Login Here
Eureka! I think maybe something snapped into place for me today, though I'm not sure. I'll let you decide.
Here's the question: why does the Republican Party recruit and promote so many closeted gay men?
I came to the question when I was watching Lindsey Graham (whose sexual orientation has been the subject of rumors for a long time, to the point where it's almost an open secret) on the Sunday morning talk shows yet again. There he was, spewing more GOP talking points, as he's so frequently called upon to do.
Most of the other Sunday morning regulars have ambitions for higher office. McCain and Biden come to mind. So why is Graham deputized to work the circuit, week after week, year after year?
Because he's safe.
He's safe. He has no ambition for higher office. Don't you find that curious? Why does no one ever float his name as a potential candidate, given the high profile he's cultivated over the years?
I think it's because everyone knows he has no such ambitions, no expectation that he's working to promote himself above and beyond the company party. And how can everyone be so sure of this?
Because they all know what's in his closet. And he knows they know.
Lindsey Graham is never running for national office because the rumors about his sexual orientation would get a whole new level of scrutiny, whereas now, it's don't ask, don't tell. Even recent Speaker of the House Denny Hastert was never thought to have presidential ambitions. He was installed as a safe person to do Tom Delay's bidding. There are rumors about the ex-wrestling coach, too, and last election cycle, under the threat of a real race by Blue America favorite John Laesch in 2006, they almost came to the public in the post Mark Foley environment. And I must say, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has his own rumor filled history that's been percolating below the surface again now that's he's assumed his leadership responsibilities.
Closeted gay Republicans serve a very important function in the GOP ecosystem. The GOP likes to put them in key positions where they can be trusted to hold the party together among warring factions, putting a face on the party to promote the party without promoting themselves at anyone else's expense. If they ever fail to perform the assigned function, well, secrets have a way of finding daylight when the people who keep them need to keep a man in line.
So, whaddya think of my theory? Am I on to something?
Share This 
Spotlight
Pach!
About yur theory…I don’t know, it’s far from my area of expertise, such as it is *g*.
damn straight you are. (pun intended) you keep this up, you’ll be qualified to be a political advisor (in the closet, of course).
This is why ancient kings had eunuchs running the harem.
Speaking of rabbits (weren’t we?):
Airport Having Trouble With Flights Due To Fwisky Wabbits!
Graham should be outed…
AS ususal YOU HIT A HOME RUN……
unfortunately it is beyone pathetic!
Larry Craig is another one. Any GOP closeted gay should be outed immediately. First of all, they openly campaign to discriminate against their own. Second, conservatives don’t believe in a right to privacy, so they have no right to a private life. Third, they don’t believe in civil liberties, so they shouldn’t expect to have fair process, since they don’t believe in it.
I have a better question. Why are Rethuglicans more likely to be closeted gay? What draws them to the party? (I’m in full Freud mode here, so things liks “strong on defense, personal responsibility, etc) don’t cut it. I’m not bradley whitford and this ain’t THE WEST WING.) There has to be a sexual reason here, what is it? Note that the DemocratIC party has plenty of gays too, just not so closeted.
Interesting theory Pach. Makes a lot of sense. But why and how do they manage to keep it such an “open” secret? And what’s his voting record and campaign record on gay issues? It would be interesting to find out.
You know that guys in navy uniforms are irresistible and not just to gals.
Interesting theory. Thinking about Gannon/Guckert, the rumours about Rove, even G. Shrub, and so on, you might be onto something. It’s really reached such extremes in our politics, that your theory is worth exploring.
Alfred Kelgarries @ 8
This is what I was thinking too. The Roy Cohn Club.
I thought once Ted Haggard was exposed the GOP was cured of closet cases.
The GOPers went on a three week retreat, and are 1000% manly now.
Alfred Kelgarries @ 8
The ReDubyacan closeted gays are intellectual masochists? I.E., they LIKE having to battle their internal sexual feelings and knowing that they play a game with extreme punishments if caught.
