Foley: My sexuality is private Questions about homosexuality 'revolting and unforgivable'

Miami Herald ^ | 5/23/03 | PETER WALLSTEN AND LESLEY CLARK

[Chancellor Palpatine]

TALLAHASSEE - U.S. Rep. Mark Foley took the offensive Thursday to address a question he acknowledged may affect his bid to become the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate: Is he gay?

The answer, Foley said, is that it's nobody's business but his own. He called the innuendo about his private life ''revolting and unforgivable,'' and blamed it on Democratic activists who fear his strength as a candidate.

snip

Foley holds a massive fundraising advantage over his leading rival for the Republican nomination, former Orlando-area U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, and has amassed dozens of endorsements from Republican state legislators across the ideological spectrum.

But party strategists worry quietly that Foley may be too ''moderate'' to beat McCollum, a darling of the party's influential conservative wing, in a primary -- but that McCollum, who lost to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2000, is a weak candidate in the general election.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Otherwise known as the "shooting ourselves in the foot" strategy which has been so successful in California, the social "conservative" wing of the party pushes another dour, grim, personality free and unelectable candidate amid rumor and innuendo which aren't particularly relevant to anything.

In other words, it ain't their business - unless, of course, they've made similar inquiries of their choice, and whether he has denied enjoying any unnatural acts in the past.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

.

[Stingray51]

If an in-the-closet "gay" Republican gets the nomination, we can be sure the Left will try to make a big issue of it, probably by spreading rumors of GOP discontent (thereby simultaneously knocking off the Republican candidate while making Republicans look "intolerant").

[Mister Baredog]

Otherwise known as the "shooting ourselves in the foot" strategy which has been so successful in California

OUCH!(LOL), but true. Although it took $10 million from Gray Davis for us to beat back Riordan( and elect Simon in the primary) the real threat, in the 2002 election. I guess this is part of the "cling to straws" rationale after the fact.

I voted for Riordan in the primary but it just wasn't enough. LOL

Next we may try the "Terminator".

[Jack Black]

Huh? Care to run that one by us again. McCollum is grim and unelectable in your opinion. What is the California parallel? Simon? Fong? Not Hershonson, that's for sure! He had too much personality.

[hchutch]

Maybe McCollum can be offered an appointment or shifted to run for another job in Florida (say, Lieutenant Governor).

He's a good guy. I've had no complaints about him.

[SwinneySwitch]

How in the h*ll did Ronald Reagan ever win an election in this state?

[Mr. Bird]

Oh please, consider the source. Bill McCollum was my rep for years, and if anything, he's a plain-spoken fiscal conservative with absolutely zero downside. I guess you'll just take the Herald's word for it that "party strategists" are worried?

[Mr. Bird]

And here's ABC News' bio of Bill when he was an evil House Impeachment Manager:

McCollum was one of the Republicans' most visible members in the days after Clinton's Aug. 17 admission of an improper relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Brought up in loyally Democratic terrain by his conservative Republican grandfather, McCollum campaigned for 1964 GOP presidential nominee Barry Goldwater while studying at the University of Florida. He has been assigned to handle witness preparation.

Yep, we'll be shooting ourselves in the foot with this guy.

[wimpycat]

McCollum is grim and unelectable in your opinion.

McCollum already lost one Senate race in a good year for Republicans. He is a weak candidate. I personally like McCollum; he was one of the impeachment managers. I don't have anything against Foley, either.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

When was the last time you heard Dems say anything about sexual orientation of a candidate post primary? You don't, even in conservative states. They are capable of a lot of crappy things, but that hasn't historically been one of them.

These things usually occur in a whisper campaign, prior to the primary, benefitting a candidate without much appeal - sometimes originating from the Dem committees which want to manipulate the GOP electorate toward a particular candidate who they perceive as weak.

[Rebelbase]

"and blamed it on Democratic activists who fear his strength as a candidate. "

Yes, we are winning the battle for the people of America. Had this been years earlier, when the Dems were all on the same page, such a comment would have been directed at evil right wingers.

[lady lawyer]

If I were voting in Florida, I would want to know. I would not want to unwittingly vote in another person supporting so-called "gay rights." In that respect, I don't think it is a private matter. Unfortunately, he must be gay. Otherwise he would simply say "no."

[wimpycat]

Democrat candidate for Senate Alex Sanders and Dem Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian, both of South Carolina, refute your particular point in #11.

[Mr. Bird]

McCollum already lost one Senate race in a good year for Republicans

Yes, but losing to Nelson isn't like losing to Reno or some other Democrat nutjob. Nelson has been a favorite son politico in Florida for years, and the older ladies love him. McCollum is a fine candidate.

[JohnnyZ]

This was already posted last week, when it was actually new news:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/916307/posts

I think the Herald wrote up their own article, but still, nice that you think it's necessary to attack conservatives to get your kicks.

Foley is a big gay rights and abortion supporter; that's plenty of reason not to want him to be the nominee in a sane state like Florida (as opposed to Kalifornia).

Conservative, electable US Rep. Dave Weldon is also considering the race.

[Larry Lucido]

I could care less what a candidate is, as long as he is pro-gun and anti-tax, and isn't pushing for statutes that single out gays for special protections.

On the other hand, it appears to be perfectly acceptable for a Gay magazine to ask whether Clay Aiken is gay.

[wimpycat]

Bill McCollum was my rep for years, and if anything, he's a plain-spoken fiscal conservative with absolutely zero downside.

Like I said before, I don't have anything against McCollum, but he has absolutely zero personality--as it comes across through the media, anyway. I like him, but he has a boring demeanor. Like it or not, that is a factor.

[JohnnyZ]

McCollum already lost one Senate race in a good year for Republicans.

2000 was NOT a good year for Republicans; we lost most of the close senate races, among other things. Still, McCollum did run a couple points behind GWB in Florida, and has already had his shot at the senate in the opinion of many.

[wimpycat]

D'oh! I thought he ran in 2002.