Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Besen: Ex-gays and ex-Republicans
The first thing that struck me about the Republican National Convention in St. Paul was the stunning lack of diversity. Only the GOP is capable of making Minnesota whiter. Into this cocoon of Caucasians stepped the ultra-pale John McCain and his moose-whacking VP, Sarah Palin, who together could have billed the ticket as “Powder and Gun Powder.”
This convention proved that the GOP does not run on actual persons or positions, but manufactured personas and plot lines. The phony dog and pony show began with the enormously wealthy Mitt Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, who oddly condemned the snooty northeastern elite. This pampered pretty boy was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, yet he haplessly works to fool blue-collar conservatives into believing that that the shiny utensil is aluminum. Has any politician ever been more “Full of Mitt?”The most fantastical fiction of the week was the Cinderella story of “Sarah Palin.” The only White House anyone ever thought she would live in was an igloo, yet there she was on America’s largest political stage. The joyous thrill from her two main constituencies — the religious right and the tabloids — was palpable.
Palin portrayed herself as a reformer, even though she was for the infamous, “Bridge to Nowhere” before she was against it. She touted her experience as head of Alaska’s National Guard, until it was shown that she had not made one executive decision in this capacity. Then, she was lauded for her anti-corruption efforts in Alaska, even as she was under serious investigation for abusing her power. Most disturbing, Palin described herself as an advocate for special needs children, as she cut the state’s Special Olympics budget in half.
It is scary to think that McCain believes Palin has enough foreign policy know-how to run this nation during a time of war. Indeed, his vice presidential pick did not get a passport until 2007. There are literally college-age backpackers traipsing around hostels in Europe with more overseas experience.
As for McCain, convention speakers endlessly recounted his time as a POW. It truly was inspiring the first twenty-seven times I heard it. I suppose reliving the past is what a candidate, no matter how heroic, must do who has no plan for the future. McCain’s speech was as empty as the vault used to hold the national surplus after eight years of Republican rule.
It was also fascinating to watch McCain portray himself as an agent of change. His message essentially was to re-elect Republicans to reform America from the mess that the same Republicans got us into. This was highlighted by the GOP’s Herculean efforts to render George W. Bush invisible. If they had shoved Bush any deeper into the closet, he would have bumped into Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID).
Cheering on the sidelines was baroness Cindy McCain, wearing an outfit that Vanity Fair priced at $300,000. Republicans went bonkers when John Edwards got a $400 haircut — yet seemed ambivalent about her majesty’s opulent costume. I suppose the GOP is the party of the working class, if you count the minions toiling on Cindy’s dress, jewelry, make-up and hair, as well as tending to McCain’s private jet plane.
The convention’s most pleasant surprise was its lack of overt gay bashing. Perhaps, attacking gays is not polling as well as it did only a few years ago. Or, maybe “Family Values” was an inappropriate theme considering Palin’s “Family Vaudeville.”
But, gay Log Cabin Republicans had little time to rejoice before Palin’s church said that being gay was a choice. The Wasilla Bible Church was caught promoting Focus on the Family’s Love Won Out conference, with a Bible insert that said, “You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality.”
It is imperative that Palin answers whether she agrees with the views of her church. If she does, Log Cabin should immediately withdraw their endorsement of McCain. Unfortunately, Palin will not talk to reporters until the GOP believes she is ready to go without her training wheels. The smokescreen her campaign is using to justify her silence is that she should not have to discuss her religious beliefs. Interesting, how a woman who recently asked Alaskans to pray for a natural gas pipeline now believes religion is off limits.
If Palin says that she endorses Love Won Out, it could cost McCain the election. Consider this: In 2000, national exit polls put the gay vote at 4 percent, with 25 percent saying that they voted for Bush. This translated into one million gay votes for W., which may have cost Gore Florida and New Hampshire.
While homosexuals can’t be turned into ex-gays, Palin’s support of such ministries could create enough ex-Republican gays to swing the election in favor of Obama.
i’m gay and do not typically vote democrat because i dislike socialism. I’m fiscally conservative but socially liberal. I don’t understand why gays feel like that have to adhere to EVERY left wing doctrine that comes down the pike. I’ve been labeled a homophobe by gay lefties because I’m against affirmative action. It’s insanse. sometinmes I think gays can be far more prejudicial than the right wing.
I’m also a gay man and a Republican and I don’t give a damn if it’s an oxymoron. I vote my mind and heart. I haven’t been in favor of Obama for a number of reasons, but I also didn’t particularly favor McCain. His choice of Ms Palin sealed it for me – I’m voting for Obama. I could never give him a vote with Ms Fundamental Christian by his side. Eight years of GWB and his anti-gay equality bullshit is more than enough. The Republican party is pretty much a party of biased and bigoted leaders who bristle at anything that smacks of equal treatment of gay people in any form – right down to fighting against anti-bullying rules in schools because such rules seek to protect all students including GAY students. Their hatred of us is so transparent that not even the young people are to be protected if they’re gay. Such creeps!
We should ignor comments that are written merely to incite. If there is no response, they will go away.
As always, Wayne makes some salient points and is unafraid to stand his ground.
On another subject, given the almost surreal reaction by some right wing gays??!! I can only shake my head. To be sure small government and the economy are important but please, spare me the “McCain and Palin” are different. Palin believes in reparative therapy (an oxymoron if ever there was one) and this you call different or better? And don’t kid yourselves, she and the Republicans are not about to let you sit at the table as equals.
