So now being gay is a private matter

[dsc]

Funny most of the times for Republicans it isn't. When Bush needed a boogy man to win re election, he chose gays. New Senator DeMint wanted to ban gay teachers. New Senator Osborn thinks lesbians have taken over the Oklahoma middle schools. Mary Cheney was publicly gay except when Kerry dared say so. And now we hear from the right wing pundits that gay people should have private lives and be able to do whatever job they like.

Mr. Gannon would be unwelcome in Mr. Bush's military. Mr. Gannon would be unwelcome in Mr. Bush's church. Mr. Gannon would be unwelcome in a marriage sanctioned by Mr. Bush's government. Yet, Mr. Gannon was welcome in Mr. Bush's press room. Mr. Bush rode hatred of gays into reelection it is way to late for him or his apologists to be speaking of private lives for gays.

I guess all these years I missed the way to get accepted by conservatives. Instead of living a sexually responsible life and trying to be good at my chosen profession, I should have whored myself out to men by night, while taking my profession to new lows during the day. That would have earned the respect of the likes of Bush. Just what was I thinking.

[Jade Fox]

1. Yep, these folks are some bunch of shameless hypocrites....

I'm beginning to think the New Conservatives (Neocons) in this country don't
believe anything they claim to believe. Its all only a means to power.

I know---so what else is new?

[calimary]

24. I would LOVE to hear some Democrats (Dean?) say this:

One would think the wrong-wing would APPLAUD any efforts to wipe out a "heinous gay scourge" regarding some of their strident complaints that we've "hounded this poor man out of his job." (Maybe we should start another squeeze play...)

Imagine Howard Dean or someone else prominent and outspoken - announcing something like:

"I applaud the loud and ardent efforts of the conservatives and republi-CONS in Congress and the media who are rising to the defense of the White House insider who went by the name of "Jeff Gannon." I'm pleased to see they're coming around to a more tolerant attitude, and backing off their persecution of the gay lifestyle and gay internet commerce efforts. It's encouraging to see them defend this man and his many varied, creative and enterprising efforts to make a living. Perhaps they're finally rediscovering the 'compassionate conservatism' they promised more than five years ago."

Would that be sweet or what?

REASONING: That might well have all the Pat Buchanans and limbaughs and guy-whose-name-rhymes-with-vanity and the other holier-than-thou apologists and Pharisees suffering from an outbreak of exploding heads. So to speak. It would certainly help back them into a corner. SO.....I thought you condemned and abhored the gay lifestyle. You said it was ungodly. Now, you're defending one of its most prominent practitioners. GOOD FOR YOU! After all, the BIBLE says "judge not, lest ye be judged..."

And the WAY it's worded can be another knife stuck in and twisted. If you just have a LEEEEEEETLE bit of fun with it, they wind up looking even worse.

[sdevega]

45. RIGHT ON.

that is exactly what needs to be said by someone in a very prominent place within the DNC, preferably Dean himself.

for we're not only the party of principle -- we're the party of literacy, a weapon that can be wielded as well as any nightstick or tear-gas canister.

guess what freeps? we're smarter than you, too!

[sdevega]

46. in fact, i should say this: i'm thankful.

I mean, first Dean's chairman selection, now this...

...God what an encouraging, auspicious week in the news!

seems like months went by and it was nothing but "Bush appoints Albert Speer to major cabinet position..." "Bush claims 'gay people are mollusks, not humans'..." "Bush says opponents all 'conspiracy theorists' and we concur..."

thank God for this past week in the news... I was getting really critically low in the faith-in-humanity department.

[FreedomAngel82]

32. Exactly

That's what I think too. When Kerry said in the debate Mary was just being who she is Lynne Cheney was on tv calling him a "very bad man." Why? Because he stud up for Lynne's daughter and others out there in her situation? Then she campaigned for her father trying to get the LGBT vote. :eyes: Then the Bush camp had those stupid loyalty oaths and all that crap and then at the end of the campaigning when he saw his poll numbers were down he was trying to reach out to democrats and get us to vote for him. I was like "yeah right fool." :eyes: These people do anything to get votes.

[Anakin Skywalker]

2. Right On Points, My Friend.

[susanna]

3. "It's the hypocrisy, stupid." n/t

[porphyrian]

19. Hypocrisy I expect from politicians...

...self-righteous hypocrisy makes want to tear their fucking heads off.

