GOP Lawmaker Candice Keller Blames Gays, Drag Queens, Marijuana & Video Games For Mass Shootings

Ohio state Rep. Candice Keller (image via government site)

In the aftermath of two deadly mass shootings over the weekend, one conservative Ohio state lawmaker put the blame for the tragic events on same-sex marriage, video games, transgender people, drag queens, President Obama and more.

On Saturday, a lone gunman killed 20 people at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas. That was followed by another shooting in Dayton, Ohio, which left 10 dead and at least 27 more wounded.

State Rep. Candice Keller (R), who represents a district near Dayton, wrote on her Facebook page, “After every mass shooting, the liberals start the blame game. Why not place the blame where it belongs?”

She went on to list who she feels are the real culprits for so many mass shootings beginning with, “The breakdown of the traditional American family (thank you, transgender, homosexual marriage and drag queen advocates).”

Also on her list of folks to blame for the two mass shooting events were:

  • Fatherlessness
  • Video games (although other countries have video games as well and not nearly the gun violence that is seen in the U.S.)
  • Open borders
  • Recreational marijuana
  • Students in school who misbehave
  • Disrespect for the police (she gave a shoutout to Obama for some reason)
  • Hatred of our veterans (athletes are to blame for that one)
  • The Democratic Congress (although Democrats only control one chamber of Congress)
  • Culture (in general we guess) for ignoring the importance of God and the church
  • State officeholders and something about the 2nd Amendment
  • And, of course, ‘snowflakes’ who “can’t accept a duly-elected president

I’m not sure how Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny managed to avoid the list, but maybe she was in a hurry.

When the Dayton Daily News contacted Keller about the post, she told a reporter she had posted something “to her private, personal Facebook page.”

And when the post was read to her over the phone, she said “it sounded like part of her posting but she couldn’t be sure if it had been altered,” introducing the idea that she had been possibly hacked.

The post was promptly deleted, but screengrabs have gone viral on the internet.

Brian Hester, Chairman for the Butler County Democratic Party, responded to the post telling the Daily News, “She loves to fan the flames and play the role of victim here, not the nine people who were killed….She is fundamentally unfit for office.”

Hester added, “She is an embarrassment to her party, to conservatives, to Butler County, and to the state Legislature.”

(source: Dayton Daily News)

James Comey Drops Challenge To Congressional Subpoena In Exchange For Full-Transcript Release

NBC News reports that former FBI Director James Comey has dropped his legal challenge to a Republican congressional subpoena and will agree to closed-door deposition.
Former FBI Director James Comey

NBC News reports that former FBI Director James Comey has dropped his legal challenge to a Republican congressional subpoena and will agree to closed-door deposition.

However, lawmakers agreed to release a full transcript of his testimony within 24 hours, and he will be free to make all or part of it available to the public.

Comey had been subpoenaed by House Republicans to discuss Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server (again) as well as Russian interference in the 2016 election behind closed doors. Comey opposed the private setting in an effort to make sure the American people would be able to know exactly what was discussed.

Comey’s attorneys argued in their challenge to the subpoena that Republicans had “abused their powers with selective leaks” in the past.

Parody: ‘GOP Jesus’ Explains It All For You

Over the past few years, folks have wondered how evangelical Christian Republicans can go along with the stunning hypocrisy that is Donald Trump.

Obviously, the answer has been that as long as conservatives get what they want out of a Trump presidency (Supreme Court justices, anti-LGBT legislation, etc…), they’re ok holding their noses and sticking with their guy.

Now, the folks at Friend Dog Studios have come up with a ‘GOP Jesus’ that aligns more closely with their beliefs.

Check out the video below where ‘GOP Jesus’ addresses many of the conflicting messages coming out of some Christians including adultery, immigration, health care, the War on Christmas, family separations, the golden rule, and gay people.

Here’s what the hypocritical really mean:

“Love your neighbor as yourself – unless you are better than your neighbor, then tell them that they’re weird, and you don’t want to bake them a cake.”

“What has a man profited if he gained the whole world but loses his soul? A lot! He’s profited a lot. One soul for the whole world? That is an amazing deal!”

“If a man strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him and shoot him. That is the law.”

Watch below.