Just In:
Bee Die Off Is Probable Infection. Antibiotic trials to start immediately. Linky.
It is important to understand that bee die-offs happen all the time, what made this one so odd was they couldn’t find the bodies. Now they have, and we can almost certainly cope with the usual methods. (The first clue was that only some bee populations were affected.)
The sky is not falling. The sky is not falling…unless we decide to all hide under our beds. Then it might.
Heh. Fresh off the wires (as they say).
Lindsay Graham is in trouble
Pach—ygm
I agree. The Booshcons have expanded the blackmail to all members of the gov. Can you imagine the info they have on everyone now? They probably know that I prefer Oreos to Vanilla Wafers.
And it doesn’t matter how often you redecorate the closet it is still a small, dark space. Too bad.
Hi Pach!
What other reason could there be?
Does not make sense to me that gays would be attracted to the Republican Party. And then would get into semi-high positions, by supporting positions that are not in their own best interests.
I don’t know enough to judge whether Mr. Graham is or isn’t, but I trust your Gaydar…. I will never watch him the same way again. Not that I watch much of the Republicans anyway.
I think I agree that people like him should be “outed”. Not so much as an anti gay thing, but for the hypocracy. I think. Don’t know enough to know if he makes attempts to support gay rights, but if he is spewing their talking points about gay people, then he should be outed.
Alfred Kelgarries @ 8
Maybe some like being bad boys with a secret. Heightens the tension.
Is there something in their character or lifestyle that requires that they be dominated? These are order takers, lapdogs, whatever. They have to realize they are being used. If they behave, they get to exercise a little power, but very little.
Paddy @ 15
I wonder if a Democrat could win election in S.C., even if the Rethuglicans are split between their evil corporate wing and their psychotic, mouth-breathing bigot wing.
Rachel Maddow came very close this week on Countdown when Amy Robot introduced her as “our own gay bomb” — Rachel went on to discuss the stupidity of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. She characterized the early nineties arguments about soldiers caring whether their fellow foxhole dweller “was more into Lindsey Lohan or Lindsay Graham.”
I thought that was rather bold of Rachel.
===========
Barack Obama calls Lindsay’s outrage on the Senate floor “histrionics” although I think he was thinking “hissyfits.”
============
Any news recently about Idaho Senator Larry Craig, whose spokesman says the rumors about his boss are “absolutely riduculous — almost laughable”?
Last fall, these rumors were given a push by Mike Rogers:
Where are the Log Cabin Environmentalists? Some sure sell their soul for not much.
You didn’t mention Larry Craig in Idaho.
Good to see you Rev. Deb and I have a burning question for you but no email addy. So when you have some time would you please email newspaperbrat at gmail com. Many thanks.
Wonder if that hustler Larry Flynt will open any hypocritical closet doors with his latest offer.
Followup on the Bee Thing:
1) The threat can be stopped with irradiation (UV i think) of existing hives. Such hives are no longer affected by CCD.
2) Many hives are naturally immune, and indeed are overproducing bees. Also, Australian bees and European bees are immune as well.
3) The fact that irradiation kills the problem means it is a parasite of some sort. Observers have noted that normal bee colony scavengers avoid CCD hives almost completely. They believe that this “repellent” quality of bees with the infection makes the hive repellent to bees without the disease and they migrate to other hives (thus the overproduction in some cases).
4) Science will fix this. THAT’S WHY WE HAVE TO STOP TEACHING KIDS THAT SCIENCE IS AGAINST GOD, RELIGION, AND FAITH. Otherwise, one of these days we are going to need something like this fixed and there won’t be anybody to do it.
