Former GOP Sen. Alan Simpson: ‘We’ve got homophobes in our party’

Appearing on MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews” on Monday, former Sen Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), railed against social conservatives in the Republican party, admonishing male legislators for voting on abortion issues, and “homophobes” like Rick Santorum who say “cruel, cruel things” about gays and lesbians:

SIMPSON: Who the hell is for abortion? I don’t know anybody running around with a sign that says, “Have an abortion! They’re wonderful!” They’re hideous, but they’re a deeply intimate and personal decision, and I don’t think men legislators should even vote on the issue.

Then you’ve got homosexuality, you’ve got Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. We have homophobes in our party. That’s disgusting to me. We’re all human beings. We’re all God’s children. Now if they’re going to get off on that stuff — Santorum has said some cruel things — cruel, cruel things — about homosexuals. Ask him about it; see if he attributes the cruelness of his remarks years ago. Foul.

Now if that’s the kind of guys that are going to be on my ticket, you know, it makes you sort out hard what Reagan said, you know, “Stick with your folks.” But, I’m not sticking with people who are homophobic, anti-women, moral values — while you’re diddling your secretary while you’re giving a speech on moral values? Come on, get off of it.