprise to find they have followers…amazing.
Sharp Little Pencil
Like the rest of my family. My mother is rolling in her grave – she was a civil rights, Roosevelt, New Deal Democrat. The Tea Party would make her choke, no doubt!
I thought we were supposed to grow more conservative as we age, but I know a lady who’s eighty-something, and still singing with the Raging Grannies! So there’s hope for my dotage. I hope I never give up on the underdog in society… I can’t, really. I heard the call young.
Rajesh
Beautifully put together on “Family Values”
Sharp Little Pencil
Rajesh, so good to hear from you. Thank you – I’m glad it came across well. Peace, Amy
Debbie
Amy, I like how you tell it like it is! Nothing was lacking in your L poem!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Debbie. As many friends say, “Don’t hold back, Amy – tell us how you REALLY feel!”
christine
Yah, but your politics is still, so much more interesting then in Canada. Up here no one cares who’s sleeping with whom. (or is that who?) We are having an election right now, you people south of the border probably have no clue about it because it is a snore fest at the very least.
Sharp Little Pencil
You’re right, Christine. Our current election is only in one state – Wisconsin – although there are always local elections happening. The difference is, elections down here are stinkin’ up the joint with dirty money, especially in terms of media grabs. That’s why they get so much attention. The line between news and elections is as blurred as any other line down here. Plus we STILL don’t have universal health care, because the insurance/Big Pharma have loads of money to throw around… and our Supreme Court (in its infinite wisdom, and a split decision) decided that Money Equals Speech. So rich folks have louder voices than us poor little guys…
vivinfrance
Amy you have excelled yourself. To hell with hypocrisy and cant.
Sharp Little Pencil
I “cant” (grooooan) wait to hear what some of my conservative friends say about this one. Bet they won’t post, although they are always welcome. I’m generally viewed in my own family as a pain in the ass!! I don’t properly worship money and power… my big failing… 😉
Sheila Deeth
Ah, delightfully sharp, from one cranky menopausal to another.
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, sister, I’ve got your back!
Misfit
A great poem. Don’t they just frustrate the heck out of you?
Donna – ABC Team
Sharp Little Pencil
Yupper. “Do as I say; not as I do.” Worst advice ever…! EVER!
Madeleine Begun Kane
I agree with your poem completely. Very well said!
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, not everybody did, LOL
Dan Paicopulos
wow…you’re the best, lady, and now I know a little more of the why…and Madison is the place I’d choose if someone made me choose just one, and this from a lad from Oconomowoc
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, Dan, looked up your town on the Web. Certainly looks nice… too bad we have the same &^$!!! governor, ha ha. Come to one of the few spots that turns “suddenly red” Wisconsin just a little bit purple! Amy