RevDeb @ 9
RevDeb,
Did you see Howie’s post a few days ago? He did one based on Barnie Frank stating that there are at least ten closeted R congress critters including 3 senators (Graham, McConnell, and Craig).
they should all be outed. personally, i would like a serious investigation into the franklin mess and the gannon thing as well. gay is one thing- child molestation is quite another.
only sunlight will expose it all.
dexx @ 30
I know I’m going to regret this,
but what is “the franklin mess”? Gannon/Guckert I savvy well enought, thenk you veddy much (barf). But the other one i must have missed…
I can’t figure out why the Gannon thing didn’t have legs like the Monica thing.
MSM perhaps?
oh. no problem alfred. google “conspiracy of silence” and prepare to be shocked. yes shocked. even now.
The monica L. thing not the monica G. thing.
Mary McCurnin @ 32
gee, Tweety seems to be preoccupied with Manliness.
snoboysdrift @ 25
Lacking a Gaydar to rely on, I went to teh Google.
Senator Larry Craig gay
377,000 hits.
Senator Lindsay Graham gay
262,000 hits.
Senator Mitch McConnell gay
123,000 hits.
So.
I call these epihames
mary, the whole reason the gannon thing had no legs is because of what would come out. its not about closeted gay men. and there is a pretty obvios connectionto abu gharib and, i suspect gonzo as well. lets not even get started on the tortured iraqi children. these types of people hide a lot under the fog of war. its the one aspect not about oil or isreal which nobody has the balls to cover.
dexx @ 33
I read about this a year or so ago. Creeped me out. I had to think that the ruling classes could not be that depraved. Now I think “Why not?”.
I really couldn’t care less about Graham’s private choices. That’s his business. But I care a great deal about his public (political) proclivities.
Grandma Jo @ 19
In pre-internet days, it was fairly common to have closeted gay people in positions of power (both Democratic and Republican) — Roy Cohn is just one example.
I think that this practice has continued for reasons that this post mentions, but there’s also another component– Lindsey won’t stray too far from the Republican fold because he doesn’t want to be outed by -them- either. If he were outed by Democrats, he could dismiss it as a partisan attack, but if he were outed by his own people, it would be the end of his career. He plays their game on talk shows, etc., being completely shameless and it serves them, but it also serves him as well.
Now as to -why- anyone would put themselves in this position: there are a -lot- of gay men (especially older ones) with an immense amount of self-loathing who will do some fairly atrocious things against other gay men in the attempts to somehow redeem themselves.
dexx @ 38
They ARE as bad as Hilter just not as successful. Suddenly I wish I was television addicted and watching something mind numbing.
dexx @ 33
But that’s ireland. how would that apply here?
Alfred Kelgarries @ 28
Great link on the bees, A.K., but I had a rather different takeaway than your hopeful one (my bold):
Yah know, I’m a BIIIGG fan of outing. No one has a right to lie, and if Lidsay and the boys are cuddling up with homophobes to grab political power, well…
Out them for the rank hypocrasy. Every. Last. One. Of. The. Closeted. Liars.
I think there’s a certain kind of gay man who is happy to play the “house homo” to gain a sense of power and entitlement in “massa’s mansion” — “a place at the table” — without having to be reveal his own orientation. Part of the assignment is to attack other gays and support anti-gay policies — which can come surprisingly easy. My partner knew a guy who worked for the Feds (HUD) in L.A. in the late 70s who was a “screaming queen” complete with pointy-toed cowboy boots and an authentic limp wrist who would say things like “I wouldn’t want my children to be taught by homosexuals.” He wasn’t being “ironic” or “witty” but serious, much to the horror/amusement of the other gay workers.
Powerful and power-mad groups always seem to attract their share of such freaks — the Republicans, the Nazis, etc., who have compartmentalized their lives and are basically deep cowards. I imagine they were raised around homophobia and socialized into the kind of self-hate that allows them to live what looks to the rest of us like hypocritical lives. They often, in my experience, don’t identify with gay culture but with power, and their self-image is (underneath the smugness & arrogance) so twisted that they have convinced themselves that other gays are the enemy rather than their true tribe.