[Fridays Child]

4. Very well said.

[uppityperson]

5. Exactly

[Zan_of_Texas]

6. All points well taken.

One minor thing, though. Mary Cheney was trotted out just before the 2000 and 2004 election. Soften the image, send mixed messages about compassionate conservatism and all that. Otherwise, you didn't hear a word about her.

[calimary]

25. Yeah, but do you remember the ONE night when they could have

sent the most powerful message about this? The night ditz and dick were nominated. Remember how cheney's whole family was up there onstage, in the lights and the confetti and the balloons, waving and smiling as the music played and the crowd went wild? Remember Mary Cheney taking her rightful place up there WITH THE REST OF HER FAMILY? I didn't think so. Because she WASN'T there. She was buried "discreetly" in the audience, NOT PERMITTED TO JOIN HER FAMILY UP THERE IN THE SPOTLIGHT ON THEIR BIG NIGHT.

I was so pissed that neither Kerry nor Edwards nor any other Democrat made a stink about that. It would have been a good one to shove back in the republi-CONS' sanctimonious, hypocritical, Pharisaical faces.

[FreedomAngel82]

36. I never heard about her

I do remember at the 2004 RNC when they presented the VP to everybody she wasn't up there with her family but stayed behind. Talk about your family values eh? :eyes:

[No Exit]

7. Good points! And you know what else? I wish Gannon had been

a woman. I wish the whole thing would be EXACTLY as it really is, with the one exception that I wish the Gannon figure had been a woman.

Because if a female hooker who advertised herself naked on the net, sold herself for $1200/weekend, and mysteriously got a press pass when real journalists couldn't, had been found in there, by now EVERYONE would be asking, "So... did the Preznit do her?"

With the Gannon thing, people have to make two leaps from the conventional "wisdom": first they have to make the leap to believing that the reporter was 100% a GOP plant (that's no leap at all for us, but it is a leap for the average Bush cultist out there), and then they have to make the leap to saying, "Might Bush be gay and might he have found Gannon attractive?"

If the Gannon figure had been a woman, they wouldn't be stopped by that second question, b/c people routinely (and often erroneously) assume this or that public figure is straight.

[MADem]

8. "PRIVATE MATTER" will soon be a GOP code phrase

...for, GET YOUR ASS BACK IN THE CLOSET. This misadministration wants to rocket the entire country backward, to a time when Father Knew Best, Ward and June Cleaver were the ideal parents, and there were no gays, on TV or otherwise, that were apparent to the average, suburban American.

This nitwit not only burnt the Bridge to the 21st Century, he's aggressively dismantling the Superhighway from the Sixties and the Footpath from the 50's!!! If this keeps up, can a return to slavery be far behind?

The GOP can claim it is a private matter, but business conducted on the internet is NOT a private matter. And when that business happens to be an illegal one, they can't say stuff like that without setting off even a diehard supporter's bullshit meter!

[HockeyMom]

39. Real Life

I work in a school district not far from where O'Reilly lives. "Traditional" family of Mommy, Daddy, and 2.5 kids ISN'T the norm anymore. In a class of 22 First Graders, NINE kids are living in that kind of family. The MAJORITY are either living with; just Mom (divorced), Mom and Stepfather/Boyfriend, Dad and Girlfriend/Stepmother, Grandparents, OR, yes, Virginia, 2 kids are living with their "two mommies" (their words, not mine).

To try to shield these kids from "untraditional" types of families (in the media) is absurd. They can see it ALL AROUND THEM in their own lives.

[Lisa]

43. absolutely -- and in my co-worker's pre-natal class last year ....

The majority of the people weren't in "traditional" marriages, and a fair number of them were single moms intending to raise the child on their own. And of the ones who were married, more than half were in same-sex marriages. (We're in British Columbia, where it's been allowed for more than a year.)

And the interesting thing is -- NOBODY in the group thought any of this was unusual (let alone an "abomination"). These are normal people, getting pre-natal training (so evidently they are taking the time and effort to get the best for their kids).

[Merlot]

48. It isn't "private" when you have a website selling "it"

This is not about some nice guy being outed. It's about a guy who put nude pictures of himself on the internet and sold his time for money.

Big difference!

[LittleClarkie]

9. It's a private matter when it's one of their own

as in the case of Mary Cheney.

My GOD, they've outed her. How do you out someone who's pretty much out already, common knowledge or not.

If it was such a "private" matter, he shouldn't have had Mr. Happy hangin' out for all the world to see.

[jbnow]

10. Private issues

aren't usually advertised by naked pictures on the web, complete with charges for services and size...

