Something I still don't understand is that with all of the problems facing our country, especially right now, with the economic recession/depression we have going on, why are these people fixated over denying equal rights to a small group of people?

Because THEY ARE REPUBLICANS. The common clay of the new West. You know...morons.

I joked elsewhere that the Republican party is quickly turning into the "Grand Old White Guys Party"

I'm partial to "Grand Old Police Blotter", but that's just me.

Also (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i-OWDjOQfI&feature=player_embedded). Inre: teabagging and the puns that can be made.