Declining Ken Mehlman's Coming Out Party
No one is really surprised that former GOP chairman Ken Mehlman has finally admitted to the world that he's gay.
Bill Maher discussed it in 2006, and Mehlman was Miss June in Watertiger/Attaturk's 2007 "GOP Character Counts" calendar.
A number of gay activists are less than enthused by Mehlman's "journey" which led him to admit his homosexuality. I recommend readers to Pam's House Blend and Gabriel Arana at The American Prospect. Blog Active's post is linked by many this morning:
So, how can Ken Mehlman redeem himself? I want to hear from Ken that he is sorry for being the architect of the 2004 Bush reelection campaign. I want to hear from Ken that he is sorry for his role in developing strategy that resulted in George W. Bush threatening to veto ENDA or any bill containing hate crimes laws. I want to hear from Ken that he is sorry for the pressing of two Federal Marriage Amendments as political tools. I want to hear from Ken that he is sorry for developing the 72-hour strategy, using homophobic churches to become political arms of the GOP before Election Day.
And those state marriage amendments. I want to hear him apologize for every one of those, too.
For anti-gay Republicans, this represents a huge ruh-roh.
Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, told The Advocate that Mehlman was “abdicating core Republican beliefs” in his support for AFER’s legal effort in challenging Prop. 8. “But it’s never been about the leaders. It’s always been about the people, based on an overwhelming majority of Republican voters -- 85, 86 percent -- who support marriage as a union between a man and a woman,” he said. “That a few folks within the Republican Party are questioning a party platform and have personal positions on same-sex marriage is a reality of political parties. [Mehlman] is no longer a major party leader, so I don’t know how influential he is, to be honest with you.”
If the former chairman can come out as gay, what next? Mehlman's obviously going to get a book deal and that tome will be on every nightstand of the reportedly huge number of GOP congressional staff who are closeted. If Mehlman becomes a "leader" once again, perhaps the GOP is better off burying its homophobia before the deluge of self-outed "Republicans on a personal journey."
" If the former chairman can come out as gay, what next? "
Nothing is next. To the GOP, he's gone. He's down the memory hole. He doesn't exist anymore.
Well, the good thing is...he'll have so many of his old friends hating him now, he won't have time to be self hating.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGLZqDXau98
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
" If the former chairman can come out as gay, what next? "
Maybe what's next is that (Boy) George W. will be the next one to come out. I mean, look at the photo accompanying this post. In particular, the look on George the Lesser's face. Makes me wonder if he ever had Mehlman "carry his luggage" if ya know what I'm sayin'.....
I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....
watertiger, actually.
.
They are co-owners of the late lamented Rising Hegemon After Dark blog. I don't know which one did the Mehlman Miss June...they promoted the calendar together. But I'll add her to the post. Thanks Spork.
...is the PS whiz. Attaturk still uses MSPaint...poorly. (It's part of his charm!)
.
WOW! The next thing you know, Michael Steele will announce that he's Black!
http://www.britethorn.com
He doesn't know he's Black.
Their homeworld was a place called Earth, located in an uninteresting part of the galaxy. They had an expression: pride goeth before a fall. Their pride was their undoing. I know. I was there....They did not listen, of course. Arrogant men never do.
The news would crush him.
"Enough of the Guilt!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_2oif3myzc
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Hey, your little carrot is permanent and I think my little martini is too. Weeee!
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
my little karrot shriveled back into Karl in kuffs.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
No, the caped carrot crusader is still there and I'm sorry I hurt his feelings
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
He's Karl in Kuffs on my screen and you are a wilting wildflower. Or a Sunni safflower.
Or sumpin with petals.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
but when I refreshed my screen you become a refreshment.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
...Potent Potables for five hundred, Alex.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
two New York City newspapers "were called by press folks at the Bush campaign attempting to kill the Mehlman story."
does anyone know which were the 2 NYC papers that complied to bush requests/pressure? i am itching to fire off some emails.
i'm not sure how i feel, in general, about outing people that don't wish to be outed. i guess i feel that it is none of my effin' beeswax,and it is one's own personal decision.
buuuuuuut, when that person who-might-be-outed is in a position like mehlman (chairman of the RNC) was at the time, helping to lead an anti-gay campaign that vilified and tried to make permanent underclass citizens of the GLBT community i feel that person's true identity becomes an interesting aspect of the story--and important for voters to know.
for most people though this is about as non-shocking as it will be when the same happens with lindsey...
No brainer.
