Joe McCarthy and Roy Cohn
Mike Rogers reports on closeted Gay politicians whose actions harm the LGBT community. He had reported for years about Ken Mehlman and he was out front awarding him the "Roy Cohn" Award even before the article in the Atlantic was on the news stands.
Mehlman was one of the chief strategists for the 2004 re-election campaign of George W. Bush. It was the most homophobic campaign in history. Any gay person who was half awake during that campaign knew Ken Mehlman was gay.
Mike Rogers points out that there were three people making the decisions about the campaign. Karl Rove, George W. Bush and Ken Mehlman (RNC Chair).
George W. Bush:
1. Threatened to veto ENDA and any Hate Crimes Bill;
2. Strongly supported the movement for the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution;
3. Orchestrated Marriage Amendments to State Constitutions, which succeed in eleven states (including Oregon).
"While teens were being told, 'Gay is bad' and are given permission to Gay Bash - our rights were being stripped away state by state." -- Mike Rogers
So now Ken Mehlman is just filled with angst for his past - "I can't change my past."
As one blogger wrote, "Come on dude, you have got to at least acknowledge that you actually hurt people. The rage against you isn't about how hard it was FOR YOU".
So he came out - good for him. He supports marriage equality - good.
The irony is that he is now to the left of President Barack Obama. Maybe you two should talk.
*note: Roy Cohn was the Chief Counsel for Joseph McCarthy during the red baiting hearings and he was a particularly vile anti-Semite and homophobe. He died in 1986 from complications due to AIDS.
Posts
2 comments:
Great article. I did not know about Roy Cohn and it certainly seems appropriate that Ken Mehlman receive this award. I hope that Glenn Beck isn't gay too, that would break my heart. Internalize homophobia seems to rot a person and make them mean.I don't embrace these people when they finally come out.
I think as these people come out it is important to look at the damage the closet has done to the individuals themselves and the damage they have done to the LGBT community. I suggest the documentary "Outrage" which documents (and names names) and addresses these issues.
Politically, it is interesting. I think the Religious right is losing its stranglehold on the Republican Party. But these are only individual Republicans at this point. The Party has not changed its position. However, as the Democratic party has done nothing but take our money people are disgusted with both parties which depresses the vote which affects the Democrats. If they continue acting like LGBT community is an embarrassment to them. A lot of us will consider staying home on election day. And that is a problem for the Democrats
Post a Comment