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Originally Posted by hkbajwa  I think you must have meant to say "Hypocrisy" and not "homosexuality".
This bad situation for both party members arose because they actively denied and/or condemned homosexual activity, ALL WHILE ENGAGING in it.
These men have ruined their own lives by not being honest with the people and perhaps not even being honest to themselves.
Had both not ridden the "morality" train then their homosexual activites might not even have made the news. However since they garner their support on a foundation that includes condemnation and discrimination of homosexuals they show themselves to be big fat lying hypocrites. And THAT is big news.
Their political careers are lost because of their hypocrisy.. not their homosexuality. |
Well said, hkbajwa. Some other poster, I can't remember who, said that it doesn't make news when Democrat politicians come out, the way it does when Republicans are outed. And you have just stated why, hkbajwa.
It isn't homosexuality that causes their downfall, it's hypocrisy.
I like to point back to the Ted Haggard story when this discussion comes up. Right around the same time his story broke, Neil Patrick Harris, the actor from Doogie Howser, now on the hit comedy "How I Met Your Mother," came out.
The reactions to the two newly out gay men couldn't have been more different. Why?
Well, in Harris' case, he was simply living life as a gay man, relatively quietly, and one day decided to mention it publicly. Most people went "Huh." if it registered at all, and life went on completely unchanged for everyone.
Haggard, on the other hand, spent most of his adult life publicly demonizing gay people in the name of God. When he was outed, the people who he had surrounded himself with, likeminded Godly gay-demonizers, were STUNNED at his lies and hypocrisy, so of course there was a huge media circus, he lost his job, etc., etc.
The same is true between the Republicans and the Democrats. Much of the Republican party has allied itself with the religious right, and has assumed their principles. During the debate among Republican presidential candidates, not a one was interested in repealing DADT. Half want a gay marriage amendment in the Constitution. And none of them could be bothered to show up for the "all gay issues" debate recently. They, for the most part, have made gay-bashing part of their platform.
So, OF COURSE it is big news (and a big scandal) when it turns out that a good and Godly gay-hating Republican turns out to be a big ol' queer himself.... but no news at all when a gay-supporting or even a gay-neutral political figure comes out as gay. Most people have the Harris reaction. "Huh."
The gay Republicans could really do themselves a HUGE favor by coming out, rather than waiting to be outed, and showing it is possible to be both gay and fiscally conservative. Much less damaging to one's career. (I'm assuming, since there are no openly gay Republicans in the House or Senate... but the first one who is, will get a very congratulatory email from me.)