Former Mitt Romney Intern Took Credit For 2002 Gay Rights Flier

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- In an October 2007 article in a gay newspaper, a former volunteer for Mitt Romney's 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign claimed credit for writing a pro-gay rights flier that a top aide to the Republican candidate now asserts was never authorized.

Aaron Maloy, a former Cape Cod political activist and blogger, told Bay Windows that he put together the now-infamous pink leaflet that was distributed, ostensibly, by the Romney campaign during a 2002 gay pride event. The leaflet proclaimed that "all citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual preference," a statement of gay rights that has since proved difficult to explain for Romney and his aides.

After Sunday morning's Republican presidential debate, Romney's top spokesman, Eric Ferhnstrom, told The Huffington Post that he had no idea "where those pink fliers came from."

"I was the communications director on the 2002 campaign. I don't know who distributed them. ... I never saw them and I was the communications director," Ferhnstrom added.

Shortly thereafter, however, the Manhattan Institute's Josh Barro told BuzzFeed that he and a half-dozen fellow Romney gubernatorial campaign interns were told to go to a "post-parade festival on Boston Common" and hand out the fliers.

"The thing was organized by a full-time staffer," Barro added.

Maloy's role in the affair was not previously known until that October 2007 interview. An openly gay GOP operative (who happened to be against gay marriage), he told the newspaper that he was 19 at the time of the Pride Week event and an intern for the Romney campaign.

"He had a ton of gay people on his campaign in senior positions so I figured it would be an acceptable thing to do," said Maloy.

Neither Maloy nor Ferhnstrom returned a request for comment. While the nature of Maloy's 2007 remarks leaves open the possibility that he produced the fliers without the campaign's knowledge, the fact that both he and Barro have claimed involvement in their distribution does suggest this wasn't some rogue operation.

Also on HuffPost:

 

 

Comments

[Rucka]

04:51 PM on 01/12/2012

It was a big deal. Anyone find any statements at the time to disavow them? I'm betting there aren't any... and if not he's flip flopping again...

[Mindy Czech]

12:42 AM on 01/11/2012

An openly gay GOP staffer who is against gay marriage? Sounds like someone is a self-hating gay to me! Not just for the against gay marriage, but for being a republican in the first place. What a way to set yourself and your community back.

[Bob Kellerman]

12:07 AM on 01/11/2012

Maloy was young and did not understand Mitt

"Sure, we want your help, especially if it's free -- but do NOT presume that we will treat you as equals or help you get rights. Why should we?

NO ONE BUYS A COW WHEN MILK IS FREE

ANY LOG CABINERS READING THIS? GET MY POINT?

[scooder]

07:48 PM on 01/10/2012

Where're the swiftboaters now to hammer on this flip-flopper?

Only in GOP speak can a proclamation of support for equal rights for ALL get you into hot water with those regressives you pander to for votes.

LOL!

[Hoosierbrad]

07:40 PM on 01/10/2012

The Romney campaign just hasn't decided yet which guy to throw under the bus; we all know that Mitt can't support equal rights for gays now, he is running on the national ticket for the Republican Party! The wind doesn't blow that direction for him now.

[sleepyhnl]

07:28 PM on 01/10/2012

If Mitt Romney was only running for the Mass. Congressional, Senate or Governor office he would proudly back that flyer as his campaign idea.

But since he is running for the Republican nomination and needs all the red states and conservatives he will naturally distance himself or feign ignorance.

Does this surprise anyone?

He has been flip flopping since the beginning.

The original used car salesman, "let the buyer beware." (sorry to compare him to some of you honest salesman out there. lol)

[rockysparks]

07:16 PM on 01/10/2012

Waiter, get a fire extinguisher. Someone in that dreary Mr. Romney's party's pants are on fire again. Just keep spraying until the fire is out, dear boy, and then tell them their reservation is cancelled but there's room for them down the street at McDonald's. Here's $10,000 for your trouble, dear boy.

[blukazoo]

06:50 PM on 01/10/2012

So either they were lying then or they're lying now...anything to get elected.

[TimetoWakeUpAmerica2012]

06:45 PM on 01/10/2012

New Bill Known As Enemy Expatriation Act Would Allow Government To Strip Citizenship Without Conviction

Congress is considering HR 3166 and S. 1698 also known as the Enemy Expatriation Act, sponsored by Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Charles Dent (R-PA). This bill would give the US government the power to strip Americans of their citizenship without being convicted of being “hostile” against the United States. In other words, you can be stripped of your nationality for “engaging in, or purposefully and materially supporting, hostilities against the United States.” Legally, the term “hostilities” means any conflict subject to the laws of war but considering the fact that the War on Terror is a little ambiguous and encompassing, any action could be labeled as supporting terrorism. Since the Occupy movement began, conservatives have been trying to paint the protesters as terrorists.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Like I give a crap. I haven't lived in the USA for 23 years. They can strip it anytime they want.

I am a Dutch citizen now. A country that still protects its citizens.

Also, most people don't know this but the waiting list for renouncement of American citizenship is a mile long.

not as easy as you might think.

[BrianCBock]

06:27 PM on 01/10/2012

I don't understand how a gay person, and one that lives his life openly, can be against gay marriage. What kind of cognitive dissonance does his brain have to cope with to simultaneously believe in his validity as a good person like most others, yet believe he does not deserve to culminate the most important relationship in his life in marriage. Maybe he doesn't have someone he feels worthy of marrying? If he's reading this, I'd truly appreciate knowing why he wants to deny people like himself the freedom to marry.

[BrianCBock]

06:52 PM on 01/10/2012

Well, after looking into this guy, he's a total opportunist. Frankly, I'm puzzled about his politics. He doesn't appear to agree with most Republicans on many issues. Very strange. He had a rough childhood with an abusive, religious, homophobic mother with an absent father and that seems to have shaped his view of the need for a man and woman to raise kids, so he thinks marriage should be reserved for man and women couples.

http://www.capecodtoday.com/news/CapePolitics/2006/08/11/title_148

[kareemachan]

07:08 PM on 01/10/2012

Sad.

[chris stl]

06:16 PM on 01/10/2012

smells fishy ....

[dennissinned]

06:14 PM on 01/10/2012

"He had a ton of gay people on his campaign in senior positions" -- If I had a penny every time I hear this about Republican lawmakers...

[blukazoo]

06:49 PM on 01/10/2012

You'd be rich enough to be a republican but with the good sense to not actually be republican?

[fredgladys]

06:13 PM on 01/10/2012

How touching, so the intern fell on his sword for his master, it's almost medieval.

[Laughert9]

06:11 PM on 01/10/2012

He authorized it; he didn't authorize it. Wouldn't it be great, for once, to have a politician who just came out and spoke the truth, without regard for polls an advisors and what people think.
Just to say: I did/didn't authorize the flier but I do/don't believe in equal rights for everyone.
All the dancing and side-stepping makes me dizzy!

[JoanMeijer]

05:44 PM on 01/10/2012

Can these people never remember that the buck stops at the top? Blaming an intern - really? This man is not only unprincipled but he's a coward.