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.
He's not SUPPORTING the homosexual lifestyle; he's IGNORING IT, you know, like, "I don't care what your sexual preferences are as long as a) You don't shove it in my face and b) you do a good job.
Now are you saying that NO conservative can associate with ANY homosexual and still be a "real, true" conservative?
OMG! Its against your religion to hire a gay dude?
Amazing, isn't it?
Well said.
And what special interest group is most likely to get their feathers ruffled over this? The point of "outing" an open gay man is ......?
Your ignorance is showing.
I'd have to look at the issue that generated the results, but I'm suggesting it might work better about 1.5 blocks due north of where it's at.
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.
This is such vile garbage. Standing in defense of the union of one man and one woman is NOT standing against 'homosexual rights'.
I commend Santorum and denounce the BIGOTS on the Left that claim to not only practice tolerance, but fully accept the lifestyle in every capacity, then "out" people at will because they think people will draw back in horror for what they believe will result in political benefit.
well the questioning of his conservatism for supporting him against these attacks for one.
A lot of people are ignorant; ignore them.
So future former Senator Santorum has a staff problem?
What you said!
Per the quotes in the article, I get the sense Santorum knew.
Why would it be an issue? It's odd that any Christian would ask that.
I'm saying that to be someone's top aide they'd have to know your background, and that a traditional conservative would tend to choose a traditional conservative as a top aide....not a top aide that would cause media attention for a lifestyle that is totally the opposite of traditional conservative.
You want to PURGE homosexuals from the GOP? Is that what you're saying?
I'm just curious what Catholics think. I've always thought they were strongly anti-homosexuality.
I doubt his conservative credentials.
And now you have added:
that a traditional conservative would tend to choose a traditional conservative as a top aide....
Now I want to know if you're saying that people who EMPLOY or KNOW AND ACCEPT homosexuals are not "real, true, TRADITIONAL" conservatives?
Are you claiming that being anti-homosexual is part of the GOP platform?
Just curious, do you consider Cheney a 'traditional' conservative?
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