E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSSenior Adviser Eric Fehrnstrom responds to Richard Grenell's resignation and also responds to today's jobs report saying it is extraordinarily weak, and that the Obama campaign should change their slogan from "forward" to "backward."
Mitt Romney’s campaign was weathering a minor controversy by week’s end related to the resignation of a foreign policy aide who was gay, forcing the campaign to deny it had caved to fringe social conservatives who’d pressured Romney to fire the aide.
“We wanted him to stay with our team. He's a very accomplished spokesperson, and we select people not based upon their ethnicity or sexual preference or gender, but their capability,” Romney said Friday on Fox News of the aide, Richard Grenell, who stepped down from the Romney campaign on Tuesday.
Grenell was hired to act as Romney's spokesman on foreign policy and was, in fact, a veteran Republican aide, having served as U.N. Ambassador John Bolton's spokesman. He’d also built up a reputation over time for being especially combative with reporters.
But his resignation, announced on Tuesday after just two short weeks with the Romney campaign, has become ensnared by gay rights politics. In a statement Tuesday to the Washington Post, Grenell suggested that his sexual orientation had prompted social conservatives to sructinize the Romney campaign. In order to avoid causing a headache for his employer, Grenell said he had decided to step down, despite never having begun in earnest.
“I want to thank Governor Romney for his belief in me and my abilities and his clear message to me that being openly gay was a non-issue for him and his team,” he told the Post.
There was a degree of dyspepsia from the Family Research Council and Gary Bauer surrounding Grenell’s hiring, but the conservative outrage at the hiring was far from widespread.
Rather, voices on the right and press accounts of Grenell's ouster describe a more mixed set of variables that contributed to his resignation. After receiving blowback associated with Grenell’s combative reputation and controversial tweets on his account (which have since been scrubbed), Grenell was kept under wraps. That period overlapped with a fairly active cycle of foreign policy news, which, reportedly, drove Grenell’s frustration.
Complicating matters was the Romney campaign’s short leash with social conservatives, who have been stubborn in rallying around the presumptive Republican nominee.
“I don't think this has unfolded the way [the Romney campaign] wanted it to unfold. But I also think the initial reaction and initial assumptions people made weren't particularly surprising,” said Liz Mair, a Republican strategist who serves on the board of GOProud, a Republican group that advocates for gay rights.
She suggested that even if the Romney campaign hadn’t parted ways with Grenell because of his sexuality, the haphazard way in which the former Massachusetts governor had previously courted conservatives fed into a storyline that the Romney campaign caved to social conservatives.
“The ‘pander-bear’ narrative is a problem, because it led to people concluding he did something for reasons I don't think he did,” she suggested.
What NOW?!: Richard Grenell, an openly gay spokesman for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, resigned on Tuesday, citing the "hyper-partisan discussion" surrounding his personal life. The NOW panelists discuss.
Moreover, the whole issue has put the Romney campaign on its heels when it comes to gay rights, forcing them to walk a fine line between allaying social conservatives’ concerns and not appearing to be intolerant to the general electorate.
That’s reflective of the evolving public views on same-sex marriage. A March Gallup poll found that a 53 percent of Americans said marriages among same-sex couples deserve recognition – the first time a majority had expressed support for legal gay marriage. (That same poll found that 28 percent of Republicans favor same-sex marriage.)
“Let me say this about Mitt Romney: when it comes to hiring, he strictly looks at the qualifications of the applicants. He does not consider extraneous factors like the race, ethnicity or sexual orientation,” Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom said Friday morning on MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown.”
Fehrnstrom referenced “voices of intolerance” that had come forth during the debate over Grenell, and described his boss, Romney, as someone who’s “confronted” those voices.
Romney has been relatively unambiguous about his support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution intended to define marriage as limited to one man and one woman. And he hasn't shied away from using that to his political advantage.
"On my watch, we fought hard and prevented Massachusetts from becoming the Las Vegas of gay marriage," he said at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in reference to his state supreme court's decision during the Romney governorship allowing same-sex marraiges. "When I am president, I will preserve the Defense of Marriage Act and I will fight for a federal amendment defining marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman."
But in other instances, Romney has sought to be a moderating influence within the GOP.
"Poisonous language does not advance our cause. It has never softened a single heart nor changed a single mind," he said at the Values Voters Summit last fall. (This line was the instance Fehrnstrom had cited as an example of Romney confronting intolerance. However, that remark was directed toward another speaker who had called Romney's Mormon faith a "cult," and wasn't specifically referencing same-sex marriage.)
