Republicans Don't Own Bigotry And Homophobia, Especially Not In The South-- Meet Dan Ramos of Tejas

Referring to gay party members the county chairman said "They all have these weird ideas about how our society can function better... they have infiltrated the Bexar County party, much like termites infiltrate your house. They're trying to destroy what has been around for a long time." Sounds like your run of the mill Republican politician trying to make his bones by touting his bigotry, right? Sure... but this was the Democratic Party chair of Bexar County in Texas.

Calling his detractors worms, jerks, morons, idiots and liars, Bexar County Democratic Chairman Dan Ramos said Thursday that he'd resign “when hell freezes over” despite demands he quit immediately due to his harsh words about fellow Democrats.

Denying allegations that he has disparaged gay party members and others, Ramos cast himself as an old friend of minorities. But he also compared gay Democrats to insects, called several local elected Democrats “yo-yos,” and found a common denominator among the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus, the tea party and the Nazi party.

...“Most of these little jerks that are purporting to be the guiding light of the Democrat party are involved. These worms or termites that are creating this scandal, most of them have direct involvement in this (pilfered) fund,” Ramos asserted.

Ramos said he supports gay rights-- including marriage-- but said “I don't regret anything” about assailing the Stonewall Democrats. Ramos apologized to anyone offended by his remarks, but he rehashed several of controversial statements involving gays.

“I don't care if they marry each other. That's not my private business. I do care when they adopt kids that are already traumatized and are coming from orphanages and stuff. And then they wake up in the morning and say, ‘What? My mama is my daddy also?' That's my heartburn,” Ramos said.

Ramos' statements have yielded several calls for his resignation, including from the Stonewall Democrats and state party Chairman Boyd Richie, but Ramos said that's not in the cards. He was elected last March to a two-year term, and election law doesn't allow for his forced removal unless, for example, he endorsed a Republican candidate.

“No, I'm not going to resign. I don't know where this idiot Boyd Richie comes from,” Ramos said. “When hell freezes over, he might get (a resignation).”

The LGBT community is the most loyal, steadfast community you're ever gonna find; ask any of their friends-- from Bette Davis, Edith Piaf, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, and Maria Callas to Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Cher, Madonna, SpongeBob SquarePants and Lady Gaga. On the other hand, get another perspective from Anita Bryant. Who? Exactly:



Texas Democrats say Ramos has been under tremendous stress and has cracked up. Several, including the state party chairman, claim he's mentally ill and in need of psychiatric attention. This morning on the radio Thom Hartmann suggested he would be more at home in the GOP where statements like his are not only accepted, but practically required. A local San Antonio state Senator, Leticia Van de Putte sent him a letter cordially asking him to resign for the good of the party. And there's a grassroots petition here.

As leaders and members of the North East Bexar County Democrats, and as Democratic voters in Bexar County, we join Texas Democratic Party Chair Boyd Richie in calling upon Dan Ramos to resign as Chairman of the Bexar County Democratic Party.

Mr. Ramos' hateful and bigoted views as expressed in his interview with the San Antonio Current have no place in the Democratic Party. We are a party of inclusiveness that supports and promotes tolerance, diversity, and equality. The comments of Mr. Ramos are not reflective of our party's philosophy and we condemn and disassociate ourselves from the opinions he expressed.

Mr. Ramos has proven that he neither supports nor represents our party's ideals and, therefore, we call upon him to resign immediately. Bexar County Democrats deserve someone who can provide more unifying leadership as County Chair.