I would have a problem with Mr. Traynham if he was doing this,
So future former Senator Santorum has a staff problem?
I would have a problem with Mr. Traynham if he was doing this,
GAY-LOVING DEMS: "If you are a Republican, we will use your homosexuality against you! And "our gays" are to dumb to see any hypocrisy in it."
ETHNIC-LOVING DEMS: "If you are a Republican, we will use your skin color and national origin against you! And "our N-----s"* and "our W------s" are to dumb to see any hypocrisy in it."
* Robert Byrd's word for African-Americans
Only the leftist bigots will think it is wrong to be a gay conservative.
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.
I find it interesting that the Left wants to persecute this aide for the very same reason he would be celebrated if only he worked for a Democrat.
The word "hypocrite" springs to mind.
Regards, Ivan
This little kerfluffle has added a new dimension to the idea of CYA.
Personally, I think that there's no reason to get too upset about having a homosexual working for him. As long as he didn't make it an issue, it's not really anyone's business who he's bed wrestling with. This whole homosexual thing is stupid anyway. It's like running around telling everyone you like Italian food. It's a preference, just like any other.
If you're a Christian, that's for you and God to iron out. If you're not, it's up to you to do what you think is right.
We've got thousands of illegals invading this country on a daily basis, a Court abridging our rights, a myriad of other problems, and everyone's wrapped up in who is humping whom. Silly.
And the point of the press reporting this is???
There's nothing wrong with being gay. In fact, it's downright, positively normal and everyday lollipops. EXCEPT when the gay man happens to be a REPUBLICAN, then the gloves (and I assume, also the condoms) come OFF...be damned the gayness, by GOD THAT GAY MAN IS A REPULICAN FOR MERCY SAKE!!!!
HYPOCRITS ONE AND ALL!
First, isn't it a Federal law that an employer cannot ask about marriage, family or sexual orientation in hiring? It seems that Santorum could have hired this man without knowing, and isn't now willing to throw him in the garbage. I admire that.
Second, it is possible for a gay person to have a deeply conservative view of what is proper for society. In an extraordinary article by a Canadian gay man who testified before their parliament AGAINST the idea of same-sex marriage -- John McKellar, President of H.O.P.E. (Homosexuals Opposed to Pride Extremism) says, "...we cannot and must not ignore the lessons of history and natural law. Again and again, it has been shown that whenever humankind fails to protect time-honored political, moral and social institutions, whenever humankind attempts to embrace pride as a virtue and mainstream behavior that contravenes natural law, and whenever humankind becomes arrogant, autonomous, egalitarian, nihilistic and foolish, civilization fails – always and without exception."
View the entire article at
http://theroadtoemmaus.org/RdLb/22SxSo/PnSx/HSx/McKellarJ%20HOPE02.htm
It didn't work when the Dems mentioned Dick Cheney's daughter, I'm suprised that they are going back to this play in their outdated playbook again.
OK - what group outed Traynham? Was it the gay group who had been bragging they were going to "out" all gay Republicans? I have read most all of the 200 plus posts on this thread and have not seen an inquiry/answer about this. Instead I see conservatives eating their own....just as whoever "outed" this guy intended. From what I've seen neither side here has convinced one person of the other side to their view.....nothing but near flame wars. I think it is more important to know who and why this guy was "outed".
Do the Senator and the aide gaze meaningfully into each others eyes? Do they watch Gladiator movies together? Do they share a passion for show tunes and Judy Garland?
The typical gutless politician would have booted the guy.
I've had more than one homosexual in my employ but that never had any bearing on my views on special rights for gays.
Ever notice it's liberals who always "out" people? What a bunch of passive-aggressive bigots.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Top Santorum Aide Outed As Gay
So?
ping.
Dems, GOP hold historic meetings with gay groups
But the question remains for both: What will come of it?
By Peter Cassels
Published: Thursday, May 9, 2002
White House adviser Mary Matalin addresses the Log Cabin Republicans in a meeting that marks the first time an official White House meeting has taken place between a Republican administration and gay members of the GOP.
Media Credit: LCR
White House adviser Mary Matalin addresses the Log Cabin Republicans in a meeting that marks the first time an official White House meeting has taken place between a Republican administration and gay members of the GOP.
It's springtime in the nation's capital and like robins digging for worms politicians are searching for votes. It's an election year after all. Just as the cherry blossoms were blooming on Washington's Tidal Basin in April, Republicans and Democrats were falling all over themselves wooing gays and lesbians in the critical fall elections that will determine which party controls Congress.
First, it was the GOP's turn, with legislators on Capitol Hill and members of the Bush administration at the White House and Treasury Department hosting Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) April 18. Then, on April 25, in an ornate room just off the floor of the U.S. Senate, Democratic solons mixed it up with leaders of most of the nation's leading gay advocacy groups.