[sendero]

11. Exactly...

... I agree with the hypocrites on this side of their two-face, being gay is a private matter.

Selling sex, even though I could care less generally, is against the law. Frankly, I don't understand why this guy isn't being investigated and charged with prostitution.

Oh, I forgot - too many connected people are taking it where the sun don't shine from this tool. Oh well, justice isn't blind it's well lubed.

[GOPBasher]

12. Well, yeah, if you're on their side,

it doesn't matter what you are. If you're on our side, well then, you better be a straight, white protestant who's only slept with one person in an entire lifetime.

[Ian David]

13. The Jeff Monica Gannon Payola Scandal

Maybe, when we talk about Gannon or Guckert, we should use "Monica" as his middle name?

[GOPBasher]

14. LOL n/t

[calimary]

27. WHOA NELLY! What an EXQUISITELY brilliant idea!!!!!!

Yes. We should start doing that.

Plant the seeds.

Plant the seeds.

Plant the seeds.

You made this bed, dear Pharisees and hypocrites.

Plant the seeds.

Plant the seeds.

Plant the seeds.

With a LOT of planting, something WILL take root.

[Kber]

15. and is being a prostitute (gay, straight or otherwise) and

advertising on the web also a private matter?

[Lorien]

31. If Gannon were female and straight

with the same "professions" during the Clinton administration, how would it have been handled?

[dusty64]

16. Yup, being a boot licker

will do it everytime. They will use and abuse ya or let one do it to them, but don't expect equal rights though. Not gonna happen.

[smoogatz]

17. The rightwing's position re gay people

Is very much like the segregationists' position re black people in the 50s and 60s. Gay people are okay as long as they know their place. Step out of line, though, and you're toast. There are good gays and bad gays--good gays stay in the closet and do a lot of public gay-bashing, or else they mince around hilariously and sexlessly on "Will and Grace." Bad gays want the same rights as everyone else.

[Zan_of_Texas]

37. You make a point. But, go further. Strom Thurmond.

Strom Thurmond MADE HIS POLITICAL NAME bashing integration. In the late 1940s, he said white people would not put up with black people (he may have said "Nigras") in their neighborhoods, schools, or swimming pools.

Meanwhile, he is fathering a child by a young black woman who is employed by his family.

The woman is sent away. Thurmond's secret is kept, basically, for over 60 years.

H Y P O C R I S Y

[smoogatz]

42. Wouldn't that be delicious?

Who do you have to blow to get a WH press pass? Guckert has the answer.

What are the odds he ends up a "suicide" in the next few weeks, if this thing doesn't blow over?

[CTyankee]

52. or get hit by a metro bus in downtown D.C.

One little push by a mysterious stranger and you have zee unfortunate accident.

[grace0418]

18. As long as the men you whore yourself out to are GOP bigwigs

you're golden, apparently.

But seriously, they won't be able to gloss this over much longer. You can't demonize homosexuality as much as the GOP has, and especially BushCo, and expect everyone to forget that when it comes to a case like Gannon. Especially if it turns out he was doing any "favors" to get the access he got.

[Merlot]

49. If he was doing favors???

With his line of work, I can only imagine how he got to know and be in the know with all these gopsters. Were they attracted to his brilliant mind? His past political accomplishments?

Question is did he do favors to gain access, or was access granted because he did so many favors (blackmail). If he wasn't selling himself on the internet, these questions would be irrelevant. But he was selling himself, so the questions beg to be asked. You can't seperate the two.

[EMTQueen]

57. Ever hear of "On the DL?"

I'm sure it's not indigenous to just the black male community, just like AIDS isn't indigenous to the gay community. It's married males, supposedly heterosexual, having sexual affairs with other men "on the down-low." I'm sure that somebody had to have had sex with this guy in order for him to just breeze through.

[fishwax]

20. It's Okay If You're a Republican

just like with everything else. Or at the very least It's Nobody Else's Business if You're a Republican. Hypocrites. :grr:

[joeybee12]

21. Yupo. Gay prostitution is ok; gay marriage isn't.

[mzmolly]

22. Interesting isn't it. It was a matter in the "campaign" just a month or

so ago. :eyes:

The more frightening thing is the media reaction and culpability surrounding this entire issue.

[BR_Parkway]

23. We should save every article or clip or video of one of these

hypocrites saying "he should be able to do whatever job he likes" - could come useful when they vote against some of the fairness for gay type legislation.

