This Wednesday, we went to a big Christmas party here in Chicago — one of the ones we weren’t invited to last year — purposefully — because we worked for the McCain campaign and were thus branded “traitors” here in Boystown. So, we were punished, and cut off from the really good parties, where all the really interesting people go for the holidays. This year, because so many people realize what a mess the current administration is, suddenly people don’t mind so much that we were DeMcCrats for McCain and remain Democrats for Palin (though that last one does make smoke come out of most of their ears).
Here are a few things we’re going to tell you in the hopes that some of you can get it to the right people and stop disasters from happening in the future. We are giving you clear and present warnings of what Democrats are going to do to bring down two Republicans in the future — one next year, and the other when he himself tries to run for the Senate. Both of these disasters can be avoided if these two men just came out of the closet.
We are, of course, talking about Mark Kirk and Aaron Schock.
Kirk’s case is more pressing because Alexi Giannoulias, the scion of the Broadway Bank mob banking family, is poised to win the Democrats’ nomination. The plan is to out Kirk during the general election to suppress conservative vote, and thus ensure Giannoulias carries the state. One of the key factors being considered is that, while Giannoulias is not black, and the black community will be upset a black candidate is not replacing Burris, black voters will turn out to keep a gay man from being elected to the Senate. They will turn out to vote AGAINST Kirk, not FOR Giannoulias. Homophobia will help drive their vote, the same way it did in California to pass Prop-8. There is nobody on Earth the black community loves to stick it to more than a white gay man. They will vote gleefuly, and thanks to ACORN, often.
We were told at the party on Wednesday that we need to figure out who Mark Kirk shares a home with in Washington. Apparently, that man may also be another member of Illinois’ congressional delegation. We were told that during the general election the Giannoulias campaign will release, through surrogates, lurid details of exactly what goes on at the home Kirk shares with this other man in Washington. It was implied this other man is in fact another gay Illinois Congressman. Apparently, it’s all between consenting adult males, so there are no Mark Foley scandals heading Kirk’s way, but he’s going to be painted as an untrustworthy liar…he’ll be ridiculed and mocked for his dishonesty, and his marital failings…and Republican voters that need to turn out to defeat Giannoulias will sit their butts home, the way they enjoy doing when they think they are “teaching the GOP a lesson”. It is exactly what happened with Jack Ryan all over again.
Someone in the GOP, take Kirk down now before you select him as your nominee. Find a man who can actually WIN…someone who conservatives will come out and support, but someone who black and Chicago elitist voters don’t feel any personal mission to “stick it to”. Blacks and elites won’t be motivated to come out in full force for Giannoulias, because they will not like the fact a black is not replacing Burris in “Obama’s seat”.
The only way these people find motivation to vote is to “stick it to Kirk”. That phrase kept being used over and over again on Wednesday.
We have no idea who Kirk’s “roommate” is in Washington, DC. It sure would be interesting to chime in if you know — because in a few months, this is all people will be talking about. Democrats at the party said the Senate seat is in the bag, because Kirk will go down in flames.
*******
The other interesting bit from the party was about Aaron Schock. It is an open secret he is gay…and we finally got confirmation that Democrats do, indeed, have photos of Schock out in Chicago with other men. We’ve been hearing for months this was true, and we’ve seen Schock with our own eyes out in Boystown, having very indiscrete times with Aberzombie sorts of guys. Apparently, he has a boyfriend back in Peoria everyone knows about too. Dems we know here in Chicago had asked us to try to get pics of Schock in MiniBar or other spots in Boystown, but we never got pictures of him. Well, we found out on Wednesday that others do have the pictures. But, they will be held for years until Schock tries to run for Senate himself.
By then, very foolish advisors in the GOP will have set him up with a fake wife, and maybe even a kid for a prop. But those pictures of Schock in bars will always be out there…and then when he runs for Senate…BOOM…another Jack Ryan, another Mark Kirk. It is widely expected Schock will run for Senate in 2014, to challenge Dick Durbin.
We believe if Schock comes out now…or even waits until just after the 2010 election, he can run in 2014 as an out and proud gay man and win that Senate seat. We promise you, if he does this, we will personally campaign for him. By all accounts, he is a decent and smart guy, and is certainly hard-working.
