Fraters Libertas

Andrew Sullivan is Over

Never heard of the guy until shortly after 9/11/01. Via Lileks I think, I started to read Andrew Sullivan and found him to be among the most articulate advocates of what I felt about the experience my self. Horror, outrage, sadness, determination to settle the score and make sure it never happens again. Plus he said he was a Democrat leaner now understanding the importance of Republican governance in a time of foreign policy crisis. It seemed like he might be a useful example for those appeasement oriented types slow to learn the lessons of the smoking ruins in lower Manhattan and Washington DC.

Because of his writing skills on this topic, you could over look his other proclivities. Of which, most ridiculously, was his wrapping his sexual preferences in the American flag. To be clear, NOBODY cares what he does in his private life. It’s not on the radar of those reading the Internet for political analysis. But he sure cares about telling us about it. And that’s fine, blogging is an informal medium and personal insights are part of its appeal. Yes, George Will is a brilliant political analyst as well and he gets by just fine without inviting his readers into his bedroom. But if Sullivan feels the need to do that occasionally, as long as he’s reasonably discreet, who cares?

Of course the gay marriage issue has changed Sullivan’s approach from discreet to complete lunacy. Even before judges in Massachusetts and the mayor of San Francisco forced the issue on us, Sullivan was telling us that our approval of his lifestyle was a prerequisite for the health of his self esteem and a necessary human right. But the President’s remarkably mainstream and moderate stance on this issue (advocating a Constitutional Amendment for the protection of traditionally defined marriage) sent Sullivan into Rosie O’Donnel level hysterics, such as:

The president launched a war today against the civil rights of gay citizens and their families. And just as importantly, he launched a war to defile the most sacred document in the land.

And then threats to withhold his electoral support of a party he’s never supported in his life anyway:

We have no alternative but to defend ourselves and our families from this attack. And we will.

Let’s be clear on one thing. Despite his ephemeral, rhetorical support of GW Bush and the war on terror, and despite his claims of independence of mind, this is a behavioral Democrat (electorally speaking and otherwise). One who is now self righteously threatening to vote for the Democratic party in 2004 unless we accept his theory that the Constitution insists we allow gays to marry each other. That’s right, this movement is not just saying it’s a good idea for gays to marry each other. They’re saying the Constitution demands it. Just like others say it demands that children be prevented from saying the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. No ifs, and, or buts, (or representative legislation) about it.

So Sullivan is gone from the political right, perhaps revealing that despite his September eloquence of three years ago, he never really evolved in his political philosophy at all.

You may think that’s a harsh judgment, but taken in context with, for example, his comments on The Passion of the Christ, I think it’s accurate. Read below and try to imagine anyone to the Right of Larry Flynt or Michael Moore saying it:

At the same time, the movie was to me deeply disturbing. In a word, it is pornography. ..... Toward the end, unsatisfied with showing a man flayed alive, nailed gruesomely to a cross, one eye shut from being smashed in, blood covering his entire body, Gibson has a large crow perch on the neighboring cross and peck another man's eyes out. Why? Because the porn needed yet another money shot.

Absolutely ridiculous, intentionally alienating language. Using pornographic imagery in regard to a movie much of the Church hierarchy, including our man Pope John Paul himself, embraces as a deeply spiritual experience. It’s nothing more than a vindictive hit piece by Sullivan. As if he’s attempting to crudely and gratuitously slash back at the institution at the forefront of refusing to accept his lifestyle. And remember, his hyperbolic, vile prose is aimed at a cinematic depiction of a man who many believe died for our sins. I’d hate to see the rage Sullivan would summon up over a Mel Gibson movie depicting the fate of Sodom and Gomorra.

Naively, I thought likening the suffering of Christ to a porn “money shot” was as low as someone like him could go. Turns out I was wrong, as now Andrew Sullivan shares with us his inner most thoughts about Jesse Ventura.

BEAR WATCH: Jesse Ventura just got even sexier with that beard. If that were possible.

Thanks for sharing Andrew and bringing us all into your own personal hell. Now where do I go to get my memory erased?