D-Bag O' the Day (v. 1.7)—No Gay Campers in Jellystone Park!

Out to prove he is just as nutty and bigoted as his Republican compatriots representing Iowa on the federal level, Iowa state senator Merlin Bartz last week announced he intends to oppose efforts by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to rewrite its regulations for state-owned parks to permit gay married couples the same privileges now enjoyed by straight married couples.  Never mind that gay marriage has been legally recognized in Iowa for over a year.  Never mind that the proposed rule simply changes "husband and wife" to "spouse".  Never mind that the only effect of the rule change is to allow gay couples to obtain a "family permit" that authorizes use of more than one tent.  By golly, Sen. Bartz intends to be "vigilant" to ensure that no rules get past him (and his rules committee) that might "extend new benefits to gay couples".  Of course, straight and gay couples are legally entitled to identical benefits—there are no new benefits being proposed at all.  I guess these days a good Republican can't ever be too far right in appeasing their radical conservative base.

What is the deal with these Republicans anyway, that gets them all hot and bothered by the idea of a couple of gay men going to a state park and pitching a tent?

Sen. Bartz—keeping gay couples safe from

Yogi Bear's pic-a-nick basket raids since 2010.