But well before the Grenell flap emerged, Romney also described himself as an opponent of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
"I am in favor of gay rights, but I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman," he said last summer on CNN. In that same interview, he declined to say whether he thought homosexuality was a sin.
And at the "Meet the Press"/Facebook GOP debate in New Hampshire, Romney made this declaration: "If people are looking for someone who -- who will discriminate against gays or will in any way try and suggest that people -- that have different sexual orientation don’t have full rights in this country, they won’t find that in me."
Leave a Comment:
The words "Gay" and "Rights" coming from a Romney spokesperson just sounds made-up.
They begged him to stay . . . quiet that is.
The guy must of felt like a kid going to a resteraunt with his parents, you can be seen, but not heard.
Even 'the' Dick Cheney got past this one, although he did need some help from his kid.
Tom - Are you homophobic?
Yup, Darth Vader 'Dick' stayed far away from this non-issue.....Rightfully, he chose his daughter Mary over the party!
Doesn't it say much about Romney's character. Throw anyone under the bus just to get what he wants.
What a guy! He hired this fellow knowing all about him, by all accounts he is excellent at his work, but once the extreme right started complaining very loudly, he caved....to bigots. Makes you wonder, if he were President, what he might do to the country when its not convenient.
The fact of the matter is every time Romney is in a situation that calls for leadership, he fails. Some pundits have made the case that Romney is just being a businessman doing what's necessary to close the deal -- like that's reassuring. "They say" management of a campaign is the first test for being POTUS. So we've learned Romney will do anything to win an election...let that sink in...and what kind of presidency this would be.
who gives a f*ck what you think Romney. How about equal rights for all U.S. Citizens?
Obama should hire the guy since Romoney is too chicken to stand up for the rights of this man.
TO: Brianb-999431 who wrote:
Republicans are homophobic, and every other kind of "phobia" as well.
In fact, Republicans can't hardly stand Romney because he's Mormon.
Obama / Biden 2012
Suzq-1497446 -- Except the guy is a misogynistic. And many thought at first that's why he was fired -- for the War on Women that Romney is trying not to be associated with, at least not in view of the general public. I always find it strange when a persecuted group persecutes another group -- Religion, race, etc.
Well that MIGHT have been an acceptable reason for Romney to fire him, but that's NOT why he was fired.
So Suzq still makes a good point - Romney is too chicken@!$%# to stand-up for this guy's rights!
Oh my. Mittens just failed his first litmus test.
Hiring an "unredeemed" gay person. Tsk, tsk.
"In fact, Republicans can't hardly stand Romney because he's Mormon."
Back in the day, some Liberals didn't like JFK because he was Catholic. That didn't stop him from getting elected, did it?
Mitt Romney 2012.
How classy would Romney be if he stood up in front of the conservatives and said" this man is my choice and I don't care what his sexual orientation is , it has nothing to do with his job. It would also be classy to see my GOP candidate on CNN or another channel talking to other media . I don't or won't watch Fox so I never get to see him.
Please Romney ,believe me the conservatives will still stand with you, they need you more than you need them, so tell them to screw themselves and be the man we know you to be, you will be a great President. If you stand up to them otherwise you are a sad puppet ref: of Karl Rove.
Karl Rove wants a muppet that can move an ink pen, nothing more. Romney's his man.
This really shouldn't be a surprise. Wasn't it the republicans that booed the gay US serviceman? I do find it a little disturbing, that a candidate for the President of the United States, would no be able to treat all Americans equally.
Who cares! People quit all the time. If he is gay or black of course the Left is going to claim that it was bias or racial. That is what they do!
claim? anyone who would suggest that this is merely a "claim" of bias due to this guy being gay, is either utterly ignorant of the facts, or deliberately kicking-up dust to obscure the fact that Romney caved to right-wing bullying.
Either way, you have to face the truth - Romney's a wuss (no balls)!
But my guess is the later, Watermoon, since you also try to minimize it's importance by saying:
Watermoon, considering the homophobia that exists in the GOP, you REALLY think its chance that a known gay man would have a @!$%#ing CHANCE working in a GOP campaign?
If you do, you obviously dont get out much.
Watermoon
He was bullied out, by the "family values" crowd! What a bunch of hypocrites!
Mitt Romney...
He was FOR equal rights,
BEFORE he was AGAINST them....
