America is great because she is good, but there is nothing great and nothing good about hating gay people. Nothing. God is not honored because we cheerfully hate gay people. If we believe in a God of redemption, then we have got to believe in the worth and dignity of _all_ people in America. I left the party because the Republicans just can't imagine a country that includes non-whites. This letter is a great start to the conversation we need to have about the way white Americans exclude non-white Americans, and how white Christians don't understand their black Christian family. We need to listen to those we think are opposing us. It might be that they share more than we know, and it might be that _we_ are wrong about what we think.

I finally gave up because of the racism and birtherism and the utter nonsense about Obama being a socialist or atheist or Muslim or Marxist. As a Christian believer it got too much for me that my friends and my church and my circle of acquaintances on the conservative side spouted this nonsense, mostly when they thought it was safe, thinking I supported their views. I don't. Mr. Obama is the lawfully elected President of the United States, a legal citizen, and a representative of all that's good about America. I got tired of the undercurrent of racism that's endemic to my party. I left it. I got tired of the constant sneers about queers and gays and lesbians, as if they are half-Americans. (cont)

This was a good letter, and a good start at a conversation. I'm a white male, and have been a Bible-believing Evangelical for four decades. Missed voting for Nixon by one month (too young) and voted the straight Republican ticket all those years. Served in the Republican Party as an elected official (minor), walked and canvassed the district, elected to the state convention for the national election of 1992. Encouraged people to vote Republican, hosted open community meetings to explain Republican principles. Proud of my work, I was. I voted for Obama this time, and I voted a near straight Democratic Party ticket. And I don't intend to vote for another Republican. I'll explain in my reply.