Frank calls Scalia a "homophobe"

[UGAalum94]

Setting the issue of scandals and party affiliation, would Frank still have a career had he been heterosexual? I say no.

What would have become of a heterosexual man who tried to use his political office to fix the parking tickets of his prostitute paramour?

I think that many people have been reluctant to deal with Frank's personal/professional scandals for fear of looking like bigots.

ETA: how bad does it bother most conservatives to be called homophobes? Wouldn't it really only bothered people who wanted to be regarded at progressive or inclusive?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Setting the issue of scandals and party affiliation, would Frank still have a career had he been heterosexual? I say no.

I'm not exactly a Frank fan, but I don't think this is entirely accurate. He's a pretty intelligent guy (Harvard undergrad, Harvard law) and had a very good reputation in MA as a local legislator prior to becoming a Congressperson. If I remember correctly, his sexual orientation wasn't known publically until the mid to late 80s, some time after he'd made a name for himself politically. He's established himself very well in MA.

ETA: I misread your post and missed the "still" portion. However, I still think he'd be elected for other reasons other than his sexual orientation. He worked his way up through the MA political establishment, which didn't have anything to do with his homosexuality. Whether he's most known for that now, I think he'd still have a career, in that he's very popular in MA.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I'm not exactly a Frank fan, but I don't think this is entirely accurate. He's a pretty intelligent guy (Harvard undergrad, Harvard law) and had a very good reputation in MA as a local legislator prior to becoming a Congressperson. If I remember correctly, his sexual orientation wasn't known publically until the mid to late 80s, some time after he'd made a name for himself politically.

Maybe I posed my question stupidly. I didn't mean would he have even had a career, but instead, would he have maintained it in the face of serial stupidity in office?

I don't think so. I think the fact that some of the highest profile scandals dealt with sexual issues (a "was it just parking tickets or did he allow prostitution in his home" might be a career-ender for a straight guy) made people more reluctant to judge him as harshly for his bad judgment as they would have a heterosexual.

ETA: how much do you love that the main person pushing the Frank ethics charges about the parking ticket fixing was, according to wikipedia, Larry Craig. Awesome.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Maybe I posed my question stupidly. I didn't mean would he have even had a career, but instead, would he have maintained it in the face of serial stupidity in office?

I don't think so. I think the fact that some of the highest profile scandals dealt with sexual issues (a "was it just parking tickets or did he allow prostitution in his home" might be a career-ender for a straight guy) made people more reluctant to judge him as harshly for his bad judgment as they would have a heterosexual.

You're underestimating the power of being an incumbent Democrat in Massachusetts.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

You're underestimating the power of being an incumbent Democrat in Massachusetts.

Probably.