Gay Gaffe Has Gov. Reeling (Bill Richardson, of course.)

Albuquerque Journal ^ | August 11, 2007 | Michael Coleman And Leslie Linthicum

[greyfoxx39]

WASHINGTON— Gov. Bill Richardson finally stood out in a presidential forum Thursday night— but not the way he wanted.

The New Mexico governor, participating in a Democratic forum on gay issues in Los Angeles, declared that homosexuality is "a choice" rather than biologically determined.

The governor's campaign issued a clarification of his statement immediately after the forum, but it still triggered an avalanche of criticism from bloggers and pundits across the political spectrum.

Melissa Etheridge, a lesbian rock star and forum panelist, prompted the governor's political fumble.

"Do you think homosexuality is a choice, or is it biological?" Etheridge asked.

"It's a choice," Richardson replied, before going on to say that he's "not a scientist" and doesn't view homosexuality as "an issue of science or definition."

-SNIP-

Media backlash
Richardson's performance was shredded in mainstream blogs, gay blogs, on TV and in print. He was called "stumbling," "just horrible" and "not on the ball."

Richardson's previous debate performances have gotten mixed reviews.

At a June debate in New Hampshire, he cited Byron White as his favorite chief justice, but retracted his choice after the debate when it was pointed out that White dissented on the Roe v. Wade abortion rights case in 1973.

Richardson also caught grief from bloggers and pundits when he told Tim Russert of "Meet the Press" that he was a fan of both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox— baseball teams that are bitter rivals.

He had already gotten into hot water with gay voters, whose support he has actively sought. In 2006, in an exchange on the now-canceled Don Imus radio show, he used the Spanish word "maricón," which many consider to be a derogatory term for gays akin to the word "faggot."

[greyfoxx39]

Good old King Bill, the New Mexico gift that keeps on giving...he's beginning to make Bruce King look like a Mensa candidate.

Looks like we will be stuck with him until he's term-limited.

[greyfoxx39]

NM PING

If you want on or off the NM Ping list, please FReepmail me.

[ClearCase_guy]

He told the truth. Democrats will never forgive that.

[greyfoxx39]

He told the truth. Democrats will never forgive that.

He will be paying for that comment in the press for quite a while.

[kinoxi]

"It's a choice," Richardson replied

He's right. If it was biological, the tendency for people with non reproductive desires would be to effectively breed themselves out of existence. If you want to do things that are contrary to procreation, you will procreate less.

[plain talk]

We could all get stuck with him as VP

[b4its2late]

Looks like the SOB is correct, yet he'll be crucified by the flamers and democrats.....

[bbruit]

He is entitled to his opinion.

[upsdriver]

So that’s what happens when Democrats speak the truth! They get raked over the coals. No wonder they all lie so much.

[originalbuckeye]

On the spur of the moment, a Dem actually told the truth about their point of view. Etheridge stated that she didn’t think he understood the question. A Dem calling homosexuality a choice??? I’m actually shocked.

[G Larry]

The reply I’d like to see:

Homosexuality is most frequently the result of psychological damage inflicted during childhood sexual molestation.
There is no scientifically proven genetic causation.
Of course it’s possible to choose the lifestyle.
If it were all genetic, it would be difficult to explain bi-sexuality.

[nothingnew]

(I am a nobody, and nobody is perfect; therefore, I am perfect.)

I have just started the "PerfectNobodiesClub". For $49.95 I can sign you up.

FMCDH(BITS)

[WorkingClassFilth]

That is my response to the "genetically determined" crowd. If homosexuality is programmed into people, then it is the evolutionary equivalent of a period (.) In other words, it's Mother Nature's way of saying Terminate this experiment immediately!
Shuts 'em up everytime.

[cgbg]

I think that sexual molestation is certainly a major contributing factor in many cases. But even people who have been sexually molested as children are not universally homosexual. Therefore there are other influences at work.

The truth is (imho) that the causes of homosexuality are not fully understood at our current level of knowledge. Unfortunately with the current politicization of this issue it will be a long time before there can be a rational discussion and bias-free research that might lead to persuasive conclusions.

Probably my statement would have gotten Richardson in trouble as well.

:-)

[vetsvette]

It was a MAJOR gaffe — he told the truth, something that is unacceptable to Demoncraps.

[muawiyah]

Bill simply thought that "choice" was the Democrat mantra of choice.

Bet he doesn't really know any gay guys all that well ~ or he'd known that "choice" stops at abortion.

Beyond that, the Dems are doctrinaire fascists and Stalinists.

[kinoxi]

Yep. It can’t be a biological condition if the very definition of it defies creating offspring to pass it on. It’s a genetic dead end.

[muawiyah]

No doubt it’s brought on by DNA methylation and once we find which chromosomes are affected, and a bit more research is done, it will be cured with 5 cents worth of drugs or additives.

[madprof98]

In reporting this story today, CNN explained that scientists all agree that gays are just born that way.

[pray4liberty]

"Do you think homosexuality is a choice, or is it biological?" Etheridge asked.

He should have answered, "Heck if I know. I'm not gay."

Here's your sign.