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.
You toss out inflammatory remarks that other people have supposedly made, and now back down, since no one made such remarks.
Who are you trying to fool, anyway?
jl, your responses were far more measured. You are a better man than I. When I think of self righteous on this forum, you are not one of the posters that come to mind. You are firm in your positions and very often humble as proven by your willingness to admit to your past transgressions. You are well versed in many subjects, including the topic of homosexuality. To say that you are in over your head is laughable.
Thanks, TAdams - let's just say I've had a lot of practice at this sort of thing; and I don't have to resort to fake arguments, since the simple truth is right there for all to see, if they want to see.
As I just mentioned to someone in a freepmail, my favorite story of the Bible is the Prodigal Son. We're all prodigal sons, each and every one of us, and God is the wonderful father who has never rejected us, although we've rejected Him. He's waiting for us right now!
Homosexuals aren't the only ones who have turned their backs on God. But not everyone holds parades celebrating their faults and sins, or gets judges to promote them.
Good night to you!
Good night to you too.
(((((Sheepish look on face)))))
Sorry. Next time I will read more closely. I thought that you were defending him, but you were merely explaining.
I am glad that we agree. I feel smarter when I agree with you. ;-)
As well you should, lol!
But it is I who more often learn from you and I think you know it!
Your post is very kind, hansel, thank you.
When it comes down to it, I just don't trust Santorum anymore, for reasons other than this issue of his aide, although that certainly doesn't help matters.
And, yes, the Democrats will be gunning for any Republican they can. That is to be expected. I consider their opinions worthless.
What I'm interested in is the level of commitment conservatives/Republicans have toward working to advance fiscal and social conservatism. Recently, Santorum has come up wanting.
That said, if I were in PA I'd probably vote for his reelection. But as a presidential hopeful, no thanks..
Homosexuals outing homosexuals?
Play with fire, you get burned..
Little.
The original poster (who wrote about sexuality and abortion) in post # 234 was talking about a perfect world. This isn't a perfect world, so of course Republicans and conservatives must address the issues politically.
You must have a lot of free time on your hands then, since I've been on about three threads you've been on in 7 years.
As time went on, I think any employee's life becomes more evident. However, if this guy worked up through the ranks, there's the possibility that Santorum was out of touch.
However, you'd think that different checks would be done on anyone who desired to work as the top aide of a man who has aspirations for the Presidency.
Well, well, someone just got his diploma from the correspondence school of stormtrooping.
I could care less what the left thinks and maybe instead of taking courses in stormtrooping maybe you should take a course in how to read, since you will notice that i haven't once said Santorum should go.
Nice to see the left uses the same tactics they used during McCarthism. Just replace outing "commies" with outing "gays" and you end up with the same pattern.
I guess it all depends on what Santorum exactly said. If he said homosexuals should be shunned on all levels, and not hired, he's a hypocrite if he keeps this guy. If he opposed specifics (i.e. homosexual "marriage," Boy Scout invasion, etc.), and this guy champions the opposite position, then again he's a hypocrite.
But reportedly this poor wretch publicly and enthusiastically supports Santorum. So unless he purges all sinners from his staff, I don't see how he can single this guy out. And in his position, I'm not sure what moer he can say.
He could, I suppose, say something like, "The tempest in a teapot that has arisen since my employee's private life was invaded illustrates how poorly the media understand the position of most Americans. While we cannot embrace homosexual practice, and would encourage those bound in it to find freedom from it, we have no intention of persecuting them. It was actually liberals who have persecuted this man. It is when embrace of this immoral behavior drives people try to redefine marriage, to force private institutions to change their membership standards, to force young children to be indoctrinate — that's where we have to stand up and say 'no.' And [if true] my employee has done none of those things."
Absolutely right, Delphinium.
What do you make of spunkets' denial or original sin?
Sort if drops a serious thread out of the beautiful OT=>NT continuum for me.
Sadly, yes.
I don't argue the political agenda of some gays. I separate the individual gay people I know from the agenda. The folks I know that are gay have ziltch interest in politics; they are too busy with jobs and houses and all the other stuff people do.
"And let me add a third part.
Do political movements recruit or is someones politics genetic"
Huh? Politics genetic? What?
Those who want to destroy America have willfully ignored the natural and proper right to self-defense and the right to enjoy the fruits of one's own labor.
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