But he is putting Republicans at great risk by posing for photos with big-busted beards poolside, trying to deflect the truth about his homosexuality. Schock needs to come clean and not lie to voters. He crossed a line with those poolside photos: before then, he hadn’t denied he is gay or done any Rock Hudson, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Liberace subterfuge. But, now Schock is lying to voters with his denials…while these photos are definitely in Dem hands just waiting to be used.
With so much time between now and 2014, who knows what else Schock will do to make the lies even more blatant…which will only succeed in making voters angry at more Republicans being outed…not the way to build trust in the conservative brand.
*******
Now, whenever we talk about Kirk, Schock, Charlie Crist, Rahm Emanuel, and other politicians being gay, some of you out there say “that’s none of anyone’s business”. Well, it is indeed everyone’s business because these men are all deceiving the people they are asking to vote for them. They say they are one thing, but then they do another. These are all open secrets in Chicago that people feel perfectly comfortable talking about over Pilsners waiting in line for chicken satay at the buffet line of a Christmas party. There is no whispering. There’s no super-secret-don’t-talk-about-this-ever pledges. The only reason you, yourself, don’t hear these things is because you do not live in Boystown and don’t spend your free time chatting up these Dem operatives here in Chicago.
This is, indeed, how we spend our free time…and the things we are told we pass on to you.
For verification, these are the same things our straight friends also hear in Republican circles, at the events they too, go to. The last two weeks have been a flurry of holiday events. At all of them, the topic of Kirk, Schock, and others being gay always comes up. And no one is surprised — though with Schock, many women are disappointed, for a minute, and then after thinking about it they always, without fail say, “Yah, I always kind of thought that, but now it makes sense”.
The GOP at large should come out in support of Kirk and Schock, in particular, and get ahead of what the Democrats have planned. Just imagine THAT. The Republican party standing by two men who decide to be honest with voters…instead of waiting for the National Enquirer to break some salacious story about them.
Kirk is a flawed candidate without being outed as an excuse for many not to vote for him — there is no way to underestimate the hatred this man caused in many Republicans when he voted for Cap & Tax. THEY ARE SEETHING MAD AT HIM, and that is not going away. The GOP needs to get behind Patrick Hughes and Kirk needs to bow out and get his life together, if the Republicans want to do anything to stop Alexi Giannoulias, THE MOB BANK’S CANDIDATE, from becoming our next Senator.
As for Schock, he needs to just come out before the pictures of him in Boystown are dropped at some point in the future. He’s safe for now, as there does not seem to be any intent to oust him from Congress in 2010…but the file’s being built on him for his expected 2014 Senate run, and Boystown in Chicago and DuPont Circle in DC are much too attractive to a young gay man not to bet that will be a VERY thick file used against him if he continues to deny who he is and set up those Rock Hudson photo shoots poolside for the next four years.
Both of these men need to get Howard Bragman on their speed dials…he’s the man who just helped Meredith Baxter come out, and who’s helping a major rock star come out in 2010.
Bragman can help avert more GOP self-inflicted disasters, if only Republicans were smart enough to stop lying to their own voters.

December 18, 2009 at 6:35 am
What do you know about Andy Martin? He seems to be a good candidate to replace Kirk.
December 18, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Authentic nut job.
January 6, 2010 at 11:18 am
Online Prof Says:
December 18, 2009 at 6:35 am
What do you know about Andy Martin? He seems to be a good candidate to replace Kirk.
================
Jo Chgo Says:
December 18, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Authentic nut job.
—————–
Andy Martin is not a nut job ! He is honest and tells it like it is.and for his country !
December 18, 2009 at 6:55 am
I can’t see how either Kirk or Emanuel are hypocrites. You guys say you are against Giannoulias, but actions speak louder than words.
December 18, 2009 at 7:09 am
I heard a great interview with Schock on Neil Cavuto re. the Omnibus bill. I was shocked that he was so young and good looking (I was listening to the interview on my XM)and then caught the interview again on tv….anyways….I pray that Schock does the right thing and comes out.
December 18, 2009 at 7:35 am
Having met Aaron Schock at a fundraiser, and being a Gay republican myself… I cannot with any certainty say if the ‘gaydar’ went off or not… but then again living in smalltown middle of nowhere downstate Illinois, my ‘gaydar’ is not that finely tuned…I know, my gay card might be revoked for that comment alone. Although, I really could care less if he is or not. He seems to honestly care, and he does work very hard for those of us in his district. Lets just hope that if he really is a gay man, and that if he chose to come out, that people just would not care. That they see him as an honest hardworking politician, who came out on his own terms.