Publically trying to sell your body over the internet is NOT a private matter. I don't care that he's gay, but I do care that he's violating the law.

[Shopaholic]

26. I've already fired off an e-mail today to Howie Kurtz asking him

some of these very same questions. He's trying to scare other reporters into not reporting this, saying that they'll be opening up their privates lives to public scrutiny. Uh--WRONG. Not unless the rest of the White House press corps and all the rest of the MSM journalists begin to post nude photos of themselves with an accompanying fee schedule for their charges to engage in illict behavior.

[CTyankee]

54. Maybe it's not such a bad idea

to have some investigation of these MSM types with their sanctimonious sneers. It would serve them right. We would find out a lot of interesting things, I'd bet.

[ronnykmarshall]

28. You need send that to the New York Times.

That was one of the best written posts about this subject.

:toast:

[Chicago Ronin]

29. Lack of News on Gannert/Guckert

I'm increasingly getting disturbed by the lack of coverage of this issue in the mainstream press. This involves fraud, breaching of security, and hypocrisy of the highest order with a guy who had free entry to the White House, and I don't see news anywhere. It's nowhere among the headlines at Yahoo News. I also went to the Chicago Tribune website and entered both "Jeff Gannon" and "Jeff Guckert" in the search function for articles. Both tries said "No articles found on search"

[Sparkle]

41. Welcome to DU, Ronin!

:hi:

[tom_paine]

30. You are missing the BIG PICTURE of Totalitarian Amerika

(indeed, the central guiding tenet of ALL Totalitarian States, not just Imperial Amerika)

Being Gay is a Private Matter if the Gay Person is a Member of THE PARTY. If the Gay Person is a Liberal, Democrat, or other Enemy of the State, it is NOT a private matter.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Jeff in Cincinnati]

34. This isn't about being gay...

This is about the Administration using phony reporters at White House press conferences for the purpose of diverting the media's attention to other matters. This is about the government controlling the news media through the use of paid surrogates posing as legitimate reporters. This is about the White House lying about its responsibility for it all.

That fact that Gannon/Guckert is gay is no absolutely no consequence.

[CatWoman]

35. DSC -- I've always viewed you as somewhat of a "grump"

however, I need to say that I'm loving this post!!!!!!

so eloquent, so truthful, so on target.

Bravo!!!!

[dsc]

53. thanks

You just didn't like me due to being a dog person. We all know how superior they are to cat people. lol

[CatWoman]

58. ROFL!!!!!!!

:hi:

[Bolo Boffin]

38. Nicely put.

And remember: Jim Guckert put a picture of his pee-pee on the Internet next to a price tag. That is the very opposite of private.

[LynneSin]

40. Being Gay is a private matter. Being a HYPOCRIT isn't

Hypocrisy knows no race, sex, credo, religion or sexual preference.

Gannon was not exposed as being gay - he was exposed as being a hypocrite

That is all!

[The Backlash Cometh]

44. Yep. Bush picked a fight with the wrong people.

Left-leaning Gays: They're not your grand daddy's sissies, no mo.

[loudsue]

47. BLAST the media w/ 1 question: WHO in the White House is "doing" Gannon?

We need to start making that question central to the story. With all the inside info Gannon/Gluckert has about the Dan Rather scandal, about the Plame outing, about "shock & awe" before anyone else knew...the guy has INSIDE info.

I want to know WHO has Gannon been "inside" with, or who has been "inside" with Gannon!! And how much TAXPAYER $$ went into the whole thing??

I think it's the bush bush. It may be the rove bush. But, a bush, or a tush, nevertheless!! I want to know... WHOSE??? Who did Gannon do? Who did Gannon?

:kick::kick::kick:

[robbedvoter]

50. Besides, who said Gannon was gay? he's a male prostitute who

serves a complete menu for the right price. His preferences are a mystery as far as I am concerned, and completely irrelevant.

[ArkDem]

51. >unwelcome in Mr. Bush's church

I thought bush was a Methodist.

[Callboy]

55. Right On Keep voting your conscience.........

Log Cabin Boy

[librechik]

56. Private? He was advertising it! It was a business,

not a personal thing. We need to shut down this stupid meme immediately. It wasn't private, he was advertising for it!

[jab105]

59. Being gay IS a private matter...HOWEVER...working as a GAY ESCORT

as a BUSINESS...is NOT a private matter...

His picture was all over the internet...it's not private when its a business!!

[goodboy]

60. Ask Andy Stephenson to tell you about his theory that bush is gay...

Quite interesting.