Thank God I live in a nation that values FREEDOM for all its citizens and not just the rich, white, hetero or financially comfortable gays who can afford to pooh pooh gay rights and simple dignity because they can “buy” their freedom. Try all you want, the gay aint going away no matter how much you scrub and try to ‘pass’. You’re a ‘fag’ in their eyes and always will be and when they (republicans) don’t need you anymore to make themselves appear even a bit tolerant, they’ll turn on you like pitbulls in a pen….given Palins’ speech, that would seem appropriate.
Gay socialists sicken me! Not because they are gay but because they act like right wing theocrats. One has to either believe as they believe or be accosted by them for not sharing the same belief system.
Gay socialists are to focused on Identification Politics that they don’t see the complete political spectrum. They don’t understand that many people value smaller government over government recognition of their marriage. That is not to say that those that value a smaller government don’t value government recognition of their marriage but those that value smaller government understand that there are many freedoms for which we need to fight! The freedom to marry is just one of many freedoms and freedom to marry is lower on their list. Gay socialist don’t understand this concept because they love big government and the many restrictions that come with big government. The do not mind the government restricting the freedoms of others so long as the government isn’t restricting their (gay socialist) freedoms. Many believe that a big government usurps more freedoms and the smaller the government the less freedoms usurped therefore they will support smaller government.
ARe you honestly comparing gays and republicans…i dont think a sexual preference has anything to do with a political preference…A political party doesn’t favor or demoralize straight or gay…The only way you could look at that is to think about the shear number of gays, which will never be a majority over heterosexuals–this is a fact of nature, sorry, so therefore, the Parties (Republican, Democrat and others) will target the larger group, they always have and always will. it works this way with every census, just look how much more attention the Latino crowd is getting (Illegal or legal)…get over yourselves…
Believe it or not, Republicans have more platforms than that of gay rights. Sure, I’m gay and I’d like to be equal throughout the nation, but that does not make me an automatic Obama supporter and Republican hater.
Although a registered Libertarian, I would still vote Republican and John McCain since him and Palin are moderates when it comes to the Republican party. Neither have any plans to harm the LGBT community, and with a liberal and Democratically controlled Supreme Court and Congress, laws and rights will still be bestowed on the LGBT community.
I am voting Republican for more important issues than marriage, thank you. Like the economy, the Iraq War, and health care.
A linguistic correction: Gay and republican is not an “oxymoron.” It’s a “moron.”
Brad Ryden: ANY LGBT person who votes Republican is riddled with guilt, self-hatred, internalized homophobia, and low self-image. A word of caution to wealthy LGBT people who plan to vote Republican in 2008: it won’t matter WHAT’S in your portfolio when the midnight knock on the door comes, AND IT WILL COME under Republican misrule. Make no mistake: they want us INCARCERATED … more to the point, they want us DEAD. Google “dominionism” and “christian reconstructionism” and compare their agendas to the Republican Party Platform. The RNC has told LGBT Republicans in just about every way possible: “GO AWAY! WE DON’T WANT YOU!” Isn’t it time you finally GOT that message and went to work for the HUMAN rights of your LGBT brothers and sisters?
Bud Clark
San Diego CA USA
Hey Brad Ryden – You got to be kidding Right? The dems are/were saying visious things? What were you hearing..? ..or was your Head so far up the GOP’s ass..you couldn’t hear correctly? The DNC convention was Truly Inspiring where DIVERSITY abound in every face there…and the GOP…it was like a Ivory Snow commercial 99.9% white,full of Snarky remarks,and NO basis on any Issues…You are fooling yourself dude..and it’s a shame,or you are just plain greedy. The Gay community should shun you…you are a Traitor…now go talk your buddy Toe Tapping Larry Craig,or Mark Foley…the VERY same people who would just LOVE to make LGBT Americans 2nd class permanentley.
“I am a gay man and a Republican, and no that is not an oxymoron.”
I agree. Oxymoron is too mild and polite.
Keep talking. I am a gay man and a Republican, and no that is not an oxymoron. It seems that ever since the Republican Convention the only skills and abilities any Democrat has been able to muster is how to shoot themselves in the foot because they can’t keep their mouths shut.
Every vitriolic word and smear and hateful remark you make is probably in the end going to translate into ten votes for John McCain. You might scream and yell and pull your hair out but you know I am right.
I have always felt, and at least for now it is being manifested, that Obama is myth, a cipher. Ten years or sixteen years from now, if he can keep his mouth shut, he will be a force in American Politics. The real scary thing about all this is that as far as the Democrats are concerned between McCain’s surge in the polls and Obamas mouth, the only winner are the Clinton’s. President Hillary Clinton, God save us all. bnr
A fiery indictment of an incredibly poor VP pick, and the GOP as a whole. I didn’t pay much attention to the Republican National Convention, working second shift makes it easy, but reading the transcripts of the keynote addresses left me very cold. No plan, no clue and no grasp of reality.
Wayne, this was the best column I have read in a very long time. THANK YOU!
Stand up now Gay America for this is our time, now – RIGHT NOW!
I fear that the LCR’s will still back McSame and his running mate. They have a history of not caring for the rest of Gay America.
ex-gays…lol. dont make me puke.
1 million gay votes for W. in 2004? if thats true, this it makes me question whether this movement has lost its will to live.