December 18, 2009 at 7:52 am
You guys make good points on this topic. But I wish everyone here would put himself/herself in the position of Kirk and Schock. Both are at least right of center, with Schock being well to the right of center. They are Republicans. do you know how much crap you take from people if (a) they find out you’re gay and (b) they find out you are a pro-life, pro-gun ownership, card-carrying Republican?
Where does the grief come from? Democrats. And members of mainline churches (e.g., Episcoopal). Apparently if you don’t buy into all things Clinton (which I respectfully do not) and Obama (which I do not, respectfully or otherwise!), you are labeled a traitor to your self and your gay brothers and sisters. If you believe the ancient tenets of the Christian faith and not some modern reinvention, you’re a dolt.
I guess you know what I am talking about because you guys don’t fit the mold either. So I guess you’ve walked a mile in those shoes.
I am convinced: Democrat leaders take for granted–perhaps even hate–gays and blacks. We’re just supposed to be tools for them to use.
Republicans leaders that I’ve encountered don’t care one way or the other. So you’re gay? Okay. Fine. Are you on my side? Yes? Great. Let’s get to work.
For the record, I am not black. But I am gay.
December 18, 2009 at 8:07 am
Conservatives want Kirk out. We have tried to get the RNC not to back him. But as usual, the RNC goes with the easy candidate instead of the best person for the job. But, I think that the RNC thinks that it would be too difficult to get a true conservative into the senate in Il. So they will take what they can get.
When it comes to more of the social issues I am more libertarian. I don’t care what he does in his bedroom as long as everyone is a consenting adult. But being openly gay and a repulican is a difficult road to hoe; not impossible, but difficult.
December 18, 2009 at 8:11 am
By-the-way, Hillbuzz, I did some evangelizing for you all last night. Champaign County GOP had its annual holiday party (not just Christmas because there were Muslims and Jews there too). It was a lot of fun. I name-dropped your website about a half dozen times in conversation. I told friends of your interesting perspective AND your unmatched wit!
Do you guys know William (Bill) Kelley? He’s running for Illinois Comptroller. He’s a film maker from the South Side of Chicago–well at least originally. I think you’d find him interesting.
December 18, 2009 at 9:06 am
I think everyone should just be who they are. Do you breath oxygen? Do you put your pants on one leg at a time? Well, then you aren’t too much different than me, except I am a straight white female. I really don’t care who anyone I know goes home to or kisses goodnight. I only care that they have character and stand up for what they believe in.
Thank you guys for being a voice of reason.
December 18, 2009 at 9:34 am
I agree – they just need to get Kirk out. Unfortunately it appears that the Repubs in IL think that in order to win in IL they need to run a Dem Lite, which Kirk can definitely be.
Maybe I’m just not living in reality, but as a Conservative, it would seem that for a fellow Conservative who is gay to run openly would keep more votes than some think, AND they would pull votes from the politically moderate gay community (and those libs that just don’t want to appear like they really aren’t tolerant) to make up for the loss of those misguided Conservatives who believe that being politically conservative means you have to be anti-gay.
December 18, 2009 at 9:45 am
I think they should come out as it can only be used against them as blackmail when they decide to vote against certain bills that their party wants them to. Don’t you think their is alot of blackmailing for votes going on in this administration?
December 18, 2009 at 9:57 am
The “reservation” or “plantation” the Democratic Party has built for some of its core constituencies is well-known, as is the treatment metted out upon those who move away. When these familiar facts begin to be viewed widely as being infamous, we’ll know we’ve started to see some real hope and change.
What struck me most about your posting (apart from the apparent candor with which they talked about their future tactics with you, but then, I suppose it’s no surprise that when the topic is itself indiscretion people tend to become indiscrete) was the implication that the bloc of votes that would decide an election against Kirk (or at some point in the future, against Schock or someone similar) will be driven to vote not by disagreement with his positions on particular issues but by crude passion — and not even passion for something so much as sheerly negative animosity. It’s a sad commentary on the Democrats that in some localities this is the sharpest weapon they can think of wielding, after contributing so much over so many years to the material and other circumstances in which such an animus is maintained and can fester. (For the record, I was once a Democrat — as, so far as I know, all of my relatives still are — but became an Independent after 9/11.) I’ll never forget visiting Chicago some twenty years ago and stopping on the South Side before heading over to the University, and being stunned by the manifest disparity between the two neighborhoods in such close proximity: separate and unequal indeed in a one-party city.
