The time when politicians can stand with one foot on the platform of homophobia and the other in the closet has come to an end.Over three years ago -- within a month of the launch of my site, BlogActive.com - the following landed in the inbox:
From: [redacted]
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2004 12:30 PM
To: Mike Rogers
Subject: Outing
I've hooked up with Craig... why not out some actual members and not their staffers?
That one line note started an odyssey that included trips to places like Boise, Seattle and Columbus. Now, twenty-two months later, the effects of that work are reverberating throughout Washington and the nation. People are finally getting that gay Americans have had enough.
Setting aside the number of late-night television talk show jokes and homemade YouTube videos, this is serious business about serious issues.
Unfortunately, when he resigned (and trust me, regardless of yesterday's messaging, he's leaving the Senate), Larry Craig apologized to everyone except the people he has most harmed by his actions -- gay and lesbian Americans. His legacy will include his career-long work in opposing basic civil rights for all, creating an atmosphere where it is unsafe for many to be honest about their lives.
Those in American politics who use anti-gay sentiments for political purposes would be wise to stop using my community as a political punching bag. Politicians like Larry Craig, David Dreier (R-CA), James McCreary (R-LA), and Former RNC chairman Ken Mehlman have helped to create a society that drives many men and women into the closet. Craig's arrest when coupled with the hypocrisy of his seeking sexual encounters from the very men he actively legislates against, becomes merely the catalyst to expose the dishonesty and secrecy of anti-gay politicians who expect a community to harbor its own.
In the wake of this story, maybe we will hear a lot less frequently that blogs don't impact the mainstream media.
If you look at Howard Kurtz's coverage of my initial reporting on Craig last October you'll notice he couldn't even bear to mention which blog had done the story. And when Brian Ross acknowledged that I served as a source of information for ABC News on Foley and Craig on Kurtz's Unreliable Sources, neither of them would speak my name. Now, just ten months later, Kurtz acknowledges my work in The Washington Post and on air at CNN. In a way it's refreshing. For once, the mainstream media have been obsessing about a sex story with an appropriate impact on politics. At the end of the day another dent has been made in the conservative family values armor. (Notice the silence of the right-wing fanatic, anti-gay crowd. Has anyone heard from Dobson, Robertson, or Sheldon? If they've put out stuff, they sure have not pushed it very hard.)
The time when politicians can stand with one foot on the platform of homophobia and the other in the closet has come to an end. During the '08 election, images of Craig, Foley, David Vitter, Bob Allen and a host of others will remind the "family values" crowd that these guys are not so family friendly.
Whenever I begin to feel sorry for Craig, his wife and her three children from her previous marriage (and how can you not have some sympathy for them?), I recall what Nick Langewis, associate editor of PageOneQ, noted in the midst of Craig's repeated denials:
Had Craig been active duty and plead not guilty he could have been charged and tried in two separate courts (military and civilian and that one encounter likely would have swiftly stripped him of his years of service, health care and pension.
There's no doubt Craig's being coldly and hastily abandoned by his party, much like an openly gay service member by one's country. Compared to the soldiers he helped sell out, though, he's getting off easy; he'll at least get out with his shirt, American flag lapel pin firmly attached.
On August 17th, just two weeks after his guilty plea, Larry Craig wrote to a constituent:
It is unacceptable to risk the lives of American soldiers and sailors merely to accommodate the sexual lifestyles of certain individuals.
Enough is enough.
The North Carolina Conservative has more:
Another, more sinister motive [for the triple suicide-murders] has been put forth by several sources, including CrimeBlog.us. Reporters there say that Drake was associated with the owner of a gay escort service in the Virginia Beach area. The owners of that escort service are facing charges that they murdered the owner of a rival company catering to the gay community…
Sources tell The North Carolina Conservative that Drake volunteered on several Republican campaigns in western North Carolina, and was an associate of Congressman Patrick McHenry. Gonzalez is also believed to have been associated with McHenry in the past. Since being elected, McHenry has attempted to insure that all elected officials in his district are his supporters and cronies. This has caused a very nasty political war of attrition in the 10th District. Sources say that Drake worked on these campaigns as a surrogate of McHenry.
Aside from the gay angle, the murders of Gonzalez and Abrami have been tied to a suspicious suicide through Gonzalez’ connection to allegedly corrupt Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Florida. Gonzalez also worked with Christian politico Ralph Reed and Sheri McInvale, an indicted state pol in Florida.
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/09/04/four-more-gop-outings-could-be-in-the-offing/
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/09/04/four-more-gop-outings-could-be-in-the-offing/
"The senators are Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, from Kentucky. More about them below but first let’s look at two allegedly closeted members of the House, representatives Patrick McHenry and David Drier, who have been in the news lately.
Rep. Patrick McHenry’s Connection to Gay Murderer "
When it seemed like our bravest and toughest brothers had been wiped out in over two decades of plague, you came along. I hope you inspire another generation of unrelenting courageous young gay men. History will record your place in the lists of LGBT HEROES,
I would like to see ads run of Craig, Foley, David Vitter, Bob Allen and the host of others with the slogan, "They're 'Family' too!"
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Thanks for your work!
Peace
They're hiding in the closet only so that they can gaybash with their votes.
The work you do is essential - and greatly appreciated by the nation.
Edwards/Obama '08
PA Firefighter
"Cogito, ergo Liberal!"
You da man! As an openly, proud gay man I salute you. We need to go after these bastards and I want to personally thank you for all of the time you give to achieve these amazing results! Keep ferreting them out - they are nothing but a bunch of blow-hard hypocrites who pander to the worst instincts of humanity by demeaning and degrading gay Americans. We give so much to the country - and we get treated like dirt by people who are scum compared to most of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you...