So Many Republican Hypocrites, So Little Time

April 29, 2005

S.C. State Rep. John Graham Altman

Welcome back to the BuzzFlash.com GOP Hypocrite of the Week.

Ah, the "Family Values" Republican -- staple of the political campaign circuit these last few years -- seems to be a figment of the Republican imagination. Take for example, South Carolina GOP State Representative John Graham Altman -- no doubt another one of God's lost children -- who may be running his next campaign not as a "Family Values" Republican, but as a "Poultry Values" Republican.

Altman was on the committee that forwarded to a vote a bill protecting chickens from cockfighting, while tabling one that would have strengthened the punishment for second violations of domestic violence laws. That's SECOND violations.

While asked about making it a felony to start a cockfight, but doing nothing to protect women from violent offenders, he told a female reporter that women just shouldn't stay with men who abuse them: "I mean," said the Colonel Sanders Republican, "you women want it one way and not another."

When someone said chivarly was dead, they weren't lying. Unless, that is, you're a South Carolina chicken.

So, thanks to Mr. Altman, if were thinking of starting a cockfight in the land of Strom Thurmond, you could be fined $5,000 and spend 5 years in the clinker, but beat your spouse -- A SECOND TIME -- and it'll only cost you $500 and 30 days.

For his efforts in promoting "Poultry Values Republicans," South Carolina State Representative John Graham Altman truly merits the title of BuzzFlash GOP Hypocrite of the Week.

Until next week, remember our motto at BuzzFlash.com: So many Republican hypocrites, so little time.

Catch up with you soon.

* * *

Additional Resources:

"[SC] State House scrambling to atone for its behavior; Attitudes shown on domestic abuse must change," The Island Packet, April 29, 2005

"Altman apologizes for causing offense," AP, April 27, 2005