To offset, or even to put into disarray and confusion, the passions of those who have been happy to reside on the Democratic preserve, it would be good to see the Republicans field candidates who are “common-sense conservative” on the issues that matter while also being conspicuously different, in manifold permutations. Imagine to begin with a black lesbian whose politics match Sarah Palin’s, and work back from there …
Turning to the healthcare legislation (right now, in my view it’s the most momentous of the many crucial domestic issues) the latest word is that Reid is aiming for a final vote right before Christmas — if he achieves this it will mean that at least one main point of Burris’ strategy has come to naught. Let’s hope that the Republicans, with Coburn and DeMint in the forefront, can delay the course of things at least into January.
As for how the various factions among the Democrats in the Senate will ultimately vote, there are so many different stories afloat now that it’s anyone’s guess what will happen. (It would be nice to think that Sanders, for his part, and Snowe and Collins, for theirs, are all now firm votes against, but that’s not a bet I’d care to make, either.)
December 18, 2009 at 10:32 am
I must be completely clueless, because I don’t understand why both of these men don’t just come out. I don’t care if someone is gay or straight, just so they aren’t in bed with the Chicago mafia(no pun intended).
I’m a conservative, and I don’t CARE what someone’s sexuality is!!!! What century do we live in, people?
If they both came out, they would show themselves to be honest, brave men.
Who says you can’t have conservative values and be gay?
Ridiculous.
December 18, 2009 at 11:17 am
Aaron Schock is from Peoria. Gay doesn’t play as well in Peoria as it does in Chicago. Chicago has a suburban buffer. Most suburbanites don’t care to much one way or the other on gaity. But you get outside Peoria and you’ve got small towns and farms. Gay plays differently there.
That’s not to say small town folks and farmers are anti-gay by default. But they tend to be more conservative socially. What I’ve found is that once people get to know me–know that I am kind and caring and decent–the whole gay thing becomes nonissue. They may not understand, but they don’t hate.
December 18, 2009 at 11:43 am
I forgot that he’s from Peoria. I’ve worked in that town before, so I know what you mean.
But if they love him already in Peoria, and think he’s a great guy, would they flip that fast?
I just don’t get that small minded attitude, but then again, I had gay roommates in college, so I guess I’m from a different experience.
I wish the whole gay thing WAS a non issue for everyone. That just drives me nuts! As a gay man, you must get tired of it as well.
December 18, 2009 at 10:34 am
I too think these folks should come out. It’s 2010 (essentially) for God’s Sake. Who cares, really, abouy straight/gay anymore? I don’t, and I am what a typical Lib would try to pigeonhole as an ‘evangelical rightie’. OK, I know that certain folks “care” about sexual orientation…but that doesn’t make it right. No more than caring about skin color or gender should.
I went to high school with guys (and girls) that I knew were gay, and when they got to college and came out, they became totally different people. Different in a good way. More open. More happy. Comfortable in their own skin. Why? Because most all of their “old” friends, like me, never really gave a crap to begin with – and they could live their life without fear of being “found out”. We are who we are. Just because I wasn’t born gay, or didn’t “become gay” as some people thinks happens, doesn’t mean I am any better or worse than those who are gay. And there are lots of open-minded, clear thinking people like me in the conservative, Republican camp – whether they ever publicly admit it or not. As far as I am concerned, we’re simply all humans. We here in the US are Americans.
And that’s where the labels should effectively end IMO (I don’t like hyphenated labels either: African-American, etc). Until that is a population-wide reality though, folks that are gay that are seeking a public servant’s life should be open and honest about who they are from the get-go if they want a snowball’s chance in hades of being successful. If Bawney Fwank can make it, anyone can.
December 18, 2009 at 10:43 am
Oh, and forgot to pontificate in the last post: I wonder who the “rock star” is that’s coming out? Can’t wait to hear that news.
Also, being the otherwise southern whitebread redneck that I am, I am into motorsports, including NASCAR. The buzz around that sport for the past several years are that there are several “major players” (drivers, team members, maybe even an owner) that are gay.