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Threatens To “Stomp All Over” Opponent’s Face “With Golf Spikes”

Republican governor candidate Scott Wagner recently dropped a campaign ad wherein he threatens to “stomp all over” Democratic incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf’s “face with golf spikes.”
GOP candidate for governor in Pennsylvania Scott Wagner

And they say civility is dead. I guess ‘they’ would be right.

Republican governor candidate Scott Wagner recently dropped a campaign ad wherein he threatens to “stomp all over” Democratic incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf’s “face with golf spikes.”

“Well, Governor Wolf, let me tell you what, between now and Nov. 6, you better put a catcher’s mask on your face, because I’m going to stomp all over your face with golf spikes. Because I’m going to win this for the state of Pennsylvania. And we’re throwing you out of office. Because I’m sick and tired of your negative ads. Governor Wolf, I am bound and determined, I am going to vote you out of office.”

Watch below.

RealClearPolitics average of polls shows the Democrat Wolf a comfortable 16 points ahead of Wagner.

Georgia: GOP Secretary Of State Purging Voters From Voter Rolls With No Notice

Georgia’s current Secretary of State, who also happens to be the Republican candidate for governor this year, has purged up to 10% of Georgia voters from the voter rolls.

The purged names, numbering up to half a million, are reportedly disproportionately black voters.

Oh, did I mention the Democratic candidate, Stacey Abrams, is black? And she would become the first black, female governor in the United States?

Watch the report below from Now This.

Additionally, Talking Points Memo reports that Kemp is blocking 53,000 people from registering to vote using a controversial “exact match” program to approve or block voter registrations that disproportionately impacts minority voters.

According to the Associate Press, 70% of the voter applications that are being held up by Kemp’s office are from black people.

Arizona Republican Congresswoman Busted For Fake Compliments On Social Media

Republican Rep. Martha McSally

Arizona congresswoman Martha McSally (R) got caught trying to compliment herself after posting a simple video status update regarding Arizonans’ service during the Vietnam War a couple of days ago.

The problem came when McSally (or whoever does her social media) forgot to switch accounts before posting some sock-puppetry praise.

The comment was deleted shortly thereafter.

McSally is campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jeff Flake. Her fellow nutjob GOPers vying for the spot include former sheriff Joe Arpaio and Arizona State Senator Kelli Ward.

How embarrassing.

Amateurs.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Metaphor Of The Day: Train Carrying GOP Lawmakers Hits Dump Truck

According to several sources, a train carrying GOP lawmakers to a retreat collided with a dump truck.

One fatality has been reported as well as two injuries.

Video: Senate Republican Leaders’ Awkward Silence Over Roy Moore Allegations

Forty-four seconds of silence from these Republican leaders as reporters as questions about embattled Alabama GOP Senate nominee Roy Moore.

The lawmakers were gathered to promote the reveal of their newly-crafted tax plan, but the ongoing Roy Moore sex scandal was the only thing on reporters’ minds.

#Awkward

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Texas Speaker Of The House, Who Stood Up Against Anti-Transgender Legislation, Will Not Run For Re-Election In 2018

Joe Straus, the Republican Speaker of the House in Texas, has announced he will not seek re-election in 2018.

“I believe that in a representative democracy, those who serve in public office should do so for a time, not for a lifetime. And so I want you to know that my family and I have decided that I will not run for re-election next year. My time as a state representative and as speaker will end at the conclusion of my current term,” he announced via Facebook to his constituents.

You may recall that during last year’s legislative session, and the recent special session called by the governor, Straus beat back pressure from prominent politicians including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to bring a controversial anti-transgender “bathroom bill” to the floor of the state House for a vote.

Referencing the high suicide rates among the transgender community thanks to social judgments, the moderate Republican said at the time, “Tell the lieutenant governor I don’t want the suicide of a single Texan on my hands.”

Expect celebrations in the far-right realms of the Republican party as Straus has long been considered a target of the anti-LGBT Family Research Council and other hate groups.

Look for much jockeying in the Texas GOP  universe for the position of Speaker of the House in the coming months.

Oops – Conservative Super-PAC Runs Ads Thanking GOP For Repealing Obamacare

Oops.

The Republican super-PAC, American Action Network, prematurely bought air time to congratulation House Republicans for keeping their promises to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Except – as we all know – the House GOP failed to pass their own legislation yesterday.

In fact, there wasn’t even a vote.

NCAA basketball fans were probably confused when these ads ran in several markets last night.

This really is amateur hour, isn’t it?