DAVE AGEMA: SPEWING HOMOPHOBIC BILE IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY SERVICES HE OFFERS

You may have seen this, from Think Progress:

Dave Agema, a former Michigan state representative and current member of the National Republican Committee, told attendees of a holiday party last week that he wants to protect "traditional marriage" so that gay couples don't abuse the system for health care benefits. When he worked as a pilot for American Airlines, he claims that some gay people pretended to be partnered to get benefits if they had AIDS:

... He said American Airlines workers would say a person with AIDS was their lover so that person could get medical benefits.

"Folks, they (gay people) want free medical because they're dying (when they're) between 30 and 44 years old," he said. "To me, it's a moral issue. It’s a Biblical issue. Traditional marriage is where it should be and it's in our platform. Those in our party who oppose traditional marriage are wrong."

Agema does like to go on about the evils of gay people. This is from last March:

A Michigan committeeman with the Republican Party says that he posted an article on Facebook about the "filthy lifestyle" of LGBT people because it was "worth sharing."

Slate's Dave Weigel on Wednesday reported that Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema had used his Facebook page to promote an article by Dr. Frank Joseph titled "Everyone Should Know These Statistics on Homosexuals."

... Included in his so-called "statistics," are claims that "homosexual sexual encounters occur while drunk, high on drugs, or in an orgy setting,... Homosexuals account for half the murders in large cities" and "50% of suicides can be attributed to homosexuals." ...

But, as I noted at the time of that incident, Agema is a hate-filled wingnut on a wide range of issues.

As I wrote then:

He's a sharia-obsessed Muslim-basher who once filed a bill to prohibit Michigan from recognizing foreign laws -- a bill he was invited to talk about at a rally featuring Koran-burning pastor Terry Jones; Agema said he would have appeared at the rally with Terry Jones, but he had a scheduling conflict.

Agema has also made several joint appearances with Kamal Saleem, a self-described former terrorist who now roams the country proclaiming the right-wing Muslimphobe agenda -- despite the fact that his claim that he is an ex-terrorist has been widely debunked. Saleem appeared with Agema on behalf of an Agema bill requiring employers to E-verify employees citizenship status; Saleem said, "If we don't pass this bill we will be legalizing terrorism to be part of our culture."

In 2007, Agema defended the treatment of Abu Ghraib prisoners. More recently, he's accused President Obama of being a secret Muslim, writing on his Facebook page:

"Obama won't acknowledge the National Day of Prayer but allows Muslims to pary [sic] on the step of the capitol, now on Egyptian TV he says he's a Muslim according to some sources. Here he says he's a Christian. We're in trouble folks if this is true."

The guy likes Facebook. Last December, he took to Facebook to exult in the macing of pro-union protestors

... "I fell (sic) like I'm back in the military- I'm rather enjoying this," wrote Agema, a term-limited and outspoken lawmaker with strong Tea Party ties. "It brings back memories."

He went on to explain to followers commenting on the post that he does not enjoy riots, but that when "riots occur, its the putting down of inappropriate behavior that is rewarding. That is what we did in the military but with countries and tyrants."

Oh and, yes, he's a homophobe. He once introduced a bill to all but eliminate funding for HIV programs in Michigan and transfer the money to ... the Michigan Aeronautics Fund. (As noted above, he's an ex-pilot.)

None of this stuff ever seems to threaten his status in the party. I'm sure there'll be negative consequences for Agema after the latest incident.