Come on out. Really, we do not care. You need to for your own mental health. Honestly, I tend to find myself nodding in support at folks that come out after a long life in the closet, and it tends to deepen my respect for them (especially if I respected them as a person to begin with that is). It takes a lot of courage to admit that you’re “different” somehow. I know, what is different? What is normal? Much deeper than the whole “chicken/egg” quandry, indeed…
December 18, 2009 at 11:44 am
I’m thinking Jon Bon Jovi. He’s always set my gaydar off.
December 18, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I hope not – he’s been married to his wife for forever and I’m always kind of sad when longterm (over ten years) celebrity marriages break up.
December 18, 2009 at 10:35 am
(I tried to leave a comment here but it seems to have gone astray. Here it is again, apologies if it is ultimately duplicated.)
The “reservation” or “plantation” the Democratic Party has built for some of its core constituencies is well-known, as is the treatment metted out upon those who move away. When these familiar facts begin to be viewed widely as being infamous, we’ll know we’ve started to see some real hope and change.
What struck me most about your posting (apart from the apparent candor with which they talked about their future tactics with you, but then, I suppose it’s no surprise that when the topic is itself indiscretion people tend to become indiscrete) was the implication that the bloc of votes that would decide an election against Kirk (or at some point in the future, against Schock or someone similar) will be driven to vote not by disagreement with his positions on particular issues but by crude passion — and not even passion for something so much as sheerly negative animosity. It’s a sad commentary on the Democrats that in some localities this is the sharpest weapon they can think of wielding, after contributing so much over so many years to the material and other circumstances in which such an animus is maintained and can fester. (For the record, I was once a Democrat — as, so far as I know, all of my relatives still are — but became an Independent after 9/11.) I’ll never forget visiting Chicago some twenty years ago and stopping on the South Side before heading over to the University, and being stunned by the manifest disparity between the two neighborhoods in such close proximity: separate and unequal indeed in a one-party city.
To offset, or even to put into disarray and confusion, the passions of those who have been happy to reside on the Democratic preserve, it would be good to see the Republicans field candidates who are “common-sense conservative” on the issues that matter while also being conspicuously different, in manifold permutations. Imagine to begin with a black lesbian whose politics match Sarah Palin’s, and work back from there …
Turning to the healthcare legislation (right now, in my view it’s the most momentous of the many crucial domestic issues) the latest word is that Reid is aiming for a final vote right before Christmas — if he achieves this it will mean that at least one main point of Burris’ strategy has come to naught. Let’s hope that the Republicans, with Coburn and DeMint in the forefront, can delay the course of things at least into January.
As for how the various factions among the Democrats in the Senate will ultimately vote, there are so many different stories afloat now that it’s anyone’s guess what will happen. (It would be nice to think that Sanders, for his part, and Snowe and Collins, for theirs, are all now firm votes against, but that’s not a bet I’d care to make, either.)
December 18, 2009 at 10:38 am
===
It is exactly what happened with Jack Ryan all over again.
===
Both Ryans are now happily remarried and either have or are expecting new additions to their families. So remind me. What was the scandal that toppled Jack Ryan all about?
For that reason alone, I honestly don’t think the Republicans are going to allow themselves to be manipulated that way again.
Way too soon.
December 18, 2009 at 11:14 am
Dr. Utopia got Jack Ryan’s divorce records unsealed — which was not legal. Utopia used this to sink Ryan’s candidacy because in the records his now ex wife Jerri Ryan, from Star Trek, talked about how Jack tried to make her have sex in public at a Paris sex club called The Cleopatra Lounge.
The GOP immediately dumped Ryan instead of standing behind him. His sex scandal was one involving his own wife, and wanting to have sex with his own wife in public as an exhibitionist.
The GOP was STUPID. Ryan would have won that Senate race…and if so, no one would have ever heard of Dr. Utopia.
December 18, 2009 at 11:48 am
I agree with you!!! I’m not even from Chicago but I couldn’t believe that the GOP dumped this man when he was so popular. That’s where the GOP has got to GROW UP. Everyone has something in their past that isn’t perfect, and if people just say,”Yeah, I did that, SO WHAT?” everyone will move on.
And now we have a Socialist President.
Smart move, GOP!
December 18, 2009 at 8:41 pm
That was indeed stupid.
