Ex-GOP Chair Mehlman Says He's Gay

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Is that your way of saying that you knew Mehlman was gay and that he was going to formally come out despite people's ignorance?

Nope...just surprise surprise...yet ANOTHER congressperson 'comes out'.

Not directed at you in particular, just that why is this even news anymore?

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Nope...just surprise surprise...yet ANOTHER congressperson 'comes out'.

That's good that you're applying this to all congresspeople (of which probably 50ish 'should' be gay, depending on which statistics you believe), because it sure seemed you were pointing it at closeted Republicans.

Not directed at you in particular, just that why is this even news anymore?

Because there aren't many openly-gay people in high government offices? Because Barney Frank still gets openly mocked? Because states are banning gay marriage? Because ERAs still exclude homosexuality? Etc.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

That's good that you're applying this to all congresspeople (of which probably 50ish 'should' be gay, depending on which statistics you believe), because it sure seemed you were pointing it at closeted Republicans.

It's also odd that he's asking why it's news when "yet ANOTHER congressperson comes out," since Ken Mehlman has never been a member of Congress.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

It's also odd that he's asking why it's news when "yet ANOTHER congressperson comes out," since Ken Mehlman has never been a member of Congress.

Oh, snap.

And...

The Japanese equivalent for here, here, here! (love the new sig)

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

The Japanese equivalent for here, here, here! (love the new sig)

I knew that if anyone caught it, you would.

And I really do have a list.

[DrPhil]

Hopefully Daemonseid was typing figuratively and knows WHY this is "news."

LOL @ Mehlman being in Congress

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I knew that if anyone caught it, you would.

And I really do have a list.

At least I can't be on the list,
For I'd certainly be missed.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

That's good that you're applying this to all congresspeople (of which probably 50ish 'should' be gay, depending on which statistics you believe), because it sure seemed you were pointing it at closeted Republicans.

Nope not at all. Our congresspeople whichever side of the aisle they are on are getting caught in bathrooms, expensive hookers, drugs, in hotels you name it so again...to ME, this isn't news.





Matter of fact here is an interesting take on how his homosexuality has been an 'open secret' for years and it also tries to differentiate between it being 'a rumor' or 'a suspicion'.

I am saying this to say, I would not be surprised at all if DC has an unwritten policy for 'don't ask, don't tell' among their ranks on the Hill.

Come on now, how many people knew that John Edwards was tipping and was 'shocked' when it came out that he was?

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Come on now, how many people knew that John Edwards was tipping and was 'shocked' when it came out that he was?

I think if it had been that widely known he wouldn't have been a presidential candidate. That is, a) most people wouldn't have voted for him and b) the Dems would have pulled their support because it would have made him unelectable. So, I'm going with a lot of people were quite surprised.

You also neglected to comment on the fact that this guy's not in Congress.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

You also neglected to comment on the fact that this guy's not in Congress.

^^^Thank you...quite true, thus I am corrected.

As a matter of fact let me change that by saying I am not surprised that any of our government officials regardless of their status (elected, non elected, hired, appointed, etc) gets caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

I still think that somebody has dirt on everybody and everybody has dirt on somebody, it's just that how many palms are getting greased to keep that dirt quiet.

As I said a long time back, you can't walk through the political playground without getting your feet dirty.

Now, here is a question to put onto the table, since he apparently the 'highest ranking GOPer" to have ever come out, what has his position been (not now) on gay rights?

[ThetaPrincess24]

I fail to see why this is news. Maybe it is just me, but I really dont care that this man is gay regardless of whether or not he decides to be open about it or keep it to himself.

Gay issues really arent a concern to me either at the moment. My #1 right now is with the shitty economy and jobs and maybe healthcare. Every other issue is taking a backseat for me presently.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

I fail to see why this is news. Maybe it is just me, but I really dont care that this man is gay regardless of whether or not he decides to be open about it or keep it to himself.

Gay issues really arent a concern to me either at the moment. My #1 right now is with the shitty economy and jobs and maybe healthcare. Every other issue is taking a backseat for me presently.

Not only that but the angle I am looking at this from goes like this:

On a long enough timeline, things that we do in life as well as choices we make tend to come back and meet at some point. Him being the head of a conservative party and gay weren't going to mix and at some point was going to catch up with him.

So either he was about to be outed or by the fact that he is no longer in such a high ranking position that his outing could hurt him, that he deemed it ok to come out.

Us avergae laypeople may never know!

What I believe is probably going to work in his favor are 2 things.

1.) He came out in a good (or as good as it's going to get) climate where homosexuality is a more open subject than it was years ago.

2.) That he didn't do this while he was still the chairperson.

I think with his situation, it may close some doors but due to the climate of the subject and our country's tolerance for at this point, it may open others.

I think it would be fair to say, had anyone done this 40 or 50 years ago, their political career would have gone straight to hell.

And one thing to think on is we can say what we want, but let's remember, Barney Frank came out in 1987 (or was it 86?) and he's still serving now, right?

OK. So again, with today's climate, it's not all that surprising seeing this in the news.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

At least I can't be on the list,
For I'd certainly be missed.

But I'm open to suggestions for the list.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Come on now, how many people knew that John Edwards was tipping and was 'shocked' when it came out that he was?

I can pretty much assure you that it came as a surprise to lots of people who've known him for a long time.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Nope not at all. Our congresspeople whichever side of the aisle they are on are getting caught in bathrooms, expensive hookers, drugs, in hotels you name it so again...to ME, this isn't news.

How nice of you to lump homosexuality with all of this deviant behavior. Maybe THIS is why he waited to come out. Maybe he wanted to be able to concentrate on his job without having to assure people in D.C. that he wasn't molesting little boys.

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

As a matter of fact let me change that by saying I am not surprised that any of our government officials regardless of their status (elected, non elected, hired, appointed, etc) gets caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

I still think that somebody has dirt on everybody and everybody has dirt on somebody, it's just that how many palms are getting greased to keep that dirt quiet.

The fact that you even use words like that just shows me that some gay people wait to come out not because they aren't ready to but because you (general) are not ready for it.