It’s a form of sickness, but very destructive too. I say out them all.
TeddySanFran @ 44
Awesome. Now I’ll have to tell my son about the birds, and leave out the bees ‘cos they are all dead and that would completely wreck the metaphor and his perception on sex.
Aren’t organic bee colonies doing fine?
You got it pac.
Lindsay graham is gayer than Anderson Cooper’s sock drawer.
As for the rest, I’m dedicating my latest FaBlog to Gay Republicans everywhere.
hey gang. I’m at a ykos fundraiser atm with Jane.
How y’all doin’?
Pachacutec @ 50
Jealous! Where’s Kobe?
Give Jane my love!
Mary McCurnin @ 42
Exactly, Mary. Thanks for making this point.
TeddySanFran @ 44
You have to dig down into the article to see the good news. I should make clear that my uncle (now deceased) was a beekeeper most of his life in the San Fernando Valley in CA. I used to sit at the table in his farm listening for hours about the stories he told of bees. I swear he could read their minds; he ALWAYS knew if a queen or a whole hive was in trouble even if there were no outward signs. He died from a collision with a farm tractor driven on the wrong side of the road by an illegal immigrant in 1984. I still miss him. Anyway, please read further and see my second post. We are not out of the woods yet, but there is daylight at the edge of the forest, finally, in practical terms.
Pachacutec @ 50
Dayum!
Why do some gay men and women become Republicans?
1. They are born into families whose Republican voting tradition is multi-generational. So much so that it might be harder coming out to their parents and extended family as a Democrat than as a gay man or woman.
2. For die-hard Republicans, allegiance to their party trumps their sexuality. The traditions and ties to conservative politics are strong and consuming and always take precedence over just about everything.
I admit such views are hard for most people to fathom. But look at the recently outed guy who runs Tom Tancredo’s Web site, and even Mary Cheney. Perfect examples of everything Ive described here.
Alfred Kelgarries @ 43
ireland? it has to do with the franklin savings and loan scandal and the discovery channel documentary. ireland has nothing to do with it, lol. lets put it this way- those of us following the catholic church thing in horror finally realized why they had gotten away with it. the monsters in charge got a free pass because the catholic church thing, as vast as it is/was, is/was a drop in the ocean of depravity. the more research done on this the more appalling it becomes. i cannot stress this enough. NOT for the faint hearted.
They don’t care for traditional S&M.
billyjoe @ 56
This really makes sense to me.
J. Edgar Hoover was supposed to have been a closet queen. Who cares? What I care about was his evil way of running the FBI and his propensity for the use of blackmail.
I think people should out themselves when they ready, unless they are working and speaking out against gay issues. Then the hipocracy of their own life should be fair game. If you condemn others and work to limit the rights of others, but practice the same lifestyle privately, you ought to be exposed.
Me.
Hypocrisy is trans-sexual.
Pachacutec @ 50
Raising lots of money?
David Ehrenstein @ 62
Why?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 63
Ding!
Well pach, I have felt this was true for a long time but I would broaden the condition to something bigger than just “gay”. I want to make this clear. Gay men are not all sex addicts. I have worked with many who were not. However, just like any segment of the population the gay population has it’s share of sex addictions. Within the realm of sex addiction is a lot of experimentation. Some straight gays, some bi gays and some who are pedaphiles. Pedaphiles can be gay or straight, but they have a fetish about young people, but it is a form of sex addiction. Not all sex addicts become pedaphiles, but many sex addicts “graduate” to this behavior.
The republican party has long had rumors floating about an underground child porn ring. I do not like to start “crap” but I refer people to the Franklin Case in Omaha Nebraska in the early 1990’s and the many deaths associated with it. At the time George Bush senior was linked to this behavior through the testimony of some very disturbed teens. These teens had their credibility destroyed and the case was dismissed. One is serving time for false reporting. The case just slipped away with many questions left unanswered mostly because the credibility of these kids was so questionable. But it’s the same old problem, take sexually abused children and expect them to act normal. Most of the time they act out and once they do their behavior is used against them as grounds to dismiss the case.