Wall Street Journal and NY Post. Pop Quiz - Both papers are owned by an Australian megalomaniac who also controls a large network and Faux News Agency. Can you name him?
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
if so, why would they need to be pressured by the bushies?
It wasn't pressure. My bet...Rupert was making the White House come to him on bended knee just to prove a point.
It's all about power wih these assholes.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Here's my guess at both questions:
L&P
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2010/02/22/like-...
Samson
http://prophetofdoom.net/pics/Islamic_Clubs_T...
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
i was firewalled out of that link...
At this point, it is safe to assume that every person that pushes an anti-gay agenda is simply a deeply closeted homosexual, and they should be treated as such. With warmth and openess we should tell the backers of prop 8 that its okay for them to be gay and live openly.
are gay? (snark)
Be as you wish to seem
What's next? Clarence Thomas joining the NAACP?
Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
http://www.glennbeck.com/images/news/2010/01/...
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Ku Klux Klan...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
a complete, self serving coward.
after spending a decade bashing gays, he can't possibly hope to 'come out' (what a joke, it couldn't have been more obviouth, Kenny) and be forgiven.
especially when it's such an obviously cynical, self serving ploy.
the fact that he has turned from gay bashing to Muslim bashing has not gone unnoticed.
he remains a loathsome quisling.
Real courageous of him to come out now, 6 years after chimpy ran on a platform of oppressing people like him. Way to take a stand.
I hear a lot of assumptions about gay people, many of which I suspect are wrong.
There is a lot of homophobia on the right. Assumptions about sin, homosexuality as an "illness", homosexuals will recruit your kids, blah blah blah....
However, there are also assumptions on the left that are wrong. I've heard it many times over the years: "Gays are more sensitive than straights", "gays know what it's like to be discriminated against so that makes them more sensitive to social justice", "gays are more creative" yadda yadda..
Fact is, gays are just like anyone else. There are some gays who are sensitive and have social consciences, just like straights. There are some gays who are very creative, just like straights. However, there are also some gays who will join any homophobic or right-wing political outfit if they think it will advance their careers, just like straights.
Anyone remember Jimmy Swaggart, the minister who was always ranting about porn and sexual deviance while banging hookers on the side?
Gays are like anyone else. Some are compassionate, some are creative, and some will sell out their own grandmas to make a buck.
Real courageous of him to come out now, 6 years after ...
He got tired of riding in the trunk of his date's car.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
It's just none of my business if he felt he could come out now. Good for him for doing it whenever he did. I don't like the guy at all but his personal life is his business.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Who people fall in love with- or how they get their rocks off- should be of no matter whatsoever to anyone who isn't in a romantic and/or sexual relationship with those people.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
I agree it's none of my business who Mehlman loves. But when he helps craft and publicly supports laws that violate human rights based on sexual orientation, then "comes out," I think it is a matter of public policy and discourse.
How many times does this have to happen before majorities begin dismissing bigots?
for that matter, right up to the point where he made it a matter of public record. Now all I'm left with is to not give a damn.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
EVERYTHING LGBT IS OUR BUSINESS!!!!!!
What country are you living in? Not the one I was bonr into 63 years ago.
I don't give a damn about his sexual orientation. For the record I live in Canada. I don't see why his orientation should be an issue anymore than mine should be. I rather like the fact that times have changed enough in my own lifetime that for almost everyone I know sexual orientation doesn't really matter. Who cares? I'm off to another thread.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
... Patrick McHenry, it's time to man up and jump on the bandwagon while it's hot.
Lower the retirement age.
...this
“As the campaign manager for the presidential bid of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), Kent Snyder received a lot of credit for raising $35 million from grassroots supporters, a phenomenal accomplishment for an insurgent campaign.
But, like 48 million other Americans, Snyder had no health insurance, and when he died from pneumonia on June 26 after a two-month hospital stay, he left medical bills totaling over $400,000.
Gay staffers from the Paul campaign, some speaking on condition that they not be identified, said they learned about Snyder’s unpaid medical bills from a web site created by his friends that calls on Paul supporters to contribute to a special fund to help Snyder’s family pay the bills, which come mostly from a two-month hospitalization...
Study the symptoms not the virus...
I can just hear that voice of the guy reporting as the Hindenburg exploded in the last Century...only now he'd be lamenting: "Oh, The Hypocrisy!!!!"
Kenny's just another Repuke hypocrite whose mantra is 'Do as I Say....Not as I Do' .
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
....back in the 1980s and one of my memories is the number of gays who worked for hard-right legislators. I could never figure out how you resolve that kind of cognitive dissonance.
