Log Cabin has a nifty TV ad reminding primary voters that Mitt Romney, a social-issues liberal when running for office in Massachusetts, has turned on a dime as he panders to the GOP's socially conservative base. I think this is appropriate, since Romney is now the most vocally anti-gay GOP candidate in the race, relentlessly beating the anti-gay marriage, traditional "family values" drum.
And by the way, this ad is very different from the leftwing YouTube attack on Rudy Giuliani, which used anti-gay stereotypes to gin up opposition to Giuliani's pro-gay record. The key distinction: Giuliani is the GOP candidate who is pushing the envelope, relatively speaking, toward gay inclusion within his party. The gay lefty YouTube activists want the GOP to nominate the most homophobic candidate; Log Cabin is hoping the party will nominate the least.
14 Comments for “Romney: In His Own Words”
posted by Brian Miller on
Giuliani is the GOP candidate who is pushing the envelope, relatively speaking, toward gay inclusion within his party
You Republicans have such low standards, and such double-standards. If it was bad for gay people to challenge Giuliani, and leverage homophobia to deny him the nomination, why is it good for (Republican) gay people to challenge Romney and leverage homophobia to deny him the nomination?
Both are mendacious, homophobic, change-with-the-wind unethical political hacks. Neither is fit to be president. Why the double standard over which “deserves” to be attacked by organized gay groups?
posted by Bobby on
They are not homophobic, Brian. Giuliani has gay friends, he even stayed with a gay couple during one of his divorces, and everyone knew that.
But of course, to some contemporary gays a homophobe isn’t a gay basher who has a rabid hatred and fear of homosexuals.
Oh no, now anyone can be a homophobe. It’s so easy.
Voted against same sex marriage? Homophobe.
Don’t want kids reading “Heather has two mommies” in a public library? Homophobe.
Don’t feel comfortable with two men kissing? Homophobe.
Don’t voted for some transexual legislation? Homophobe.
Fucking great guys, now anyone can be a homophobe. Yeah, let’s go ahead and attack the people that might like us, might agree with some of our issues, but don’t agree with the entire agenda completely. Brilliant PR!
posted by Lori Heine on
I’m not too concerned with what any of the candidates feel in their heart-of-hearts about gays. I’m not interested in trying to peer into the depths of their souls and determine whether they really, really like us.
I just want to know how they vote, and what they’re willing to stand up for. Romney is a total windsock on just about every issue. Giuliani may have gay friends, but the shameless way he plays the “hero of 9-11” card is a pretty good sign he hasn’t any scruples politically. He wasn’t even a real hero on 9-11. For all his grandstanding, how many lives did he save?
I think we need to face the fact that the current crop of presidential wannabees are pretty embarrassing.
posted by Dale on
Bobby wrote:
“Voted against same sex marriage? Homophobe.
Don’t want kids reading “Heather has two mommies” in a public library? Homophobe.
Don’t feel comfortable with two men kissing? Homophobe.
Don’t voted for some transexual legislation? Homophobe.”
Duh! Well, yes, Bobby, those are examples of what one calls homophobia, except for the transsexual part, which is not only transgender phobia, but grammatically incorrect as well. It doesn’t seem to take a rocket scientest, nor a left wing liberal, to understand that…unless, of course, one has internalized homophobia himself to the extent that he’s just a bit of a gay Stepinfetchit.
Dale
posted by Jorge on
Thought I posted a comment earlier but it didn’t go up.
The difference between Romney and Giuliani when it comes to changing with the wind on gays is that Romney is a class-A hypocrite and Giuliani is still just an ordinary politician.
I definitely would not say Giuliani is pushing the envelope toward gay inclusion in the Republican party. That was already done eight years ago by Bush, McCain, and Dole when they were running for president. I do credit Giuliani for pushing the envelope as mayor. The questions Giuliani poses this year is whether and how much Republicans want to scale back this progress, and whether it is more important to elect an effective commander-in-chief or a social conservative chief executive.
posted by Lori Heine on
“The questions Giuliani poses this year is whether and how much Republicans want to scale back this progress, and whether it is more important to elect an effective commander-in-chief or a social conservative chief executive.”
That all depends on whether the religious-whacko faction still controls the Republican Party. Some say it does, others claim that their influence is waning. I tend to believe the latter, if only because of the sheer obnoxiousness and tiresomeness of the whackos.
Here in Red State Arizona, I know far more Republicans — even conservative ones — than I do Democrats. Most of these people are devout Christians. And I can’t name a single one of them who isn’t sick to death of the influence the extreme Religious Right has had on Republican politics.
Maybe Giuliani will stand up tall and buck the whackos. I suppose it all depends on whether or not he chooses to believe the “conventional wisdom” that says they’re totally in control.
posted by Eva Young on
The real story is that Romney paid off the theocrat organizations in his state – both the Massachusettes “pro-life” group, and the Mass Family Institute.
http://massresistance.org/romney/
http://massresistance.org/romney/articles/NYTimes_031107.html
In Romney
posted by Mark on
Lovely language from the Dan White knockoff named Bobby.
posted by Bobby on
Who the hell is Dan White?
