Gay man's race for Senate is a rarity (N.C Democrat)

The News and Observer ^ | Oct 23,2007 | Rob Christensen

[AmericanMade1776]

Jim Neal, the Democratic dark horse challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, disclosed over the weekend that he is gay -- making him one of the nation's few openly homosexual candidates for a statewide office. Neal, 50, a Chapel Hill investment banker, discussed his sexual orientation during an online interview with a liberal blog, NCBlue. He said his family, friends and business associates already know.

"It's no secret," Neal said in an interview Monday. "Why would you not talk about the color of your eyes?"

Neal's quest is unusual: He is seeking to become the second openly gay Senate nominee of a major political party in American history. The first was Ed Flanagan, who was the unsuccessful Democratic Senate nominee in Vermont in 2000, losing to then-Republican Jim Jeffords.

At the moment, Neal is the only announced Democrat for Dole's seat. But Democratic leaders are still trying to recruit better-known candidates into the race, among them David F. Kirby, a Raleigh lawyer and former law partner of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

[AmericanMade1776]

Although he is willing to acknowledge his sexual orientation, Neal said he did not want to talk in detail about his private life. Neal, who grew up in Greensboro but lived most of his adult life in New York, said he married young and had two sons. He said his marriage broke up after 10 years when he realized he was a homosexual -- about 18 years ago.

"I loved her," Neal said. "I cared very deeply about her. My marriage ended because I realized I was gay. There was no sham to my marriage. When I came to accept myself, which I did, it wasn't easy. I felt that I can't live my life as a fraud. It's not fair to my children, it's not fair to her and it's not fair to me."

Neal said that he retained custody of his sons, one of whom still lives with him.

Neal said he hoped the issue of sexuality would blow over.

[Seeking the truth]

Neal said he hoped the issue of sexuality would blow over.

In hindsight, perhaps he could have used different language here!

[Long Island Pete]

Neal said he did not want to talk in detail about his private life.

The why even mention his sexual preference at all? For the sympathy vote? My God, you have dingbats out there who will vote for Hillary because of her genitalia, so I guess there are those who will vote for sexual preference.

[AmericanMade1776]

Perhaps!

[Onelifetogive]

"It's no secret," Neal said in an interview Monday. "Why would you not talk about the color of your eyes?"

Why would I care about the color of your eyes?

[AmericanMade1776]

I bet Senator Craig would vote for him, if he could.

[Jigajog]

Gay race in NC = cat fight at UNC. This makes so much easier for the rest of the State. Can you imagine a Republican Senator winning by a margin of lests say 95% to 5%? This is being charitable to gay NC.

[AmericanMade1776]

“A native of Greensboro, Neal worked as an investment banker and business executive in New York for decades. He worked as national fundraiser for Erskine Bowles’ 2004 Senate campaign and full-time fundraiser for the presidential campaigns of retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark and U.S. Sen. John Kerry in 2004. “http://projects.newsobserver.com/profiles/jim_neal

Weasley Clark supporter figures!

[AmericanMade1776]

Well North Carolina voted John Edwards to the senate

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Well North Carolina voted John Edwards to the senate.”

We did the same for TRAITOR Russ Feingold. Some guys just need to be forced to leave our states, one way or another. ;)

[AmericanMade1776]

Seeking the truth wrote: Neal said he hoped the issue of sexuality would blow over. In hindsight, perhaps he could have used different language here!

I kid you not, here is what a supporter of Jim Neal said " Jim Neal sounds like a Democrat that many can get behind. Just the fact that an admitted Republican't came on posting about how he would scare the Jessecrats makes me support him even more. Chapel Hill Liberal....perhaps, but IMHO, we need MORE people like him." http://bluenc.com/one-hour

[AmericanMade1776]

On campaigning. Jim wakes up every morning with one mission: defeat Liddy Dole. Like many of us, he knows from people all across the state that she is extremely vulnerable. Because despite her efforts to try to distance herself from the Decider, there is one fundamental truth in this campaign. Liddy Dole = George Bush. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.

http://bluenc.com/one-hour

[RSmithOpt]

Amazing....IMHO, choosing the gay lifestyle is a poor decision for one's life. Therefore, why elect someone that has made a huge misguided choice for their personal life and refuses to correct it? I do not want that type of person representing me, that's for sure.

The women and libs elected Breck Girl, not me.

Dole is one of the few remaining in the Senate that I have the utmost respect for. Libby and Bob, though politicians for many years, are members of the Greatest Generation which carried tons of integrity and a sense of duty versus most of what we have in office today, especially at the state level.

[AmericanMade1776]

Jim Neal is probably just jealous that he is not ever going to be the Lady , Libby Dole is.

[elpadre]

yes, and there are a significant number of NC Dems who care not a whit about the issues, if ben Laden were the Dem candidate they would still go in the booth and pull the Dem lever.