I feel, however, that Ryan should do the same for Dr. Utopia …. unseal his academic and birth records. It seems only fair.
December 18, 2009 at 10:46 am
If in fact they are gay they should come out. Nothing will change for me. I will still hate Kirk and love Schock.
December 18, 2009 at 11:21 am
I totally read that as “I will still hate Kirk and love Spock.”
December 18, 2009 at 8:40 pm
*LOL* That’s what I read, too.
December 18, 2009 at 10:58 am
” … if only Republicans were smart enough to stop lying to their own voters.”
Yep … that’ll happen just about the time chickens grow lips.
December 18, 2009 at 11:44 am
Ironically, as Dems start to out more gay Republicans, the GOP may finally drop homophobia as an implicit, at least in a great many areas, party plank. That may get the party to where it should be, reducing the size of government and spending, not social issues.
December 18, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I agree.
This is what American’s want! Smaller government, less taxes. Drop the stupid social issues!
Here’s the proof of what Americans want: Rasmussen.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/america_s_best_days
December 18, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Which is why I’m registered Libertarian and not Republican.
December 18, 2009 at 11:57 am
It’s a pity that Durbin has so many years yet before the next election. After watching him over the past two weeks on C-SPAN I consider him among the very worst of the Senators, ahead of Schumer and right up there with Franken and Menendez. Just about every word out of his fat head is a lie or demagoguery, and all spoken while looking directly into the camera!
December 18, 2009 at 11:59 am
Republicans will continue to lose elections unless they start getting playing even dirtier than the democrats.
If they out a republican candidate in their quest to win, republicans need to out 2 of theirs. How about Rahm and his buddy? They need to use pictures, any and all means.
Perhaps if the parties do this enough, being gay won’t matter to anyone anymore.
Sort of like the HRC and Palin constant trashings. Over time, it’s no longer effective.
December 18, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Why so many voters continue to vote against their own real interests just boggles my mind. Why the hell aren’t voters looking at a candidate’s record instead of personal life and personality??? We’re not voting ourselves a sex partner here–we’re voting on who will manage our money and many aspects of our lives. Is this person going to be a good steward of our resources? Is he frugal, conscientious, realistic? Does he, as you Boyz have so perfectly stated it, have a public servant’s heart?
But there is a legitimate concern about candidates who have been reckless and used poor judgment in the past–especially in the recent past. Just how wild has Schock been, and how often, and how dangerously? Are there photos or videos that could be used to blackmail or influence him? (Yes, the same concerns hold true for heteros who have had lively sex lives. I find the Ryan business innocuous, but if he’d been outed as a sex addict, that would be another story.)
Definitely, our candidates need to come out of the closet, matter-of-factly. That pre-empts any attack by the opposition. It’s none of our business but the opposition will always turn it into an issue.
December 18, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Down here in Texas, Houston elected its first openly gay mayor, a lady with a partner of 19 years. The new mayor worked as a comptroller before and apparently knows the business of running a large city.
I think it would be both courageous and practical for these two IL gentlemen to come out–then they call the shots throughout their careers. Best wishes to them if they do.
December 18, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Why does everybody hate Mark Kirk but love Aaron Schock?
December 18, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Cuz Aaron Schock is common-sense conservative. Mark Kirk voted for cap-and-tax. It was a political calculation, not really based on principle. Were his vote based on principle, I could say we just differ. I might not like him. But we’d just differ. But it was the slimey calculation that was so damned . . . well . . . slimey.
December 18, 2009 at 2:35 pm
The issue is not homosexuality. The issue is concealment. People have a right to live private lines in peace. They do not have a right to live public lives in the closet.
Andy Martin
Republican for U. S. Senator
December 18, 2009 at 2:36 pm
How does Schock vote on gay rights? Is he a hypocrite or not? I do not know much about him.
December 18, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Jim DeMint is *watching Hughes* –not exactly a ringing endorsement but if he turns out to be someone who is a potential Tea Party candidate, then DeMint will probably push Hughes’ campaign.
As for the issue of someone’s sexual orientation, you are right: it’s the hypocrisy that’s the problem. Many of us couldn’t care less as long as our candidates are honest.