“Well, yes, Bobby, those are examples of what one calls homophobia,”
—Really? So to you a gay basher and someone who disagrees with same-sex marriage is the same thing. How do you leave the house everyday? You must be seeing homophobes all over the place. Would it make it easier if they had to wear a scarlet H? I reserve the term “homophobe” for real homophobes. I guess from your standard, anyone who doesn’t support partial-birth abortion is anti-woman and anyone who doesn’t support affirmative action is a member of the KKK. Wake me up when you’re ready to get out of your gay getto and deal with the rest of America.
“except for the transsexual part, which is not only transgender phobia, but grammatically incorrect as well.”
—I think you mean transphobia. Of course, since you say that transexuals are part of the gay community, perhaps we should call it homotransphobia? I mean, since we have to include everyone, we can’t use an exclusive term like homophobia. What about heterophobia? I know. Heterohomotransphobia. Yeah, let’s include everyone, oh what fun is that.
“one has internalized homophobia himself to the extent that he’s just a bit of a gay Stepinfetchit.”
—Bullshit, just because I don’t kiss the collective ass of our so-called “gay” community doesn’t mean I have internalized homophobia. If gay pride means wearing next to nothing on a gay pride parade, if it means supporting same-sex marriage as if it was the most important thing in the world, or if I’m supposed to cry about those poor queers who get arrested for having sex in public places, then no, I will not have any of your definition of gay pride.
I saw enough of Queer As Folk to realize I don’t have to be like those men that resolve every issue by fucking somebody. Including that disgusting scene where Justin throws a used condom into the poster of a homophobic politician. Gay pride indeed.
The real gay world does not have such caricatures, even if people like you need those caricatures so you can feel better than everyone else.
Internalized homophobia? Bullshit. Read “After the ball,” read anything by Michelangelo Signorile, and let’s see how much gay pride you have left.
posted by Dale on
So Bobby doesn’t know who Dan White was, eh? Hmmmm…that would seem say volumes about who Bobby is. And it’s pretty consistent with his naive, but ever-so-angry mind set.
Well,Bobby, Dan White was a young, naive, ever-so-angry assassin, someone with the extreme form of homophobia that you can recognize. But homophobia doesn’t require violence. People who would deny gay people the same civil rights that straight Americans hold are homophobic. You see, I don’t want any special rights. I just want the same rights as straight people. And if it takes laws or court rulings to guarantee me those same rights, then so be it.
If you want to learn more about Dan White, Bobby, try Googling his name. And if you want to learn more about life after you learn more about Dan White, try taking the cotton out of your ears and putting it in your mouth, and open your mind to the possibility that every time you point your finger to criticize other gay people, you have three more fingers pointing back at yourself.
posted by ColoradoPatriot on
bobby: “Who the hell is Dan White?”
Yikes…and good old bobby is what passes for an “informed” gay conservative. Things just get murkier and murkier here at the Republican Gay Forum…hehe.
posted by Bobby on
“So Bobby doesn’t know who Dan White was, eh? Hmmmm…that would seem say volumes about who Bobby is.”
–Do you know who Pim Fortuyn is? You don’t? Gee, it says volumes about who you are. So, you want to keep playing trivial pursuit or discuss the issues?
“Well,Bobby, Dan White was a young, naive, ever-so-angry assassin, someone with the extreme form of homophobia that you can recognize.”
—So what? People kill people, it’s been going on forever. Dan White is the exception, not the rule. And for the record, I did see the movie about the killing of Harvey Milk. But I’m not a walking encyclopedia like you. I have other things to remember than the 70s.
“People who would deny gay people the same civil rights that straight Americans hold are homophobic.”
—Then you better move to Canada or another country with activist judges, because this is America and many, many people are not gonna give you everything you want.
“And if it takes laws or court rulings to guarantee me those same rights, then so be it.”
—-Go ahead, then the people will elect new judges, new legislators and pass new laws. That’s why in Massachussetts the liberals don’t want the people to have a vote on gay marriage. They know there’s a chance they might lose.
“that every time you point your finger to criticize other gay people, you have three more fingers pointing back at yourself.”
—There’s no gay loyalty, I’ve been betrayed by gays many times. In fact, I don’t give a shit about gay people as a whole, I only value the individual, not the community, not the group.
Inspite of this, I would never criticize gays unfairly, but if I see a bunch of queers doing something wrong, I will point my finger and say “that is wrong.” That is why people who know me know I have integrity.
When are you people gonna understand that politics requires small calculated steps? You people are almost trying to fuck the country without a condom, without lubrication, just ramming it in in at once.
posted by crankyd on
Geez, sounds like you need to beat off, judging from that final sentence.
And, yeah…i think most of the people here probably know who Pim Fortuyn is.
As for the 70’s comment…right, who needs to know anything about ANCIENT history?
So typical.
posted by ETJB on
“I saw enough of Queer As Folk to realize…”
Boy, this is a person who has some serious emotional problems, not the least of which is confusing a soap opera tv show with reality.