In lieu of the long and vitriolic post I had prepared about the coward who hit my truck yesterday (taking out headlight assembly and front bumper) and ran away, ladies and gentlemen, I give you IDENTIFIABLE cowards: GOP women masquerading as caring human beings.

Cynthia Davis, Missouri:
Davis, who serves as the chairwoman of the Missouri House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families, questioned whether the program is “warranted,” and extolled the hidden benefits of child hunger:

Who’s buying dinner? Who is getting paid to serve the meal? Churches and other non-profits can do this at no cost to the taxpayer if it is warranted. [...] Bigger governmental programs take away our connectedness to the human family, our brotherhood and our need for one another. [...] Anyone under 18 can be eligible? Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are 16? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals? Tip: If you work for McDonald’s, they will feed you for free during your break. [...] It really is all about increasing government spending, which means an increase in taxes for us to buy more free lunches and breakfasts.

A report by Feeding America found that one in five Missouri children currently lives with hunger. Taking apart Davis’ other arguments, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial noted that most of the summer feeding program sites are actually hosted by churches and that the program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fed 3.7 million meals at a total cost of less than $9.5 million last summer — “a pretty good use of federal money.”
See that thing 'round her neck? I've no idea what it stands for, since no true Christian would advocate leaving hungry children without food. Jesus warned of such behavior's consequences firsthand (See the Gospel of Matthew, 18:6).

Debbie Riddle, Texas:
src="http://www.house.state.tx.us/fx/grafx/photos/members/riddle.thumb.jpg">

In a March 6, 2003 interview with the El Paso Times, Riddle was quoted as saying:

"Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell. And it's cleverly disguised as having a tender heart. It's not a tender heart. It's ripping the heart out of this country." [1]

The quote came after a Border and International Affairs Committee meeting during the Seventy-eighth Texas Legislature, in which the state faced a budget deficit of $10 billion,[1] and was linked to a discussion Riddle had during the hearing regarding proposed health care cuts. The witness claimed that health care cuts would cause serious damage to border area hospitals, which Riddled countered with the claim that illegal immigrants were responsible for the financial strains.[1]

Riddle was further quoted as saying "In a perfect world, I think it would be wonderful to open our doors to any and all, young and old, for health care. But this isn't a perfect world. We have got to decide if we are going to just open our borders for any and all that come through for health care, education, and services."[1]

The comment was met almost instantly with both opposition and support from both ends of the political spectrum.

Texas Democrats claimed the statement was bigoted and "the product of an antipathy toward non-Anglo inhabitants of the state"

Rep. Debbie Riddle's (R-Houston) petulant outburst at the March 5 Border Affairs Committee hearing betrays an ignorance and bigotry which disqualify her from serving on that committee of the Texas Legislature.

The "idea" that the state provide free public education for all children within its borders comes not from Russia, but from the Texas Constitution of 1876. Does Rep. Riddle really regard this state and its constitution as "the pit of hell"?

Concerning the education of children regardless of immigration status, then-Governor George W. Bush supported it even for children of undocumented residents. It was the basis of his claim to be a "compassionate" conservative. Rep. Riddle may be correct when she characterizes Governor Bush's feigned concern as mere pretense (a "clever disguise"), but denouncing Governor Bush for "ripping the heart out of this country" is disrespectful and disloyal to the leader of her party (and our country).

As for us taking care of the sick and the infirm, regardless of citizenship (medical care for those who need it), that's not an idea from Moscow - it comes from the Bible. (See, for example, Matthew 25:36-40 and 4:23-24). Whether or not it is good public policy (unlike Rep. Riddle, I happen to believe that providing medical care for those who need it regardless of economic or any immigration status, is a noble and legitimate public function), it's just dumb, or demagogic, to charge that a communist concept. And Rep. Riddle, I'm offended by your characterization of the Sermon on the Mount as coming from "the pit of hell."

Likely, Rep. Riddle's intemperate utterance was, in part, the product of an antipathy toward non-Anglo inhabitants of the state. At least, it sure looks and sounds that way. She may be Texas' own counterpart to Sen. Trent Lott, but he, at least, apologized for the pain caused by his comments. As far as I'm aware, Rep. Riddle has not done even that. ( according to HCDP chair
Gerry Birnberg, who in April 2003 rightly predicted Riddle would neither apologize nor step down.)

and the Harris County Democratic Party called for her to resign from her position on the Border Affairs Committee.[2] The Mexican American Legislative Caucus stated that "Our constitutional mandate comes not from the pit of hell. It comes from our state's forefathers."[3]

At the same time, the Unidas Hispanic Women's Club and the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Harris County praised Riddle for the quote and honored her at a dinner at the conclusion of session. Reggie Gonzalez, chairman for the Republican Hispanic Outreach Committee of Harris County said in a press release: "The liberal opposition to Representative Riddle's comments offends me as a Hispanic citizen. Their opposition only strengthens this negative stereotype of Hispanic immigrants, by implying that they need a lower standard of accountability. This implication is detrimental to the cause of Mexican-Americans everywhere."[4]

...

1. ^ a b c d "Legislators Question Border Health", El Paso Times; March 6, 2003
2. ^ Harris County Democratic Party - Message From The Chair: April 2003
3. ^ The Austin Chronicle: News: Naked City: Beyond City Limits
4. ^ Texas House of Representatives

So long as American voters send this sort of representative to state legislatures anywhere in the country -- and don't kid yourself: they vote for these women and their sistern/brethren in spirit OVER and OVER and OVER AGAIN -- it is perhaps no use to hope that anybody anywhere need care for the less fortunate in any meaningful way, from the President on down, on any issue from health care through nutrition to employment.

"Them as has, gets. Them as ain't, loses what they got."

Tell you what, Davis and Riddle. You want a Christian nation? You damn well better start acting like you at least have read the Gospels and the Constitution. Otherwise not only won't I take any of your cowardly anti-poor people rhetoric seriously, but neither will anybody else who has read the Gospels or Constitution -- let alone anybody who is a follower of Christ.