Gay leaders in both parties labeled the meetings historic, but tempered that by pointing out that such discussions have been going on routinely `` for years, the Democrats say, and since at least the dawn of the Bush administration, according to the Republicans.
One certainly could use the descriptor ``power meeting." There was enough political star wattage to illuminate a city for a week. The Republicans trotted out White House senior advisor Mary Matalin, Bill Frist (the physician-senator from Tennessee whom Washington insiders consider presidential timber), and Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill for their dog-and-pony show. Not to be outdone, the Democrats featured the likes of Massachusetts Sens. John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, and Connecticut Sens. Joe Lieberman and Chris Dodd. Kennedy had his chance at a White House race 22 years ago. The other three are toying with running in 2004. The gay leaders attending the meeting, hosted by Kerry as chair of the Senate Democratic Steering & Coordination Committee, were no slouches either. There was Elizabeth Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Lorri Jean, head of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), and gay activist David Mixner, former Friend of Bill (Clinton), among others.
Gay spokespersons for both parties say the confabs long had been planned and it was a mere coincidence that they occurred within days of each other. Another coincidence: the LCR and its counterpart, the National Stonewall Democrats (NSD), also had their annual conventions in close proximity, by the calendar, if not geography. The LCR event was in Washington April 17-21. The NSD met in Cleveland April 25-28. At least one observer viewed the various meetings as the opening volleys in the battle for gay and lesbian votes in the key elections of 2002 and 2004.
April 18 was a busy day for about 50 LCR national leaders who shuttled between the Hill and the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. At the Treasury Building next to the White house, Secretary O'Neill briefed the group, reviewing U.S. economic policy and the continued progress of private sector benefits for domestic partners. The group then went next door to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the White House complex for what was the first-ever briefing in a Republican administration for a gay organization.
Matalin talks politics
Matalin, who doubles as assistant to the president and counselor to the vice president, not surprisingly talked politics. Others who met with the LCR contingent were Lezlee Westine, director of the White House Office of Public Liaison, who outlined the administration's gay appointees, and one of those, AIDS czar Scott Evertz (former president of the LCR's Wisconsin chapter), reviewed what his boss is doing about the pandemic.
Brad Berenson, White House associate counsel, reviewed judicial nominations while James Wilkinson, deputy communications director, discussed message development and what it was like running the ``war room" communications center during the war in Afghanistan. Former Bush campaign political director Maria Cino talked about free trade and the impact on small businesses, such as those in the gay and lesbian community.
``White House briefings are opportunities to tell groups of people in government and in the community about the administrations' issues and priorities," LCR Public Affairs Director Kevin Ivers explained in an interview. ``There were several issues of importance to us, like HIV/AIDS and judicial nominees." Asked why judicial appointments are a major issue to gays (activists have opposed at least one of Bush's), he replied: ``Ask every gay organization that said it was during the last campaign. People seem to have very short memories." Ivers also said the gay Republicans spoke with O"Neil aboutthe progress of domestic-partner policies in corporate America and its impact on government. ``It was raised in advance," he reported. ``It was more about economic policy, but the issue was definitely discussed."
Earlier that day, Virginia Congressman Tom Davis, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, chair of the Senate Republican Conference, were among those at a Capitol Hill briefing.
Gay GOP part of `team'
According to an LCR news release, Davis said the LCR is ``a very important part of our team" in the effort to retain and expand the Republican majority in the House. Others who attended included gay Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe and two freshmen congressmen, Rob Simmons of Connecticut and Mike Ferguson of New Jersey, both of whom the LCR endorsed in the last elections. Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon discussed a range of issues such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and adding sexual orientation to federal hate-crimes laws, another piece of pending legislation. Frist, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, headlined an evening reception.
Unlike the historic White House briefing, meetings with Republican lawmakers are ``something we do on a regular basis," Ivers said. ``These are people who we"ve been meeting with at the staff level for the last year, but it was an opportunity for the entire leadership of the organization to meet with these people and give them feedback. It was very positive." Gay Democrats and advocates were equally upbeat about their 90-minute April 25 session in the large and ornate Mansfield Room just off the Senate floor. Organizers claimed it was the first time a Senate leadership committee of either party hosted a meeting with gay leaders to discuss strategy. The influential Democratic Steering & Coordination Committee develops and coordinates legislative and public policy positions for the party's senators, and recommends assignments to other Senate committees. A total of 16 senators exchanged ideas with leaders of 17 gay activist groups on the panoply of current community issues at the federal, state and local levels, including ENDA, HIV/AIDS, hate crimes and the need to create legal safeguards for gay families. Each activist came prepared with a 3-minute presentation about their pet issues.
