This is a post about two guys who don’t know each other, and their misspent patriotism.

Zac Brown decided to sing the national anthem at the White House’s spectacle on Sunday. In the days leading up to the embarrassment event, Brown went with the “This is patriotism, not politics for me. Fuck all the division,” explanation.

I’m taking him at his word about the patriotism. Still, he chose poorly, and I wonder if he understands that now.

Maybe some other president could have scheduled some huge fest on White House grounds (on his birthday!) and credibly framed it as an event about America, but not this one. The choice of date, the choice of sport, the attendee list … everything about it either leaned right (as Brown’s fanbase likely does) or lurched right.

It might not have been politics for you, Mr. Brown, but it was politics for the host. This wasn’t the Super Bowl or NBA All-Star Game. It was DJT Fight Club. By turning a blind eye to that reality when you took the gig, you served as a useful celebrity pawn lending credibility to a partisan night.

And when what’s-his-face opened up the anti-Michelle Obama slur to the crowd’s approval, that instantly defined the evening and tainted everyone associated with it. It doesn’t come off easily.

A Muslim Walks Into A Texas GOP Convention …
No, it’s not a bad joke. Closer to a sad joke. Four Texan Muslims walked into the state’s Republican party convention recently — not to protest or stir up any trouble, but to participate as proper delegates/attendees.

It did not go well.

Was there common ground struck over fiscal responsibility, or anti-LGBTQ stances, or, at the very least, Hillary Clinton and her demonic ways?

Nope. Instead, what Hussein and his mates found was a group fixated on Islamophobia. Turns out Texas Republicans are a kind of provincial bunch, who knew.

They found a speaker who preached that Muslims would be nice in public but would “cut your head off as believers of Christ” if given the chance.

Hussein even dared to speak up in a session to disagree and counter the anti-Muslim lies he had heard at the event. After the session, he wasn’t just invited to leave the event. He was invited to leave America.

As for official business, officials extolled religious tests for elected office and made it easier for the convention to boot attendees in the future.

Afterward, Hussein is quoted by RawStory as saying, “How can I possibly get behind a party that tells me to leave, that says convert or leave?” he asked. “How do they think that is going to be some kind of winning strategy?”

You can’t, and they do. But that’s not your problem. Well, actually is a big fat problem for you and your fellow Muslim-Americans. So redirect that energy out of personal interest if nothing else.

Hussein also noted, “what I saw at the convention is not conservatism.” A day late, but spot on. The animating spirit of today’s Republican party doesn’t do conservatism anymore.

But even then, Hussein didn’t sound inclined to switch parties. He held out a hope for Republican candidates who didn’t sound so virulent.

Brown and Hussein. They want to believe in something better — maybe even something that used to be where they’re looking for it. But it ain’t there anymore.

What’s at risk for those who refuse to see the modern Republican party and its leader clearly? One guy might be risking some reputation and money. The other guy is increasingly risking his own safety while practicing a brand of political futility that might even outpace Log Cabin Republicans.

Sorry for your losses, gents. You should cut them while you can.

To not totally keep y’all hanging on the headline, let’s wind up with one of my favorite covers.