"What the caterpillar calls the end of life, wise men call a butterfly."

RICHMOND, Va. — Republican U.S. Rep. Edward L. Schrock abruptly announced Monday that he will not seek a third term, citing unspecified allegations that have "called into question" his ability to serve.

Congressman Schrock's district includes parts of Hampton and Norfolk and all of Virginia Beach, home to nine military facilities and Pat Robertson’s Regent University. Must be great to be a Republican with such a solid base. Mr. Schrock not only voted for the Marriage Protection Act, but he also signed on as a CO-SPONSOR of the Federal Marriage Amendment. The Christian Coalition was so impressed with him they gave him a 92% rating in their 2003 voting guide. His score with the Human Rights Campaign wasn’t so great. They gave him a ZERO!

What kind of a man is Congressman Schrock? The kind that has made a habit of rendezvousing with gay men via the MegaMates/MegaPhone Line, an interactive telephone service on which men place ads and respond to those ads to meet each other.

There are two interesting dynamics at work here. One is the religious right and neocon agenda of pushing ‘family values’ down everyone’s throats through henchmen like Schrock who have about as much integrity as Rush and his diatribes against drug abusers. The other is a perverse gay outing campaign that somehow thinks bringing public ridicule to government officials is going to further the gay agenda and make alternative lifestyles more acceptable.

I have news for both camps. Pack it up and take it home. The religious right has no moral prerogative to force Americans to believe in their religious or moral doctrine. Gay activists have no moral high ground in forcing politicians to resign because of their sexual identity.

Congressman Schrock is obviously not a man that lives by his principles. He doesn’t have any. That’s the kind of person that’s getting elected to represent you.

Don’t you think it’s time that stopped?

Let Freedom ring.