Sean Bielat Compares Gays To Short People

Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank is in an unexpectedly close race for reelection this year, a sharp departure from 2008 when he cruised back to Washington with 68% of the vote. His challenger this cycle, Republican Sean Bielat, out-fundraised Frank last month.

Bielat also did something else. He made a bizarre comparison when discussing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to the Boston Herald, arguing that gays should have no guaranteed right to serve in the military -- just like short people.

"There's no absolute right to serve. Men under the height of 5 feet, 2 inches can't serve -- I don't see anybody protesting. Where are the people standing in front of the White House, the short guys standing in front of the White House? You don't see it," Bielat told the Boston Herald. "We understand that there's no absolute right to serve in all these other areas," he continued.

Bielat is not the only Republican candidate to make an odd analogy when discussing gays in recent weeks. Last Sunday, Colorado Senate hopeful Ken Buck compared being gay to alcoholism. "I think that birth has an influence over [being gay], like alcoholism and some other things, but I think that basically, you have a choice," the GOP nominee said.

With a new poll showing Frank in a tight race, the longtime Congressman recently took out a $200,000 loan to fund his campaign.

Audio of Bielat's remarks can be found here.

Comments

[GreenKate]

10:28 AM on 11/12/2010

Equality for All.

[jockmama]

12:01 AM on 11/12/2010

Comparing the situation of those who are deemed PHYSICALLY unfit to serve with those who are already serving with valor who have to hide a major part of their personality among comrades who incessently FLAUNT theirs just goes to show what a moron this man is. He's like the subhumans who compare homosexuality to child molesting. If Harry Truman were president today, he would have ended DADT by Presidential Decree in a heartbeat.
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And the 5'2" rejection line should be jettisoned as a relic of ancient history. Despite all the "old vets" who prate about how every member of the military must be ready and able to pick up a rifle and fight, the modern military structure is chock-full of jobs that will NEVER turn into fighting positions. You can be 5'0" tall, or 350 pounds, or in a wheelchair, and still be a mail clerk at Camp Lejune, a radar operator at Langley AFB, or a lawyer with JAG. And in each one of those or similar cases you would be freeing up someone more able-bodied who WOULD be able to fight if needed. The Pentagon just needs to get its head out of the 19th Century. A 4'8" SEAL might be ideal for certain covert missions; a 350-pound airman can sit in front of a monitor in an AWACS with no trouble; and a soldier in a wheelchair could pilot an ROV just as well, if not better, than someone able-bodied.

[GreenKate]

02:11 AM on 11/12/2010

Exactly, jockmama. This clown is defending one stupid unfair rule by comparing it to another stupid unfair rule!

[Eagleman]

12:31 PM on 11/02/2010

Bye Bye Barney.

It's time you retire in Province town or Floriday

[StevenKeirstead]

10:14 PM on 11/02/2010

Not yet. Bielat keeps his day job.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/11/frank_easily_wi.html

[carnitine]

09:03 PM on 10/29/2010

Sneaky, he knows the gays will have to attack short people to defend themselves. Fair is Fair, gays use reverse psychology by calling anyone who doesn't 100% support the gays a homophobe or a closeted gay to squash any dissent

[mjmarshall]

01:57 PM on 10/26/2010

Let's see, the appointees work for Obama. Good job. The Military works for Obama - hmmmmm. What is the freakin' difference. We are all working together to make our country stronger regardless of race, religious beliefs, sexuality, gender. As long as you are qualified who gives a crap. For those who feel gays don't belong in the Military, have you seen some of the bad assess? People understand this, it isn't about special or gay rights - its about basic human rights. We are all humans and should have the same rights. Marriage is supposed to be between one man and one woman. How do you factor in divorce? That would be one man with another woman or one woman with another man. For those that believe households should have a Mother and Father - I say BS. There are lots of successful people that have come from single parent households. Stop the unnecessary judgement and be kind to one another.

