Posted on 12/28/2010 8:00:22 PM PST by rabscuttle385
The recent repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell will likely leave Sen. John McCain's congressional legacy as one of a crotchety old miser. As his wingman, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) could also see his maverick rep reshaped in the aftermath of the gay rights victory. Graham's angry defense of the 17-year Congressional ban on out gay service members has renewed attention on what's in his closet.
The question has come up in interviews and Graham has politely maintained that he's a straight, content bachelor. But he can't shake the questions about why he's never put a ring on it. For a short time last week, it appeared there was some traction in the is he or isn't he speculation. After a few days, it appears the trail has cooled, but prolific blogger Michael Rogers is still on the case. Well known for busting open closet doors in Washington, as well as 2009 claims that South Carolina's own Lt. Gov. André Bauer was gay, Rogers suggests he's still got a target on Graham.
More than 13,000 service members have been discharged under the DADT policy. Those who continue to serve do so through espionage. They use code words in messages home to loved ones to mask affection or they abandon relationships all-together to avoid discharge. Graham's been largely dismissive of these issues and it has pissed off gay people and their straight allies.
In the hours before the vote Dec. 18, Graham stood on the Senate floor to suggest a repeal would harm battlefield effectiveness, citing concerns from the Marine Corps.
"Some will say this is a civil rights issue of our time, the day has come, we need to move forward as a nation, the Marine Corps does not have that view," Graham said. "It is up to the members of the body to determine who is right and who is wrong. To be cautious or to boldly go forward."
The Senate boldly went forward, but Graham's fierce opposition prompted Rogers to update Twitter followers on his investigation into Graham's personal life. "I wonder if Lindsey Graham knows I have pictures of a man who spent the night at his house," Rogers stated, followed by a note that he'd be talking to his lawyer about releasing the pictures.
Speculation swept through the more salacious political blogs, but Rogers tried to walk back expectations on Dec. 21, after speaking with his lawyer. "I never said I was outing Lindsey Graham today," he wrote, telling readers that he had contacted Graham's office to seek a comment on what he had. We also contacted Graham's office about Rogers' claims, but have not received a response. Come Christmas, Rogers again tweeted that he wasn't outing Graham "for the moment at least. I know better than to waste news on holidays."
Graham isn't new to the gay whispers. In 2002, former state Democratic Party Chair Dick Harpootlian said then-candidate Graham was "a little too light in the loafers to fill Strom Thurmond's shoes." After Larry Craig's toe-tapping airport incident in 2007, radio host and blogger Michael Signorile called for an investigation into Graham and "what some say is an open secret for a long, long time."
Rogers' claims aren't just about revealing a hypocrite — those votes are in the past. The more important result is a senator who doesn't have to protect his secrets or weigh pro-LGBT votes against political consequences. Someone who could go boldly forward without reservation on yet-unresolved issues like equal federal benefits for gay families and the right to marry.
We got a dose of the right-wing response to such a senator earlier this year, courtesy of William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration, who told an Upstate crowd that Graham needed to come out of the closet. "I don't care about your private life, Lindsey," Gheen said. "But as our U.S. senator I need to figure out why you're trying to sell out your own countrymen, and I need to make sure your being gay isn't it."
Lindsey Graham's sexuality is not going to be answered through Gheen's schoolyard goading or Rogers' houseguest pictorial. It will either take an embarrassing revelation from an airport bathroom or a memoir-worthy confessional. Either would seal the political fate of a gay conservative in South Carolina. And, if there's one thing we know about Lindsey Graham, it's that he's savvy enough to know better.
Why not just ask Bwwanny Frank about Linda?
He’s part of the GLT ...Bi-partisan lobby.
LG has a far bigger problem than being gay....he is a RINO!
Ambiguously gay.
I didn’t know that journalists use the term ‘pissed off’ in serious articles. Classy.
I agree. Leave him alone. Just because you’re not married doesn’t mean your a gay or lesbian. Some of the jerks out there just aren’t worth the dating effort.
My saying . . . It takes a mighty good husband to be better than none. Too many women I’ve worked with and known always “had” to have a boyfriend or husband even if they were jerks and abusers.
It took me awhile to find a good man, but the wait was worth it. Maybe he is just waiting for the right woman to come along or maybe he is happy being ALONE.
Whether gay or not he is definitely a QUEER Senator..
Do you suppose he would have been elected for his second term had he admitted to being gay?
Why not ask the newly elected Governor of Ohio if his new wife has a sister just like her that would be available to give Mr. Graham cover?
Personally Lindsay I don’t care if you marry your cat as long as you come down on the right side of the issues. But you don’t so you are a RINO that needs to be run out of the herd.
Rush (more correctly, white comedian Paul Shanklin)has the best parody of Senator McCain and Guber Lindsey Gramnesty on the campaign trail... Graham asks McCain, “Do you want another back rub?” And McCain answers, “Yeah...then we’ll make smores!” Genius!
This is evidence? Maybe it was his cousin.
I agree with the observation that his RINOsity is a far bigger problem.
I think the real question is, Who in Congress ISN’T “gay”? They all were on repealing DADT like white on rice.
I would guess twinkle toes does not run in the same bath house circles as Bwany. He’s sharing Juan with his wife and fat kid.
You have only to look at him..........
If he is, I don’t want to know. He voted against DADT and if he was gay wouldn’t he have voted for it. Of course, he could have seen that it would pass without his vote so he was safe in voting no. I still don’t ever want him to come out or be forced out.
I agree.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.