Gawking GOPers

This is not the lead that most Republicans want to see with their morning coffee:

"The Republican National Committee gave nearly $2,000 to a Southern California GOP contributor for meal expenses at Voyeur West Hollywood, a lesbian-themed California nightclub that features topless dancers wearing horse-bits and other bondage gear, according to newly filed disclosure records."

The GOPers may not like it, but for most everyone else, it provides a daily chuckle.

The article, by the Washington Post's Dan Eggen, reports of other questionable spending by the Republican National Committee.

Of course, Republicans may not care that money was spent on topless dancers wearing bondage gear, but when you throw in the word lesbian, well, the GOP heart monitors go ballistic.

As we all know, Republicans are neither gay nor lesbian nor homosexual, in case there is any confusion. In spite of the gay Log Cabin Republicans, the GOP's "big tent" excludes most who are not in the "mainstream."

In recent years, the GOP has thrived under the threat of gay marriage being imposed by judges. Just saying the words gay and marriage together would generate millions in donations for the GOP and deliver solid turnout at the polls.

Then, gay scandals in Florida and Idaho tarnished the GOP brand. Throw in Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter adopting a baby and well, it's all gone to hell in a hand-basket.

What amuses most of us about all of this, of course, is the blatant hypocrisy of it all. Republicans always act as if they're the most moral of creatures, great and small. We know, obviously, that they're not more moral or ethical than Democrats. In fact, they're just like them.

This latest embarrassment, though, could please the old-school Republicans who want to get back to basics: reward the rich and punish the poor. Now that is different than Democrats, they believe.

Republicans are at their best when they appeal to the greed in us all. It's something we can all relate to.

Maybe, this latest episode will slap the GOP to its senses, just not in the bondage sense.