[Prospero]

why even mention his sexual preference at all

For Christensen, any excuse to talk about Democrats. Fully half the people in North Carolina don't know which party controls their legislature. A majority believe the ex-Speaker, now federal Felon Jim Black was a Republican.

It isn't because they are uninterested. Ask them if a delaying the sunset of a temporary tax is, in fact, a tax increase, and they say yes. It's because the dinosaur Media On Dead Trees simply omits any information that does not prop up their twisted worldview.

Mr. Neal is "so brave," don't you know... when militant gays are as common place as trees in The People's Republic of Chapel Hill. There are fully three different stories about this guy in today's Raleigh paper, when he was mentioned before yesterday as an "also running" in the D's desperate search to find someone to run against Elizabeth Dole. All of their prefered candidates have declined, one by one. But, now that he's "out of the closet and on the trail" as the headline reads in the same edition this article appears, he's their new best friend. This is the real weakness of the North Carolina Left, in the end. Jesse Helms used to use it in his favor. They simply can't communicate to any but their own kind. The rest of us, meaning the vast majority of North Carolinians who are even nominally conservative, are in their blindspot. Jesse used to use what was to them "controversial" statements as a way of surfing his real message into the homes of their readers, most of whom are, shall we say, "non-plused" by a gay candidate. (Yawn). They just can't curb their enthusiasm, so they all have to pontificate while willfully ignoring the fact that they are destroying their candidate in the same manner. Thus, buried in this column is the secret of getting the GOP message out. Break the sound barrier with what is only controversial among the chattering classes, and install in that same message points you really wish to get through that barrier. Works every time, though breaking through to a readership of 0.5 percent is no as big a worry as it once was.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

So he when he loses he can blame it on southern homophobia.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I loved her,” Neal said. “I cared very deeply about her. My marriage ended because I realized I was gay. There was no sham to my marriage. When I came to accept myself, which I did, it wasn’t easy. I felt that I can’t live my life as a fraud. It’s not fair to my children, it’s not fair to her and it’s not fair to me.”
________________________________________________

Sir, you did not love her nor your children. You made the choice to marry her, you selfishness destroyed her and your children. That is not love.

[Prospero]

Well North Carolina voted John Edwards to the senate

Worse, in 1998 one in every three registered Republican women voters cast their ballots for Johnny. Ain't THAT a kick?

[RSmithOpt]

Let's see: Jim Black, Frank Balance, Richard Morgan (RHINO, Dan Blue, Meg Scott Phipps, Madison County’s Finance Officer, Michael Worley, Bobby McLamb, Kevin Geddings, etc., etc., etc.

The list goes on of the convicted corrupt Democrats in NC government. The GOP folks aren't blemish free neither, however, when one looks at governor Easley, the Hunt Machine, unprecedented spending by the Democratic controlled NC Legislature, illegal immigrant haven in NC, etc., etc., a life long resident understands the BS in NC state government. It seems as though there's no one in office but lying through their teeth, ever tax increasing-greedy money drooling vermin that have been elected to office.

That's why NC citizen's now enjoy the 10th highest per capita total tax rate of all 50 states. In other words, the other 40 states get to keep more of their income even after the Feds are finished with their paychecks.

Go figure. NC use to consistently rank in the lower 25.

[trumandogz]

He is seeking to become the second openly gay Senate nominee of a major political party in American history.

Did Idaho secede from the Union?

[Old Professer]

Being gay is a big deal right now, opens all sorts of doors.

[Long Island Pete]

Being gay is a big deal right now, opens all sorts of doors.

And orifices.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

“Jim Neal is probably just jealous that he is not ever going to be the Lady , Libby Dole is.”

We were talking about this on the NC board. The campaign will be very civil as the two opponents will find common ground in hair styling, makeup and accessories.

[Salman]

He's got it backwards.

Get elected first, then get caught. :)

[napscoordinator]

Dole is one of the few remaining in the Senate that I have the utmost respect for. Libby and Bob, though politicians for many years, are members of the Greatest Generation which carried tons of integrity and a sense of duty versus most of what we have in office today, especially at the state level.

I have great respect for Senator Bob Dole, but not his wife. Isn’t she the won who picked weak candidates last year and basically lost the House and Senate? There was major talk of this after the election.

[Bat_Chemist]

NC ping?

[boop]

"Why would you not talk about the color of your eyes?"

What an odd statement. I don't remember ever talking to other people about the color of my eyes.

[RSmithOpt]

She was involved, however, the RNC and other top GOP'ers give the final green-light on most of the candidates in question.

She's done a pretty good job overall and votes with common sense when needed. Senator has to play politics in that she's well aware of the "you scratch my back and then I'll scratch yours" was of doing business in the Senate.

