WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE?  that popular mantra (just Google it) certainly seems to fit in this case. I just received a Tweet that led to an article in Monday's Washington Post about the possible effects an immigration overhaul (is one suddenly in the works?) would have on the estimated 24,000 gay and lesbian couples which include at least one foreign partner. 

One of the couples interviewed for the article is an eye-opener:

Another Washington gay couple, who requested that their names not be published because the foreign partner is a Latino man currently living in the country under false pretenses and the American partner is a prominent Republican whose identity could easily lead authorities to the other man, said gays and lesbians fall in love in the same unpredictable way as straight people. Sometimes, the object of that love happens to be a foreigner.

"When you love someone, it feels the same," said the Latino man, who is in the country on a tourist visa and has been working in violation of it. He is afraid that his immigration status could be exposed at any time, and he could be forced to leave. He travels outside the country periodically to keep his tourist visa valid, always making sure when he presents his visa at the border that he has an air ticket showing when he plans to leave the United States.

"I am insecure because I am worried," he said. "If I have trouble with the police, they will send me back to my country. I have a partner. All my life is here. My family lives in Mexico City, but I feel comfortable here. I drive everyday - if I have an accident or the police stops me and ask me for my papers, I am afraid."

Soooooo, a prominent Republican man in D.C. requested anonymity because immigration authorities could deport the partner.  He KNOWS that he is aiding and abetting someone here illegally. 

Forgetting for a moment all of the other issues this raises, how can the Republican party - and all of the anti-illegal mmigration members of the party - tolerate this?  According to them, this prominent Republican is committing a crime each and every day that his partner remains here.  And, darn it, this IS a nation of laws and the federal government has been ignoring this way too long.  And, so on.

I do not particularly want this Republican outed - either as a gay man or an adulterer or a criminal conspiracist.  I do not particularly want the Latino partner outed or deported.  But, I DO want hypocrisy exposed.  And, this story screams "hypocrisy".  Hypocrisy by Republican leaders, hypocrisy by rank-and-file Republicans, and hypocrisy by those fanning the flames of intolerance (of homosexuals, of Latinos, etc.)

Where's the outrage?