The Republican obsession with masculinity

Once again, the ever-reliable Digby has provided us cause to ponder the peculiar penchant among Republicans to worry about their political masculinity.

Digby's vehicles this time are Stephen J. Doucat's book "The Wimp Factor: Gender Gaps, Holy Wars, and the Politics of Anxious Masculinity," and the cover story in the latest edition of The New Republic, "The Masculine Mystique of Fred Thompson."

As we've noted here previously on several occasions -- this one, for example -- one can find among males of the americanus republicanus species an innate fear of the loss of masculinity. Consequently, these strange critters are given to pounding their chests and acting belligerent or presuming to protect the females among them -- even when no such protection is required -- just to make themselves feel superior.

Ah, yes, they're an interesting, almost amusing, breed. But their ranks are thinning because of the excesses of the males.

The macho imperative

Digby has a habit of getting it right, and this bit about the politics of masculinity-versus-femininity is no exception.

Your typical right-winger, especially, seems to live in mortal fear of losing his grip on his masculinity.

This helps explain the peculiar idolization of John Wayne, which I addressed here a few weeks ago on the occasion of the Duke's 100th birthday. It's funny how conservatives saw a rugged cowboy and a war hero in a guy named Marion who studiously avoided military service in World War II.

And then there's the truly strange penchant among some commentators these days -- especially Chris Matthews on MSNBC -- to display a man-crush on any politician who exhibits machismo. It probaby isn't really a gay thing, but a shrink could have a field day sorting out the implications of it all.

WaPo elitist smacked down

Some guy at The Washington Post has unburdened himself of disdain for bloggers who dare to write their stuff under pseudonyms, as does The Rascal.

Digby, one such pseudonymous wretch, offers this tasteful response to the fellow's umbrage.