I do not know how to do links so those who want to check my story, google Franklin Case Omaha Nebraska. Many deaths were associated with the case and it had a very distinguished republican party link. There was at least one big national story linking Bush to some of these parties and behavors. There have been several suicides and one plane crash associated with the story. Author Hunter Thompson comes to mind. Investigator Caradori and his son were killed in a plan accident along with much of his investigative files on the sex abuse charges. Here’s a list of circumstantial evidence that causes me to want to ask more questions.
1) Michael Jackson made a weird stop at the Franklin mansion back in early 1990’s before his pedaphile status was of question. He stopped in Omaha without performing and attended a party at the Franklin mansion. This was before the scandal broke regarding the teen boy. His visit was in the papers and can be checked.
2) Gannon. Where did he come from and where did he go. His story is very similar to that of Larry King the african american business man who sang at the 1992 republican national convention and was later convicted of embezzling.
3) The over the top reaction to Clinton. Perfect projection.
4) The page scandal. They kept the secret well.
5) the number of evangelicals caught in sex addiction who support this administration…parallel process?? We attract those who are like us.
6) The wire tapping and the evidence that it has been misused.
7) the lengths that this group will go to includes death, (unneeded war, hurrican Katrina) and sex abuse is just a step below it.
8) Authoritarian personality disorder and it’s characteristics are almost exactly the same personality characteristics of severe addicts in active addiction.
9) Larry King (not the one on t.v) was an african american republican who rose quickly on the republican scene. It was considered “strange”. Everyone wondered how he rose so quickly. He was later convicted of a scandal involving the Franklin credit union in Omaha where many people lost their life savings. (that’ll keep you quiet).
Pach, I continue to believe that this story is the one at the very bottom of the layers. I think it explains the lengths to which some will go to protect. I think many are protecting themselves and not just in regard to money. I don’t accuse all republicans of being sex addicts but I suspect just as there may be a drug connection to the republican party, there may also be a porn ring connection.
dexx @ 57
Wikipedia let me down. I know about this one. What isn’t so well known is that the death of Jon Benet Ramsey in colorado was very likely part of a similar setup for predators who liked little girls.
I found a Bee store recently in Sacramento. They sell local honey with people with allergies in mind and hives. My house backs up to the American River and when I get an extra $300 I am going to become a beekeeper. Organic of course. Sounds like an industrious thing to do, doesn’t it? But will it turn me into a worker bee?
Well, if you’re looking for Denial with a capital D, the Republican Party has a place for you. Got problems with your sexuality? Got questions you’re not comfortable with? Troubled by inner demons?
Sign up with the GOP and check your brain at the door. As long as you spout the party line and work tirelessly to destroy the party’s enemies, you’ll be accepted as a 100% normal red blooded American AND you can work out all those frustrations by taking them out on other people, like minorities, the poor, outed gays, etc. and no one will look into YOUR closet.
Who’s your ‘Daddy’ party? C’mon - you know what you’re looking for, and It’s Okay If You’re A Republican!
Aravosis asks: How does DADT not apply to Lindsey?
While I think you have one half of the equation, Pachacutec, you need to explain the second half. What’s in it for Graham, et al. There’s something they get out of the arrangement. But what?
Yes and if they fail to perform their function…well Karl Rove would have this to say about that…”We will fuck him. Do you hear me? We will fuck him. We will ruin him. Like no one has ever fucked him!’”
lilybelle @ 72
You mean like getting to be a senator? :)
Hey Pach –
Interesting theory, but I think it’s too clever by half. The Rethug leadership isn’t that bright.
My guess is that anyone who can spew the BS GOP talking points will rise to the top of the party — and who is more adept at hypocrisy than closeted gay Republicans?
