Evaluating the Republicans

John And Jerry - The Archive - The New York Times: "But if you choose to make common cause with religious extremists, you are accepting some responsibility for their extremism. By welcoming Mr. Falwell and people like him as members of their party, Republicans [and Senator John McCain] are saying that it's O.K. -- not necessarily correct, but O.K. -- to declare that 9/11 was America's punishment for its tolerance of abortion and homosexuality, that Islam is a terrorist religion, and that Jews can't go to heaven. And voters should judge the Republican Party accordingly."