The 2022 vote: Governor’s race and the culture war
It is hard to capture in words the awfulness of Doug Mastriano. It’s as if you took all the racism and hatreds and insurrectionism and demagoguery of Trump and added it to a person who isn’t a stupid and pathetically weak narcissist and who has genuine political convictions that match his hatreds. One thing you get is a politician who’s entirely open about his belief that many of his constituents aren’t real Americans and screw them. Mastriano has rejected interview requests from most mainstream media outlets, and has consistently blocked reporters from gaining access to his campaign stops. Unknown and unthinkable in politics until this generation of incendiaries came along, his staff even treats constituents rudely if they express a contrary view.
Roe: Mastriano has called abortion his “No. 1 issue” and compared the effort to ban the procedure to the fight to end the slave trade. Shapiro has called the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, “a shameful moment for our country and for the Court.” He has pledged to veto any legislation that would further limit access to abortion in Pennsylvania, where state law allows abortions to be performed up to about 24 weeks into a pregnancy or longer if the life of the pregnant person is in danger.
Gun safety. In 2021, Mastriano introduced a bill that would ban the enforcement of federal gun laws in Pennsylvania and voted in favor of legislation that would allow concealed carry without even a permit. He was endorsed during the primary by Gun Owners of America, a self-proclaimed “no compromise” gun rights group that has called the National Rifle Association too soft on the Second Amendment. Shapiro supports stricter gun safety measures, including enacting universal background checks and a “red flag” law, which would allow for the temporary confiscation of firearms from people deemed by a judge to be a risk to themselves or others. As attorney general, he has staunchly advocated for closing a loophole that allows people to buy so-called ghost guns — unserialized firearms often assembled at home from weapon parts or kits that can be purchased without a background check.
LGBTQ rights. Mastriano has a long history of opposing LGBTQ rights. In his war college thesis more than 20 years ago, he condemned allowing gay people into the military. He opposes marriage rights and adoption rights for same-sex couples. He voted for a sports ban that targets transgender girls and women and a ban on teaching children about sexual orientation and gender identity. On Twitter, he likened teaching about LGTBQ people in schools to pedophilia, amplifying rhetoric that has led to increased violence against the community.
Shapiro has said he will push for Pennsylvania to expand nondiscrimination protections to people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Shapiro supports expanding the state’s hate crimes law to cover LGBTQ communities and banning conversion therapy for minors.
In short, one candidate is a decent human being, the other would probably be happier as an administrator of Star Chamber or the Spanish Inquisition.
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