Ten to one ROMNEY has a GAY lover but is afraid how his wife and family would view that.
kuge,
If Romney stood up and said that I just might vote for him, just. If he could talk down the BS crazy people in his party and win the argument then he could control the House if it remains in Republican hands after 2012 and he he were to get elected. That might be something worthwhile in and of itself since we would have more of the same two years if Obama stays and the House stays red.
The Fosz-4254828
Either that, or one of his kids is gay, the odd's are strong, one way or the other! I'm sure the Mormon religion would frown upon that!
Right now the RIGHT wing guy that bullied Romney to kick this guy out, is publicly chastising him for "caving" to his bullying!
Now THAT is sad!
Brianb-999431
Are you the one who just got out on parole for child molestation ?
(...cast an aspersion & get a bigger one back in return...THAT is the RULE you know !)
This just in:
Courts acknowledge equal rights for same-gender sex addicts in existence since the nations founding.
According to LGBT:
(L)esbian: woman who like to rub their reproductive organ against woman
(G)ay: men who like to rub their reproductive organ against men
(B)i-Sexual: people who like to rub their reproductive organ against everything
(T)ransgender: confused
Marriage corruption supporters will not rest until the laws of nature are no longer tied to these truths we hold to be self evident.
"I am in favor of gay rights, but I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman," he said last summer on CNN. In that same interview, he declined to say whether he thought homosexuality was a sin.
A man and a woman and/or a corporation (because corporations are people too). I call my corporation Sheila -- marriage has great tax advantages!!
Randy --
"Marriage corruption supporters will not rest until the laws of nature are no longer tied to these truths we hold to be self evident"
Wanna outlaw divorce as a corruption? How about a drive through marriage officiated by an Elvis impersonator? Adultery laws enforced much? Close Las Vegas (I here there is a lot of marriage "corruption" available there)?
Nature creates people differently. The people you describe in your rant have been with us since at least the last 4000 years if the bible is to be believed. Do you suggest god makes mistakes and keeps on making them --- that doesn't work, does it. Or are these things just a test for the chosen few? After all, god works in mysterious ways doesn't he? He created bigots too.
"We" do not hold the same truths, and the documents that define our country strike against your argument.
RandyEK
Marriage corruptors? Wow, your naivety is staggering. So while Newt was campigning, voting and signing into low the Defense of Marriage Act he was having having an extra marital affair, that is what I call corruption of Marriage. 50% of man/woman marriages ending in divorce, is that what you call non-corruptive?
Please tell me how marriage equality will effect your marriage?
Heterosexuals are doing a fine job on their own destroying the institution of marriage. With a divorce rate of over 50% for first time marriages, to state that homosexuals are the cause of the corruption just shows your ignorance and blind hate about something that has zero impact on your life.
Lol. I love it when people bring up the "laws of nature" like they are some sort of codified set of rules determine what is moral.
John Kennedy was a layman in his church, not a bishop.
Big difference to that ole pesky seperation of church and state thing, and waiting for the day when there is something...anything... in print about how Romney will always put the constitution before his vows to his own faith.
Personally, I'm thinking more and more about Joseph Smith's White Horse Prophecy...
And the blow-j** of an explanation just sounds way to paid for.
This message brought to you by fake-gays for Romney and Christ.
But why didn't Romney send him to Michelle Bachman's husband to cure his gayness?
In other words -- Republicans.
At the very least he and Marcus would have had a fabulous time singing showtunes together!
"Hyper-partisan discussion"? Nice spin. It was your own party cronies, you a-hole. If you want to be mad at someone you don't need to look across the aisle.
ROMNEY like HILTER needs something to hate. Even if it means turning against himself.
So, a liberal, a moderate and a conservative walked into a bar. The bartender said "Hi Mitt!"
Just another thread in the slowly unravelling tapestry that is the Rombot campaign.
Rombot.Has.Nothing.
As written in the article:
“I want to thank Governor Romney for his belief in me and my abilities and his clear message to me that being openly gay was a non-issue for him and his team,” he told the Post.
To all you idiot liberals that want to belabor the point in fantasy land, these were the words spoken by Richard Grenell. This thus ends the controversy as it should be.
But I know you liberals won't be able to help yourself... you'll make things up, you'll lie about it and you'll belabor the imaginary reasons...
All in a days work for the faithful liberals who never cease to lie about conservatives.
