Read this excellent article from The American Prospect about how the Republican party's choice to hold their 2004 convention in New York in September to capitalize on 9/11 is far more offensive than anything Rick Santorum said. It also makes some good points about how the Democrats should respond -- not demand apologies but demand action.

My ultra-conservative, Rush-Limbaugh-deifying friend Alex made an interesting point to me a few weeks ago. Why is it that liberals can't take a joke? Conservatives always weather insults and jokes fine, but when a joke is made about, say, gays or blacks, liberals are up in arms. My response to him was, "It's easier to write off a joke when you see the world as black-and-white," a response I don't think he appreciated.

However, he does have a point, a point similar to the above quoted article. Liberals do tend to come off as whiney, and defending the liberties of the downtrodden and the classes ignored by über-capitalism does involve a lot of complaining.

Furthermore, though defamation of gays and blacks is inconsiderate, unfair, and borne of centuries-old dogma and ideology, if someone in America should be free to be gay, proud, and vocal about it, then someone else is just as free to be homophobic, proud, and vocal about it. A good example is when GLAAD went after Eminem -- he has free speech rights just like you, and for a group that advocates freedom for gays to try and deny Eminem's own freedom is the epitome of hypocrisy.

As vile as what Rick Santorum said, he has a right to say it. Instead of demanding an apology, Democrats should take the high road and demonstrate why Rick Santorum is wrong, not whine about not having an apology. If the Republicans want to use 9/11 to bolster their campaign, they can. Democrats shouldn't whine about it -- instead, they should set an example. Complain and be angry, sure, but words and actions are always two different things.