[mjmarshall]

01:46 PM on 10/26/2010

If you choose to serve and protect our country, you should be allowed to do so. Do you think police officers and firefighter would let their co-worker be shot or burned because they are gay? I'm curious about this gay advertising. Are the powers that be afraid that everyday will turn into a gay pride parade? I seriously doubt it. Everyone will wake up the next day, go to work as usual and continue doing what they do best. Let's just give it a try. The homophobes are the worry warts not the actual workers.

[Puddin]

01:45 PM on 10/26/2010

Will someone prey tellme how/why people would/will vote for these candidates who don't believe that we are all equal? My mother used to tell me, "you are no better than anyone and you are no less than anyone". I am glad I had wise and wonderful parents.

[KevinOConnor]

04:31 AM on 10/26/2010

This says it all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NvgLkuEtkA

[Sam Engwall]

01:17 AM on 10/26/2010

Well, not the worst we've been compared to.

[Hydra8]

12:16 AM on 10/26/2010

Since when does a soldier's sex life enter into the military's criteria for serving? Since when did "who a person" sleeps with become a factor? Only in the USA huh? I think the religious fanatics should get out of the military and go bang a few bibles.

[oberon123]

10:27 PM on 10/25/2010

How is an idiot like this in a close race against a Democrat in Massachusetts?

[piperflyer]

11:00 PM on 10/25/2010

To be Frank about it..............

[astroblower]

12:07 AM on 10/26/2010

With the scorching wit of a coffee table....

[Steven Keirstead]

09:51 AM on 10/26/2010

It’s not close. Bielat trails Frank between 10-20% in the polls (10% being Bielat’s own poll). NPR reported Frank is ahead 13% in a poll released yesterday.

[Portagee]

10:35 AM on 10/27/2010

Exactly. Not close at all.

[dannywanny]

10:02 PM on 10/25/2010

Mr Bialet needs to get out more, particularly since he's running for public office. Gay people have been documented serving in the military for centuries. They are serving in the military even as Mr Bialet displays his ignorance and bias. In America they are forced to serve in secret due to the personal prejudice of people like Mr Bialet who have institutionalized prejudice against an entire class of people based on nothing more than personal bias. Gay people serve openly in the military in 29 countries, including England, Canada, Australia, Germany, Israel, France, Italy, Russia and the Phillippines. In short, all of our allies, all over the world.

[baileywick]

06:31 PM on 10/25/2010

P.S. They let idi ots in the military.

[Mik McAllister]

11:28 PM on 10/25/2010

Yes, but they usually put prospective politicians in the National Guard, and give them detached duty in order to campaign for other politicians.

Powerful argument *against* public campaign finance, eh?

[DinkSinger]

06:14 PM on 10/25/2010

The new poll for which the link was provided do not show a "close race". It shows Frank with a 12 point lead. While the headline on the Providence, Rhode Island, television station, WPRI, website reads "WPRI Poll: Barney Frank in tight race" the article itself says "U.S. Rep. Barney Frank ... holds onto a double-digit lead over Republican challenger Sean Bielat". and " 'Barney Frank is holding a 12-point lead, and in a tough election year for Democrats that’s a comfortable lead going into the final two weeks of the election,' Eyewitness News political analyst Joe Fleming said."

While Sean Bielat did raise more funds in the first 13 days of October than Frank, in total, through October 13, Frank had raised $3.0 million compared to Bielat's $1.3 million. On October 13, Frank had $700,392 on hand, compared to Beilat's $555,456. Frank did not take out a loan, he lent his campaign $200,000 of his own money, saying he was concerned about spending of third parties. My guess it that this was a strategic movie to try to lure conservative money into this race and away from races conservatives might actually win. If so it has worked with the Tea Party Express calling on its supporters to donate money to defeat Frank.

[Mik McAllister]

11:32 PM on 10/25/2010

I have to wonder about the way a lot of media is choosing to portray this election cycle.

Then again, if you don't inject some hysteria and sensationalism, the MTV/Survivor generation wouldn't pay attention.

[Roedy]

06:10 PM on 10/25/2010

Equipment presumes a certain size range of soldier. It also presumes a certain degree of physical strength. There are practical physical requirements for killing people. Gay people come in all sizes and strengths. The gayness is irrelevant. However, I am ashamed that any gays wants to become a serial killer.