Lobbyists Cancel Fundraiser Over Scott Garrett's Anti-Gay Remarks
July 30, 2015

Republicans often get confused when they have to talk to real people, and not extreme right-wingers! But teabagger Rep. Garrett really is a homophobic asswipe, he doesn't just play one on TV -- and he's from New Jersey, not the Deep South:

Representative Scott Garrett, who heads an influential House subcommittee overseeing the U.S. capital markets, is facing a revolt by corporate and Wall Street donors after he reportedly made anti-gay remarks at a private meeting of Republican lawmakers.

Earlier this month, in what financial lobbyists said was a sign of things to come, the Big 4 accounting firms and their trade association abruptly canceled a fundraising event for the New Jersey Republican. In addition, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has decided to stop making political action committee donations to Garrett, people familiar with the matter said.

Other firms are likely to follow suit, and some in the industry have debated whether to take a more drastic step and ask for their contributions back from Garrett, said the people, who asked for anonymity so as to not antagonize a lawmaker who oversees their industry. Financial lobbyists have also raised concerns with Republican House leaders, the people said.

I wouldn't give the lobbyists too much credit. My guess is that the Republican leadership is putting the screws to Garrett because he voted against Boehner for leader and refused to pay dues to the NRCC

Garrett first responded that his procedural vote against leadership was a matter of conscience. Then he stunned the room with this explanation: He had not supported the NRCC in the past, he said, because it actively recruited gay candidates and supported homosexuals in primaries.

Garrett was a teabagger before there even was a Tea party. And now he serves on the Financial Services subcommittee, which is mostly establishment conservatives -- unlike Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling and Garrett, who are part of the wingnut arm. Garrett is part of the Liberty (libertarian) caucus. Well, let's see how much freedom costs these days, Scott!

There are a lot of people in New Jersey who are gay or have gay friends and relatives. I'll bet they won't like this -- you should share it with them.

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