Basically, 'W' and many other Republicans on The Hill have 'RHINO'd" us out especially with respect to spending, balance budget amendment, NAFTA, CAFTA, trade deficits, oil dependency, open borders, unwillingness to enforce immigration laws nation-wide, etc . while stile flipping us off as they push and drag us to the NAU (North American Union)....the step needed before the One World Government.

[Constitution Day]

NC *Ping*

Please FRmail Constitution Day if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[JWinNC]

" "I loved her," Neal said. "I cared very deeply about her. My marriage ended because I realized I was gay. There was no sham to my marriage. When I came to accept myself, which I did, it wasn't easy. I felt that I can't live my life as a fraud. It's not fair to my children, it's not fair to her and it's not fair to me." "

That's a pants' load!

Self-deception is not a good qualification for public office.

jw

[srmorton]

This Republican woman certainly did not! John Edwards won because he was running against a week, older Republican incumbent Senator and because he presented himself as much more conservative than he was. It is thought that he “moved up” his plans to run for POTUS a few years because his internal polls showed that his reelection to a second term was very much in doubt. Jim Neal has NO chance to beat Elizabeth Dole!

[BelegStrongbow]

Good.

Though I wish people would stop talking about how gay he is. I’m sure he really wants to get on and move on.

/sarc

[Clemenza]

Yes, but Nawth Carolina is still a bargain for those who move from New Jersey, which is turn is a bargain for folks from New York.

[N. Theknow]

No doubt he will blow a lot of bucks on his campaign.

[headsonpikes]

"Why would you not talk about the color of your eyes?"

As you imply, Mr. Neal's instinctive reflexive rebuttal is a real clue as to the terminal narcissism at the heart of the "gay" experience.

"Look at me! Look at me!"

Pathetic.

[RSmithOpt]

The only real problem I have with the Yanks infiltrating is, that many of’em bring their warped, stupor-a$$ed ideals as to consistently vote for spending increases to ‘improve the quality of life’ in this area. As a result, our local and state taxes are skyrocketing as they migrate and increase infrastructure spending. Meanwhile, the Dems in charge grin with greed and I scale back my vacations, etc., to meet the increases in taxes. One would think as the tax base increases for population growth, that increased tax revenue would fund infrastructure needs.

[srmorton]

Oops! I meant “weak”, not “week”!

[alrea]

The only real problem I have with the Yanks infiltrating is, that many of’em bring their warped, stupor-a$$ed ideals as to consistently vote for spending increases to ‘improve the quality of life’ in this area

but what's wrong with making North Carolina the New Jersey of the South?

[RSmithOpt]

Because most people I've met in NJ are screaming a$$holes and in Trenton, Newark, and Atlantic City, it stinks, literally. NJ residents have the second highest per capita total tax on the entire country.

I figure it this way, if the folks in NJ can't run their state no better than what I've personally seen, ain't no way in hell they need to be here to strow their crap even further.

Don't get me wrong, there are some decent places and good folk in NJ and I know some, however, for the large part, let's let NC keep the neighbors' trash in their own yard.

[Prospero]

Yes, he certainly did receive one of every three registered Republican women voters, who actually voted, in 1998. This is no insult to Republican Women, those who are organized. They are simply outnumbered by those who are not. And yes, that says more about Lauch than "Silky Pony." Lauch failed utterly in making an emotional connection with the voter and he was ill-served by incompetent consultants, until very late in the campaign when it was too late. And the election occurred simultaneously with the Impeachment, and a bad year for the GOP. And yes, of course, Jim Neal has ZERO chance of beating Elizabeth Dole... Kay Hagan will do little better, but will lose, especially if, should tracking polls indicate Hagan gaining ground, Senator Dole's consultants have Hagan's HUGE liberal record they can dip into to slap her down. I hope Chuckie spends a bunch of money in this futile effort.

[Prospero]

I don't know where you got the idea I thought Jim Neal could beat Elizabeth Dole, but I've never believed it. Lauch failed to build an emotional connection with the voters to me meant, yes, he was an alcoholic old man. It's also important to remember how the atmosphere that fall of '98 was so poisoned with super-positioned Spin during the Impeachment trial soon to begin in the Senate, and those numbers of Republican women who voted, as well as men, was depressed, which effected that proportionality.

My point is this. I sincerely apologise if a too dry sense of humor, something that can be communicated only by better writers, made sarcasm sound like something it wasn't. Let's put it this way. A vast majority of Republican women did vote for Faircloth in 1998, and they didn't stay home because of the Clinton Spin machine running at full tilt that Fall. Elizabeth Dole will be re-elected, defeating state Senator Kay Hagan but providing Mrs. Hagan, Lawton Chiles niece, whoo will benefit from the publicity to help her with her true U.S. Representative ambitions. Even the Democrats are willing to dismiss their highly organized gay professional allies enough to convince Kay Hagan to run after declining the opportunity - knowing Jim Neal can't win in North Carolina because he is a homosexual. I love Republican women, by the way. Exclusively.