Governor Crist Subject of Gay Conservatives Documentary: "Outrage"

[stephendare]

Well this ought to be interesting.

"Outrage," a new documentary from filmmaker Kirby Dick, takes issue with the secret lives of closeted gay politicians -- especially conservative Republicans who outwardly oppose gay rights.

The film, which premiered last week at the Tribeca Film Festival, features tell-alls from men who say they've had relationships with various Republicans, including Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Bush strategist Ken Mehlman and former Senator Larry Craig....."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/28/outrage-documentary-activ_n_192476.html

[BridgeTroll]

Or perhaps tacky and classless...

[TheProfessor]

Everybody knows Charlie is gay.  He only got married to a woman for political purposes...perhaps so he could run for the next presidency race.

[Doctor_K]

I don't know why gay Republicans would come out against gay rights.  At least in theory.

And if Charlie's gay - so what?  Let him run on the next Presidential ticket as the first openly gay Republican.  It'd definitely make that Presidential race that much more interesting.

[stjr]

Govy Charlie is whatever you want him to be.  That is the source of his staying in power.  Gay. Straight.  Anti-oil, then pro-oil, now not so sure of either.  Pro-education while doing the opposite. Fiscal responsiblity advocate while doing the opposite.  Pro-environment while being wishy washy on staying with the program.  Left, right, middle.  He's got you covered.  In the end, its all about votes for US Senate.  I am a centrist but he's just confusing. 

[BridgeTroll]

Everybody knows Charlie is gay.

Then it really is no ones business what his sex life is right?  Classless and tacky... 

[Joe]

Yeah, it's pretty much an open secret that a lot of politicians are closeted. Crist is probably the most obvious one, but there are a few Republican congressmen (not mentioned) that are supposedly gay. I wonder if the documentary will address them too.

Anyway, part of this movie really pisses me off. Just because a politician is gay, doesn't mean he has to support "gay rights" as defined by whatever bullshit poltical organization is issuing the scorecard.

According to groups cited by this documentary, gay rights includes a whole lot more than gay marriage and same-sex partner benefits. They list things like drug-needle exchanges, free HIV treatment paid for by medicaid, loosening immigration standards for foreigners with HIV, and general hate crimes legislation.

All such things could be reasonably opposed by gay Republicans (or Democrats for that matter). Yet, the documentary screams "outrage" that gay politicians are getting bad scorecards from these groups. That's not human rights - that's just everyday politics.

It's pathetic to suggest that someone should vote a certain way - especially on a giant host of interrelated and complex issues - just because they belong to a specific identity group.

[vicupstate]

If Crist runs for the Senate, which seems all but certain, he will have to announce for President almost the day after he takes the oath as Senator (Jan 2011) since the Iowa caucus will be barely a year away.    Surely this will be an issue in the campaign.  I wonder what his response will be other than the obligatory "I'm only interested in running for U.S. Senate".   

Also, does he REALLY think the gay rumors/skeletons won't hound him once he announces for POTUS?

Third, what are Marco Rubio's chances of upsetting Crist in the primary.   How mad is the GOP base with him?

       

[vicupstate]

the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee isn't letting any moss grow under their feet, the first salvo in the Senate race ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLgvi6-Oppg

[JaxGardenGal]

One of my closest friends here in Jax grew up in St. Pete, which is where Crist grew up...and it just so happens went to school with her parents. Her father's girlfriend actually dated Crist years ago, and said he never came off as gay while they were together. But, they've also said there were times when they went out together and saw Christ (before he was a public figure) getting "comfortable" with some of the guys he was with.

[stjr]

While I may have issues with his politics and shiftiness, I could care less if CC was gay or whatever.  That's his private business and I don't care to meddle in it.  I wish people cared as much about his decisions running the State of Florida as they do his sexual orientation! 

FYI, I did read an article the other day about a study suggesting that more so women, but also men, can have a spectrum of feelings for their own sex, i.e. being something between a full blooded heterosexual and homosexual.  In fact, not an insignificant number of the population fall in this range.  And, much of this may be based more on personal emotions stemming from a relationship than strictly sexual.

Anyway, to each their own.  Let's get back to the business of the State.

[CMG22]

FYI, I did read an article the other day about a study suggesting that more so women, but also men, can have a spectrum of feelings for their own sex, i.e. being something between a full blooded heterosexual and homosexual.  In fact, not an insignificant number of the population fall in this range.  And, much of this may be based more on personal emotions stemming from a relationship than strictly sexual.

It's called the Kinsey Scale, and it was first published on in 1948.


IMHO…

I think people care about a Republican's sexuality because the party has profited off intolerance of other sexualities--and thus if one identifies with one of those other sexualities, they can seem hypocritical.  I agree that things like free needle exchanges, etc., are not de facto "gay" stances, but for a party that has pursued the Federal Marriage Amendment, one can't help but feel that the majority of the party is against them.  Note in Iowa that it the Republican leaders in the state that are trying to drum up support to change the state's constitution, not the Democrats.

The Republican Party has become a hoard of pettifoggers.  As soon as the Republican Party quits inciting people with trivial issues and gets to the business of running the country on things that matter, they would be much more likely to receive my vote.  And, I can only feel sorry for politicians that have to deny their own sexuality to be elected, simply because they believe in a strong national defense, private ownership, and small government, etc.

It's a sad state.  But they deserve ridicule if they come out against gay marriage.  That is tantamount to anyone voluntarily relinquishing their own individual rights.  Closeted?  Okay.  Demented, as in taking a stance against oneself?  Ridiculous, and deserving of derision…

[TheProfessor]

Everybody knows Charlie is gay.

Then it really is no ones business what his sex life is right?  Classless and tacky... 

Correct.  It is the business of those he screwed in the behind.  Thanks but no thanks.  BTW I am all for gay rights.

[ChriswUfGator]

Everybody knows Charlie is gay.

Then it really is no ones business what his sex life is right?  Classless and tacky... 

You probably said the exact opposite when Clinton had his problems...lol. That's the typical Republican attitude (no offense, this may not describe you personally), where something's only a problem when it isn't happening to someone else.

And it IS our business, when the guy's taking an outward stance opposing equality, and is a homosexual. I mean, at the end of the day, you have a right to an opinion but you don't have the right to be a hypocrite. He made it everybody's business by taking a "Do as I say, not as I do" approach.

[gmpalmer]

Well, Clinton messed up because 1) he was married and 2) he lied about it.

Still, I wish all politicians who can't keep it in their pants would get that treatment.

Crist sucks.  That's all.