Posted on 07/16/2005 12:12:46 PM PDT by gopgen
Gay-rights opponent Santorum stands by outed aide
BY STEVE GOLDSTEIN
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WASHINGTON - (KRT) - The senior spokesman for Sen. Rick Santorum, R- Pa., Friday confirmed to a web log that he is gay.
According to PageOneQ, an online gay and lesbian publication, director of communications Robert L. Traynham, said that he was an "out gay man who completely supports the senator."
Santorum, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate leadership has been an outspoken opponent of homosexual rights and a leading proponent of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Santorum, who was traveling in Pittsburgh, released the following statement:
"Robert Traynham ... is widely respected and admired on Capitol Hill, both among the press corps and among the congressional staff, as a communications professional. Not only is Mr. Traynham an exemplary staffer, but he is also a trusted friend confidente to me and my family. Mr. Traynham is a valued member of my staff and I regret that this effort on behalf of people who oppose me has made him a target of bigotry in their eyes.
"It is entirely unacceptable that my staffs' personal lives are considered fair game by partisans looking for arguments to bolster my opponent's campaign. Mr. Traynham continues to have my full support and confidence as well as my prayers as he navigates this rude and mean spirited invasion of his personal life."
Mark Rodgers, chief of staff at the Republican conference, which Santorum chairs, said, "Robert is a tremendous employee and we're all for standing by him." Traynham's homosexuality was not news to the senator or his staff, he added.
In the online interview, Traynham defended his decision to work with the senator. "Sen. Santorum is a man of principle, he is a man who sticks up for what he believes in. I strongly do support Sen. Santorum.
Asked whether he supported Santorum's views on lesbian and gay issues, Traynham told PageOneQ, "Sen. Santorum is a family man. I have been with him for eight years and I am very proud to be with him."
The two-term senator is up for reelection next year. His expected Democratic opponent is State Treasurer Robert P. Casey, Jr.
Traynham began working for Santorum since 1997 as a press assistant and then deputy press secretary. He was press secretary for the senator's 2000 reelection campaign in Pennsylvania. Just prior to becoming communications director in the Senate office, Traynham served as director of communications for the Senate Republican Conference.
Traynham holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, where he currently serves on the Council of Trustees.
In supporting the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would prohibit gay marriage, Santorum has equated homeland security with the sanctity of traditional marriage. He has referred to gay marriage as "messing with the basic family unit."
During an interview with The Associated Press two years ago about a challenge to the constitutionality of Texas's sodomy law, Santorum said that if the Supreme Court allows gay sex at home (which it ultimately did), "you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."
On the marriage issue, Santorum also said: "In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be."
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© 2005, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Visit Philadelphia Online, the Inquirer's World Wide Web site, at http://www.philly.com
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
What about an adulterer? What about someone who got divorced because they "just weren't in love anymore"? What about someone who doesn't believe Jesus is the Son of God? What about someone who engages in unclean acts? All of these people are practicing sinners are they not?
Would Santorum be condemned if it were discovered that one of his staff members was living with someone without being married? That is just as much a sin as homosexuality.
Gay is a behavior. It is not genetic. He's only one year old.
Dear AmericanInTokyo,
"If I really loved a person as a friend, or as a loyal boss, I'd be concerned if that person's, (even private), ethical and moral decisions and actions were going to lead to his or her soul being condemned to an eternal, fiery punishment combined with unspeakable tortures and worst of all everlasting alienation from Almighty God and His loving Son; and I'd counsel the person to try to repent. That would be 'true love'"
Do you know whether or not Sen. Santorum has privately addressed this issue with the aide? Perhaps he has expressed his view to the aide, and the aide has said, "Look, I'll work for you, you don't have to 'approve' or 'accept' my homosexuality, but I ain't changing for you."
Does Sen. Santorum then fire the aide? Or does Sen. Santorum, who cares for the fellow's well-being, keep him on, and hope that perhaps by working closely with him, perhaps some seeds of repentance may be planted within the fellow's soul.
Perhaps these seeds will be watered by another, and harvested by yet another.
But what is the reason, then, to fire the fellow? How does that move him closer to repentance, to be removed from a possible source of positive influence?
sitetest
You said:
"If we went on a witch hunt to get rid of them, we would not have much of a party infrastructure left."
1. How do you know this?
2. So you're saying that the vast majority of cuurent conservative leaders are homosexuals? The Republican party would be emptied of most of its leaders? I find this hard to believe.
3. What are your sources?
Please take a look at the following thread.
Dear k2blader,
I'm a Catholic, and I don't have an inherent problem with a good, devout Catholic having a homosexual on the payroll.
I employ folks, and I'm pretty sure that pretty much everyone on my payroll is a sinner. Including myself.
As long as no one requires me to accept or approve of their sin, I'll evaluate them on the basis of how they do the job, not on the basis of whether or not I agree with them on all moral, political, philosophical, and religious issues.
Heck, I have an outrageous political liberal who works for me! He knows that I don't approve of his political views. But I figure, maybe I'm having a positive effect on him.
sitetest
Huh?
If you were Santorum, would you have opted for "I am against homosexuality so I fired the fag on the spot?"
I think his statement was entirely appropriate.
You're using Keyes of an example of a Republican you'll "go after"? *LOL*
I understand very well how Republicans "work" as hard as Democrats when it comes to maintaining/gaining their power.
Thank you for your kind reply, sitetest. :-)
You want to PURGE homosexuals from the GOP? Is that what you're saying?
You understand nothing.
Yes, I use him, and you know why? Because Republicans, mainstream Republicans, do not engage in this deplorable practice. The fact the only name that comes to mind is someone on the fringe provides the only example you need of the differences in how the right and left operate.
I notice you conveniently disregard the Truth that people stood in defense of Hillary over the Drudge headline.
No, the poster was talking about the entire party.
Strawman.
Why would it be any different as long as they say they were born with that desire?
NO! I don't believe in affirmative action. Rick was NOT forced to hire him. And I don't feel people should be forced to hire ANY minority group. However to deny, them work solely based on their said minority is wrong.
And if he IS gay?
Sorry, I must've completely zoned out your comment on Drudge & Hillary--those two names bore me nearly to death.
I'm not sure you'll ever understand where I'm coming from; if you claim you are an example of how the right operates and should operate, you illustrate my point.
Now, if someones sexuality like stated above breaks the law, they should be thrown in jail.
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