Ever hear of someone described as a hard-left legislator?
Ever tea bag a barren pear tree?
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Go to conservapedia.com and look him up. Um, I'm pretty sure he had a more impressive bio a couple of days ago.
and is now a liberal.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
Go to Wikipedia and there is no mention of what he did regarding the gay agenda during the 2004 election and how he treated gays while he was the chairman of the RNC. Maybe somebody else knows how to edit a Wikipedia page. The way I understand it is that as long as it is truthful then it is OK to do.
There's no "upside" that I can see at the moment. And please don't lecure me about his "feelings." He doesn't have any.
Cleary the party has been split by Teh Ghey. That's excellent news. But people who should know better -- ike Dustin Lance Black -- are deluding themselves into thinking Kenny Boy is useful for being anythig other than a door stop.
Here's my two cents on this story.
The only question to ask is whether he'll go on Rchel, or get softballs lobbed at him by Anderson Cooper.
I suspect the altter as he's in as big a closet as the one Kenny BOy has oerated out of for lo these many years.
The BIG difference is that Anderson Cooper is not leading the hate for gays like Mehlman has done.
to the gay community. I also think he's delusional if he thinks the GOP is going to accept him or any other member of that community. It's the party of bigots; they'll take his vote and his money, and then will disparage him behind his back.
Most will disparage him to his face.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
.
The repugs come on as the tough guys and many GAY male denyers try to hide within the bluster of the good ole boys network. They are just like the women repugs who try to be one of the "boys" and thus make awful decisions relating to women in the work place, at home and at church. These female execs don't want to be seen as "feminine" in their offices. Mehlman used his knowledge of GAYS, like Ronald Reagan used his knowledge of UNIONS to do harm and to make themselves look Powerful!! The guy is pathetic. Bet he doesn't change parties!!
CarmanK
"Middle class societies don't emerge automatically as an economy matures, they have to be CREATED through political action." Paul Krugman.
I always had the suspicion he was. Now that he's out maybe he will see the errors of his ways.
Government + the Federal Reserve = organized crime
...and wish Ken will. But I can't, he made the decision to do what a lot of people do... vote and support a party that goes against their own well being. But more so he sold his soul to the devil for power. Now down the road I hope he ends up in a motel found dead with his balls in his mouth wrapped in a
$10$5 bill.fact is...the vast majority of the repuke leadership are closeted gays
Thinking of Ken Mehlman, mealy mouthed former head of the Republican National Committee, former campaign manager for George W. Bush, has announced that he is GAY, and tells us "there is room in the Republican Party for Gays". OY! We knew he was always a liar but we just learned that he is a schmuck if he thinks any gay people would join his party. I suggest that Ken Mehlman's best route out is seppuku, the Japanese tradttion of "happy dispatch" which you may know as "hara-kiri". Perhaps he can get the repulisive toad-like Karl Rove to sever his head from his neck (required in traditional seppuku) as Mehlman disembowels himself. With several right wing nut Republicans cozying up to gay causes albeit careffully and slightly, Coulter with the Gaycon; Beck -"Gay marriage no threat, etc..not to bring Judge Walker into this, maybe the Republicans realized how many of them were related to homosexual gay people but not many of them were related or could relate to Muslims...and it's easier to demonize the other, in fact necessary to wage successful war to do that (witness the cartoon images of freakish looking Germans and Japanese during World War II), so it looks to me that with inexorable progress on gay rights the Republicans went out and found themselves an even bigger, scarier target...and HEY, the Muslim's holy book is written in Arabic and they write backwards! TOO cool - how inescapable a target....Well, there you have it....and there is little end to Republican targeting - years ago it was Catholics and people with last names ending in vowels and they didn't much care for us Jews, either...it's since been blacks, gays, Latinos. Muslims...who's next? Someone will be, it's as old an American tradition to target the "other" as it gets.
What if George W. Bush had a Sassy Gay Friend?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnKlQLMIzx4
Did Mehlman say he had changed his political and ideological views, or just say he was coming out in respect to his personal sexual identity?
I'm less interested in his apologizing for past sins than in his plans for taking advantage of his new status. Recruiting? "Hey, fellows! The 'G' can stand for 'Gay' as well as 'Grand.' See how well I've done? You too can prosper in the GOP."
Rhetoric? "Yes, I know this policy I'm supporting will hurt gay people. And that includes me. Nevertheless, I still have to do the right thing. And you should too, gay or not."
Comments are closed on this entry