I mean, there are rumors of Bush having multiple gay lovers:
=======blockquote=======
“I’m also most appreciative of the Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee for being here. I’ve known Mayor Ashe for years and years and years. And he has done a fabulous job of being a fine public servant in Knoxville. So, Victor, thank you for coming.” — (George W. Bush, 2001-02-21) about the openly gay mayor of Knoxville, Victor Ashe (click to see photo) whom he used to live with and who visits often for sleepovers, and with whom he goes on vacations, without his wife Laura. Note the gushy, campy language. “I want to thank my old college classmate — you used to call him Bulldog, we call him Victor — the Mayor of Knoxville, Mayor Victor Ashe.” ( George W. Bush, 2002-10-02)… Same nickname Jeff Gannon has.
According to Senatorial candidate Ed McAteer, Bush and Ashe had a 3-way relationship involving bondage and sadism/masochism with an African American woman in Tennessee in 1984. They paid her $15,000 for the three encounters.
“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. My cabinet could take some pointers from watching that show. In fact, I’m going to have the Fab Five do a makeover on [Attorney General John] Ashcroft.” — (George W. Bush, 2004-03-25)
Why is Bush so hostile to the idea of gay marriage? Perhaps because until 1987, George W. Bush was gay. According to a group of 29 Yale classmates who comprise Gay Ivy Leaguers for Truth, Bush was “known to be at least sexually experimental throughout his time in college.” One of Bush’s alleged former boyfriends, Anthony Berusca (class of ’70), told The Dallas Morning News that Bush was “deeply conflicted about being gay, even somewhat self-hating.” Berusca is convinced that this conflict led to Bush’s drinking problems, but describes the President as a “gentle, caring lover.” In 1976, the Bush family arranged for George to join Worthy Creations, a church group in El Paso that focuses on converting homosexuals through faith. A year later, Bush claimed to be straight, born again, and engaged to Laura Welch.
=======/blockquote=======
Ok, so they got to be senator because they’re closeted gays???? No. My question is what do they get out of being the ideology enforcers for the party.
AreJulie Waters @ 74
lilybelle @ 76
Sorry :)
The party gets a patsy whom they can throw to the wolves if they need to divorce themselves from their public face. Graham gets to keep from being outed.
Bingo! or is is Boing
lilybelle @ 72
Crumbs of power, knowing silence, and protective cover until the time comes when they too are deemed expendable.
Some people are bought too easily.
Bluetoe @ 78
Boingo!
You knew it was coming.
Maybe the perk for Graham is having relations with people at the very top.
My favorite closeted Rethuglican is that twit from NC — Patrick McHenry. He’s so dumb that there’s an investigation about his “housemates” illegally registering to vote in NC (during a close primary he was running in). One of the kids was a student at UT-Knoxville at the time….not exactly commuting distance to Cherryville, NC.
He’s such a hypocrite — would love to see him “revealed.”
OT, from the Lexington Herald-Leader today: Creationist group suing creationist museum
Jane (nyc) @ 82
I don’t know his status, but he sure is dumb. Like a bag of hammers.
And a whiney little creep, to boot.
If I recall, in Blinded by the Right, David Brock has tried to explain what drew him to being a Rethuglican attack dog when he was closeted. There’s definitely some kinky dynamic here of trying to get the big Daddy of the so-called Daddy party to love you.
newtonusr @ 84
And he looks like another one of the KKKarl clones…
dakine01 @ 86
Funny, but true. Rove, Sampson, Griffin. McHenry. Maybe not so funny.
Not only do you have a good theory about Republicans, you might even be offering a good socio-biological theory about persistence of homosexuality in human populations.
The problem of course is “why wouldn’t homosexuality be selected out of the gene pool”, and the traditional answer (one of them anyway) is that gay men and women might support the survival of nieces and nephews.