``Kerry was engaged, asked good questions, demonstrated his understanding of many of these issues," HRC Public Policy Director Winnie Stachelberg, who joined Birch at the session, reported in an interview. ``[So did] all of the senators there. I think they walked away having learned something and all of us in the community walked away with a new appreciation of the commitment of the Democratic Caucus for equality for gay men and lesbians."
``I've been to these sessions before under the aegis of other civil rights leadership organizations and this was as good as if not better than those meetings," she added.
Riki Anne Wilchins, executive director of GenderPAC (Public Advocacy Coalition), said she discussed gender rights: ``We talked especially about the hate-crimes bill. We especially tried to underscore people like 17-year-old lesbian April Mora, who was slashed by razor blades because she looked like a boy, and 32-year-old Dawn Dawson, who was fired from an Estee Lauder subsidiary, allegedly because she looked too butch. ``I was encouraged that the senators took it to heart. We've had real success. Three years ago, no sitting Congress member protected gender expression, identity and characteristics. Now we're proud to say that 114 do, including 10 senators and 12 Republicans. It's been growing every month."
Jean of the NGLTF told Bay Windows she was shocked that the committee session was the first for gays and lesbians: ``I was stunned we hadn't had one before. It is exactly what needs to happen."
Jean noted that it was interesting that some of the major players like Lieberman and others kept on entering and exiting the room to take part in debate on the Bush energy bill on the Senate floor. She said she was disappointed that Lieberman was on the floor when the group discussed Bush's Faith-Based Initiative proposal. He and Santorum are working on a compromise that might resurrect the bill, stalled in the House. ``I hoped he would [have removed language] which would exempt religious recipients of federal funds from having to have a non-discrimination policy that included sexual orientation." She added that the group knew in advance that there was no way to know who was going to be in the room at a given time.
The energy bill vote meant that Democratic Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota had to remain on the floor to manage debate, but Majority Whip Harry Reid of Nevada attended part of the meeting.
In a brief interview, Mixner called the meeting ``pretty remarkable. I went in with very little expectations. The thing I was most impressed was that it really about issues. No one pitched money." He added that he ``was very impressed with [the senators'] response . I think they're really moving forward; the hate-crimes bill dramatically forward."
Mixner reported that he moved from Los Angeles, where he lived for more than 20 years, to Washington in December and is a freelance consultant specializing in long-term strategic planning and international affairs. ``I work out of my home so I can write," he explained. He's working on a stage play with the working title ``Buchanan" about the 19th century president.
Campbell Spencer, the Democratic National Committee's gay liaison, helped Kerry and the committee staff coordinate the session. She emphasized that it was not a one-shot deal, but the first in a continuing series that's part of a long-standing working relationship with GLBT community leaders.
While she praised the LCR meetings, saying the sessions both parties held ``are of consequence and should be celebrated absolutely, but we really need to draw a contrast while we are drawing a comparison. I think it offered a very clear inroad into the difference of these parties when it comes to the issues of gay and lesbian civil rights."
Spencer contended that the Republicans didn't have a deep discussion of those issues: ``In looking at the Administration's meeting, we know they talked to them about foreign policy, about the economic agenda. What we haven't heard is what the gay Republicans said to the Administration. They really haven't focused on the message because there isn't much to say. While that meeting offered access, that access was not used to further the agenda of gays and lesbians."
NSD Executive Director Chad Johnson, who attended the meeting, observed, ``It highlighted for me and hopefully for the others there amongst the LGBT leaders that if the Democrats didn't control the Senate, this meeting wouldn't be happening."
Of the LCR, Johnson said: ``They are satisfied in essence with being invited to a function with an important member of the Republican Party. But the huge difference is that they didn't sit around and talk about ENDA and hate crimes, families, Social Security [and] Sept. 11 domestic-partner problems."
He added that the GOP objective is to ``make the gay issue a non-issue, meaning it's okay if you're gay. You can still come to the party. Period. And it doesn't go beyond that."
Johnson noted that within three days of their meeting with the LCR, Frist and Davis were quoted by the Washington Times as having concerns about ENDA. ``They basically came out against ENDA when it is such an important issue. More than 80 percent of Americans support non-discrimination and the gay and lesbian Republicans are trotting out as allies those who are not supportive."
Bay Windows asked Charles Francis -- organizer of the ``Austin 12" meeting of gays with Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign and founder of the Republican Unity Coalition -- whether he'd consider trying to arrange a similar meeting with Republican senators. ``I think that's an interesting suggestion," he replied. ``I aspire to that. They [the Democrats] are ahead of us. I think it's a great idea."
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.