Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Daryl Metcalf is on record saying the state shouldn't care if men are killed in domestic violence incidents.

Metcalf made those remarks after he single-handedly derailed the usually non-controversial State House resolution recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Metcalf’s only objection was to one part of the resolution that lists the frequency of domestic violence against men and women, for instance that, “One in every four women and one in every nine men will experience domestic violence in his or her lifetime.”

That’s 100% true, and since domestic violence is one of the most chronically under-reported crimes, it’s a statistic that should get more recognition – even from purely symbolic resolutions. But Metcalf, amazingly, objected to that line on the grounds that it “had a homosexual agenda.” When asked to clarify his views, Metcalf made even less sense:

Metcalfe, in an interview yesterday, said he opposed the resolution because it went beyond what he considered traditional domestic-violence programs that help battered women and children.

"It had language woven through it that brought men into the situation," said Metcalfe, who voted for similar resolutions in the last two years. "I don't support the resolution or funding for groups that go beyond helping women."

In other words, Metcalf thinks it is morally wrong to even express concern for male domestic violence victims, such as the 19-year-old Pennsylvania man who was recently murdered by his friend’s ex-fiancé, simply because some of those men might be gay. The bigotry of that point of view is absolutely breath-taking, but it gets worse.

When this story came to our attention, we wondered if Metcalf would also oppose an effort to help female victims of domestic violence. After all, some of those female victims might happen to be lesbians. According to Keystone Progress, Metcalf did just that, and he threw in his own brand of sick humor in the process:

On the same day, also on the House floor, he made matters worse. The House was about to vote on increasing marriage license fees from $3 to $28, with the increased amount going to a fund for victims of domestic abuse. Metcalfe opposed the measure, calling the funding a domestic violence programs “a slap in the face to family values.” The bill passed despite his outrageous claim. [emphasis added]

This is the second time in as many weeks that Republicans have shown how little they care about the devastating problem of domestic violence, and frankly, it’s a story we wish we didn’t have to report.

It is outrageous that representatives of a major political party, in 2009, would treat victims of domestic violence with such utter contempt, and it’s a vivid reminder why that party, the Republicans, simply don’t deserve to govern.