Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ex-idaho · 05-09-2003, 10:20 AM

Considering recent revelations regarding Bill Bennett I am wondering what the boards thoughts are on privacy especially when hypocrasy is in the mix.

I have on good authority that a very prominent GOP senator from the west is gay. This senator has been fairly aggressive on denying rights to homosexuals and is firmly in bed with the Religious Right. He is also seen in gay clubs around the state capitol and within the gay community it is common knowledge of which way he likes to swing. Should he be outed?

Ut · 05-09-2003, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ex-idaho
Should he be outed?

From what? The GOP or the gay club?

ex-idaho · 05-09-2003, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ut
From what? The GOP or the gay club?

Outed as in exposed. Sorry I thought everyone was familiar with the term.

Ut · 05-09-2003, 10:33 AM

Oops. You see, English is neither my native language, nor a language which I have to speak often, so I may not be familiar with the popular usages of some words.

To the main point, I really don't know. If he was outed, I'm sure he would either simply deny it or spout some bullcrap about how he has "erred", but that with enough help from his "Saviour" he can go back to the "straight" road.

Republican politicians seem to be able to get away with any kind of crap in their personal life. Bush's drunk driving offense and past cocaine use has been in the open for a long time, even before the Presidential elections, yet it has not harmed him in the least.

EDIT: I want just to precise that the "any kind of crap" is meant as a judgment according to the values of the Republican Party itself, not according to my own values.

HaysooChreesto! · 05-09-2003, 10:55 AM

My thinking is that politics are a nasty game. If one chooses to run for office and is elected then they'd better be ready for any and all skeletons to be coaxed from the closet.
If the senator in question is vulnerable then he will be exposed soon enough by his party's enemies.
Is it "the right thing" for public figures to fall under such scrutiny? In the case of Bill Bennet I think that a resounding "YES!" is in order. But in the case of the allegedly gay senator I just don't know. I don't know if this guy really is gay and I don't know if he's attempted to do harm to the homosexual community through policy. If he has done the latter then he should be exposed but harm shouldn't come to him just because he's a gay Republican.

theyeti · 05-09-2003, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ex-idaho
Should he be outed?

Yes. It's high time the GOP was made to pay for its rank hypocrisy. Maybe they'll finally drop their holier-than-thou crap where they want to forcefully regulate everyone else's personal business. Just like with Bennett, the crime isn't homosexuality or gambling. The crime is moralizing and trying to deny other people their pursuit of happiness for what amounts to shameless opportunism. (Good article in Salon here, but you've probably already read it.)

Also, are you putting us on with this "from the west" bit? Are you sure he's not from the south?

theyeti

Loren Pechtel · 05-09-2003, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ex-idaho
Considering recent revelations regarding Bill Bennett I am wondering what the boards thoughts are on privacy especially when hypocrasy is in the mix.

I have on good authority that a very prominent GOP senator from the west is gay. This senator has been fairly aggressive on denying rights to homosexuals and is firmly in bed with the Religious Right. He is also seen in gay clubs around the state capitol and within the gay community it is common knowledge of which way he likes to swing. Should he be outed?

Yes, for his hipocracy.

glassejaculate · 05-09-2003, 12:25 PM

Are we talking about Larry Craig?

John Hancock · 05-09-2003, 12:36 PM

out of course

Bill Clinton

glassejaculate · 05-09-2003, 12:40 PM

Anyone read the play "Angels in America"?

05-09-2003, 10:20 AM	#1
ex-idaho Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Spudtopia, ID Posts: 5,315	Privacy of elected officials Considering recent revelations regarding Bill Bennett I am wondering what the boards thoughts are on privacy especially when hypocrasy is in the mix. I have on good authority that a very prominent GOP senator from the west is gay. This senator has been fairly aggressive on denying rights to homosexuals and is firmly in bed with the Religious Right. He is also seen in gay clubs around the state capitol and within the gay community it is common knowledge of which way he likes to swing. Should he be outed?

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05-09-2003, 10:33 AM	#4
Ut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 828	Oops. You see, English is neither my native language, nor a language which I have to speak often, so I may not be familiar with the popular usages of some words. To the main point, I really don't know. If he was outed, I'm sure he would either simply deny it or spout some bullcrap about how he has "erred", but that with enough help from his "Saviour" he can go back to the "straight" road. Republican politicians seem to be able to get away with any kind of crap in their personal life. Bush's drunk driving offense and past cocaine use has been in the open for a long time, even before the Presidential elections, yet it has not harmed him in the least. EDIT: I want just to precise that the "any kind of crap" is meant as a judgment according to the values of the Republican Party itself, not according to my own values.

05-09-2003, 10:55 AM	#5
HaysooChreesto! Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: SoCal USA Posts: 7,737	My thinking is that politics are a nasty game. If one chooses to run for office and is elected then they'd better be ready for any and all skeletons to be coaxed from the closet. If the senator in question is vulnerable then he will be exposed soon enough by his party's enemies. Is it "the right thing" for public figures to fall under such scrutiny? In the case of Bill Bennet I think that a resounding "YES!" is in order. But in the case of the allegedly gay senator I just don't know. I don't know if this guy really is gay and I don't know if he's attempted to do harm to the homosexual community through policy. If he has done the latter then he should be exposed but harm shouldn't come to him just because he's a gay Republican.

05-09-2003, 12:25 PM	#8
glassejaculate Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: AL Posts: 37	Are we talking about Larry Craig?

05-09-2003, 12:36 PM	#9
John Hancock Banned Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mars Posts: 2,231	out of course Bill Clinton

05-09-2003, 12:40 PM	#10
glassejaculate Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: AL Posts: 37	Anyone read the play "Angels in America"?

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