We might add to that… “as long as they are kept within the community” close enough to be of some value, and not booted out entirely.
Thus even the closet has genetic fitness value in this model…. keeping high functioning nonbreeders around has always been valuable… keeping them under control by threatening to ostracize them has always been valuable too.
IF (IF IF IF) that is how we are programmed to treat homosexuals, then BY ANALOGY and SPEAKING METAPHORICALLY, the Republican party is engaged in a similar sort of game (it DOES call itself the FAMILY values party), keeping the useful gay uncles and aunts around, but keeping them under control, enforcing the closet IN ORDER TO keep them under control.
That’s good for them because they do useful things for the group, without actually threatening the (reproductive or whatever) power structures that REALLY matter to the group.
Of course there is no issue of genetic fitness here… (Congress is not a family)… but we would merely need to hypothesize that social organizations function on the archetypal tribal/family level, even when they are no longer actually tribal or family based. If we make that assumption then we could see that the secret gay uncles and aunts of the Republican party are filling the useful historical role that (MAYBE! who knows?) gay and lesbian folks have always fulfilled in human societies.
Just another way of looking at those sick and fun folks we call Republicans and fascists.
Yours in evolutionary and metaphorical speculation,
Mike
newtonusr @ 87
Don’t forget AL-VINNN!
Mary McCurnin @ 81
If by “very top” you mean “the very tippy-top,” well — ewwww!
Jane (nyc) @ 82
Patrick McHenry’s houseful of lads.
billyjoe @ 56
Right. Gay men and women become Republicans for the same reasons anyone else becomes a Republican.
Folks, I have bad news. Al Quaeda has been supplanted by a new terrorist organization, whose existence President Sarkozy has direct responsibility towards: CRAV.
Shorter Version: Economically Desperate French Winegrowers Threaten Terrorist Action!
(hic) linky!
TeddySanFran @ 90
But is the “very tippy-top” a top or a bottom?
Mary McCurnin @ 94
Brain Bleach On Aisle Four, Stat!
I think it’s like foreign agents trying to ‘turn’ people when they see a perceived weakness. You see a guy who could be useful to you, find out he’s a closeted gay, take photos etc., and you use this to turn him.
Pach, I have some very mixed feelings about this column. Any gay republican who is in the closet is being extremely hypocritical and is in a serious state of denial. Any who are vocal or active on anti-gay issues ought to come out or shut up and it is legitimate self defense IMO to out them if they don’t do it themselves. It is pertinent to a point they are advocating. I leads to questions about motive that are very relevant. However, unless they are actively engaged in anti-gay activity I think it is as wrong to out them because they are rethugs as it would be to out anyone else.
At the same time I find it very interesting that there are so many gay rethugs. Is it a self-hatred thing? The party of evil does indeed exploit them well.
Margot @ 96
This was the argument made by the Hoover FBI and the anti-communists, that gays could be blackmailed. Perhaps it’s been perfected, as a means of control, from within the GOP organization. Much better to find an up-and-coming young closeted gay politico to bring into the fold — much more easily controlled.
Does anyone really doubt the NSA wiretapping has been misused to spy on political targets by this Administration? Isn’t it the natural extension of everything we know? And the clear reason for their secrecy about the programs the President hasn’t “confirmed?”
TeddySanFran @ 98
And this is where the whole Comey Ashcroft and Dirty Thirty at DOJ does make a bit of sense. They had swallowed a number of camels before, but something about THIS program (and we have recently had a DENIAL from within DOJ, publicly issued, that Gonzales claim that the publicly known program WAS the one being problematic; the statement indicates it was ANOTHER program) stuck in their craw.
Perhaps they realized that a machine set up to gather dirt on one side can, like any edged weapon, work equally well in the hands of the other side. And perhaps they felt THEY had more to lose?
realworld @ 97
Being a member of the Republican party in the 21st centurty is anti-gay activity, as far as I’m concerned.