Free Republic

October 15, 2006 Op-Ed Columnist The Gay Old Party Comes Out By FRANK RICH Here’s a gay Republican story you probably did not hear last week. On Tuesday a card-carrying homosexual, Mark Dybul, was sworn into office at the State Department with his partner holding the Bible. Dr. Dybul, was flanked by Laura Bush and Condi Rice. In her official remarks, the secretary of state referred to the mother of Dr. Dybul’s partner as his “mother-in-law.” If anything good has come out of the Foley scandal, it is surely this: The revelation that the political party fond of demonizing homosexuals...

WASHINGTON -- The week-old congressional page sex scandal could have a decisive effect on several key political campaigns across the country and prove crucial to Democratic hopes of gaining control of the House of Representatives in November. Polls indicate that the scandal, triggered by the publication of sexually explicit messages that former Florida Republican Rep. Mark Foley sent to ex-pages, hasn't created a voter backlash against Republicans nationally. But in four House districts currently held by Republicans the issue could prove decisive, political analysts said, because of the candidates' connections to Foley or to child protection issues: • Foley's open...