December 28, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Unlikely Hughes will be aligned with Tea Party since he told another candidate that the Tea Party was a “fringe group” and would proivde less than “5% of the vote.” Besides, he hasn’t any legitimate resume. I think (I hope) DeMint is too smart. Hughes has met him twice and hasn’t come away with an endorsement or $$ and there must be a reason e.g., DeMint isn’t impressed. Neither am I. Lowery is the candidate that can beat the dem in November. Voters need to be taking a closer look – Hughes is a non starter.
December 18, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Okay . . . on a lighter note . . . a good friend of mine (gay, male, and refreshingly vocal when he needs to be) has said this about Jack Ryan, Aaron Schock, and Todd Palin: “If his campaign is in need of a good scandal to get the numbers up, I’m just the man for the job.”
I think the comment stems in part from an episode of The Golden Girls. Blanche. Lackluster politician. Alleged affair. Who remembers THAT episode???? There’ll be a quiz.
December 18, 2009 at 8:38 pm
In my opinion, forcing someone out is never a good idea. Someone’s sexuality is their personal business, “coming out” should always be THEIR choice. No one else’s.
That said … I believe those who attempt to force these gay Republicans out will be surprised at the response from most conservatives. Most of the ones I know will simply say good for him. I don’t know of more than one who would make an issue out of it.
Contrary to liberal beliefs, many conservatives could care less about someone sexuality. There are, of course, exceptions (some are uncomfortable with gay scout masters and gay school teachers …. but these are things which I honestly believe will be worked out once the gold sequined jock strap wearing crowd stops being the “face” of gay Americans), but most of the conservatives I know are perfectly happy leaving someone else’s bedroom door closed.
December 19, 2009 at 7:05 am
You know you guys outside of the cities and the North East people tend to be socially moderate to socially conservative and HATE victim mentality , public displays of sexuality and in your face gay activism
You go socially liberal and you lose most of the suburbuban areas , part of the West Coast , the MidWest , the Mountain States and the South
All this talk of ” dropping ” social issues is bullshit
It should be instead focusing on FEDERALISM and STATE’s rights
If a state is socially liberal go liberal
If a state is socially conservative go conservative
If a state is socially moderate go moderate
If a state is socially libertarian go libertarian
More realistic and makes everybody happy
If you think you can reach people like me you are doomed and in great error
And I’m not even American
But I am a conservative
And I’m sick and tired of the psychotic social liberals and their fantasies
Walk around America for a while
These people don’t hate you
They just want you to shut up , stop painting them all all fundamentalists and leave them the heck alone
That is all they ask
Go to Washington D.C. if you love abortions and gay pride parades but in a conservative place everybody’s sexuality is private and abortions are only when the mother’s life is in danger
December 19, 2009 at 8:01 am
And sorry for the cussing and the mispelling too )=
December 20, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Unfortunately, this is becoming the “standard” for Democrats in Illinois because they, too, are having a tough time recruiting strong Candidates to run for office.
If they had managed to recruit Lisa Madigan as they were hoping to do originally, they wouldn’t be resorting to rumor mongering of this type because she’s strong enough to stand on her own two feet.
December 23, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Schock should not come out. You have to think of the long-term implications. He will never even get to the Senate if he does. He should keep everyone guessing.
All of these posts say “no one cares,” etc but the truth of the matter is that we vote for people with whom we identify. As less than 10% of the population is gay, it does not bode well for any politician in ANY party to be openly gay. (It will be years before the Dems put up a gay man or woman as a candidate in a major election.)
Get real people. And Schock-keep us guessing.
December 28, 2009 at 8:50 am
It is sad that any individual would even ask about Andy Martin in this POST.
Joe Chicago was correct: “Authentic nut job.”
Online Prof, Here’s the Martin you ask about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaxIoQljADw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFnuhaU458Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v13owIBa9w
Now it’s your choice after seeing these.
January 2, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Go Andy Martin!!!
Anytime anyone tries to fight Illinois corruption they are a nut job.
I guess the real nut jobs are blind to corruption.
January 28, 2010 at 2:23 am
Mark Kirk – Count Down to Un-election – Day 7 – Public Sentiment…
Since I've made my feelings know about Mark Kirk, the murderer of foreign civilians - pimp for foreign prostitutes - drug smuggling - big government - disarmed citizens, Illinois candidate for US Senate, perhaps it's time t….
February 15, 2010 at 8:59 pm
I’d love for Aaron to be more open. Partially because I’m on the side of “Outweek” magazine with regards to outing,
and partially because if we met in person, I know we’d hit it off.