BrianB, If Grenell wants to ever be employed by any future Republican campaigns, OF COURSE he has to play the good soldier role. We don't need to make things up. Here's the facts: Romney could have stood up to the Republican right-wing homophobes and stood his ground and told them to back off of their attacks on Grenell. Or he could have insisted to his campaign aides to keep Grenell in the loop, not keep him sitting off in the corner, being told not to speak. He did neither, proving that he does not have the courage of his convictions. How can Romney stand up to Iran or China, when he can't even stand up to his own party members? Another Etch-a-Sketch day in the life of Mitt. He's as shallow as a human can be.
Let's see now where this guy goes. Most folks I know only leave a good job when they have another waiting.....unless they are asked to leave. But that doesn't apply to Richard Grenell because they asked him to stay.
"Sista Solja" (sp?) moments do not come often but when they do the wise make use of them..... And then there is Romney.
If Grennell is the asset he is said to be than any decent person would have put up a fight and provided support...... And then there is Romney.
No lie, Brian. Your guy doesn't have the gumption to support his team, he folds under pressure from the hate mongers that seem to find a home in the Republican party. Deal with it.
It's all such a carefully formulated message, too. I don't support discriminating against gays, but I think marriage should be constitutionally defined to be between a man and a woman. Even the dumbest would be able to easily see through that argument if they could let themselves realize how full of crap they are.
TO: Brianb-999431 who wrote:
Hey, all I can say is the guy is openly gay, he's outta there, and he didn't want to burn his bridges behind him with some kind of "sour grapes" comment against Romney.
You didn't actually read the entire article, did you Brianb?
The Republican Party has ALL the Social Conservatives, and no Gays are Allowed. Period. Republicans have maybe 2 or 3 blacks, but for all intents and purposes the Republican Party is primarily "White Conservatives Only." But you know that.
Obama / Biden 2012
Brianb
Please correct me if I got it wrong. Mr. Romney does not personally discriminate against homosexuals but he has to respect the views of the Evangelicals who have a legitimate belief that Romney would not allow the homosexual community to advance their political objectives because they are homosexual.
To gain the GOP nomination, Romney made deals with the Evangelical wing he is expected to honor.
Lets see! Romney is for gay rights, but don't think the gay people should have the same rights as all non-gay Americans? And Romney is for women's rights to choose and make decisions about their bodies, but against their rights to choose concerning abortions and contraception. Romney would not have ordered the military to go after the terrorist leader" Ohsama Bin Laddin" but now he says even Jimmy Carter would have ordered his execution??? And how was that going to happen if you didn't give the order to go after that terrorist leader and his followers??? Mr. Romney does not personally discriminate against homosexuals, but he has to respect the views of the Evangelicals who have a legitimate belief that Romney would not allow the homosexual community to advance their political objectives because they are homosexual??? I think that the argument between liberals and the right wing has clouded some of you people visions and decision making powers. I am an independent, and this man "Mitt(the flip/flop" Romney is scary, disturbing and confusing. If elected this man Mitt (the flip/flop) Romney will not be in command as the President of The United States, but a puppet to any and all Super-PACs, political groups he pledge to , his generals will control the war efforts, so look forward to more wars, if the T-Republicans still control congress, then they will make all policy decisions and he will just have to sign what ever they, the congress, sends him. And Mitt (the flip/flop) Romney want care because he will be to busy selling America to foreign investors like he did to many firms and corporation while working for the Bains Corp, as a buzzard/vulture capitalist. So what is old flip/flop Romney's hidden agenda? He will probably be one of the richest people in the world thinks to the re-investment of his 227 millions dollars of tax free capital gains money into all of the many inside trading deals he will workout with his other super rich buzzard/vulture capitalist friends supporting his election. I think you right wing, and liberals better all wake-up and smell the coffee, put aside your hate for each other long enough to realize what will happen if the man gets elected, the United States will be the next Russia, broken-up and sold to the highest bidder and reorganized as a global diversified market place owned by the most richest people in the world. China is next if it happens here like Russia, and what is happening in Europe and Asia. And the rich 1% political leaders that are trying to take control of this country right now want do anything to stop it because the wealthy want be hurt under either government control, or vulture capitalist take over.
"""YOU BUNCH OF DUMB ASS RIGHT-WING AND LIBERAL PILGRIM FOOLS"""WAR FIGHTER OUT"""HOOAHhhhhhhhhhhhhh"'''''''''''''''''''''
Brian, You make a good point. It was his decision to resign and the Romney campaign specifically said they were sorry to see him leave. This does not sound like the firing that the liberals have decided to call this.
In your mind it the flip-flops of Romney are non-existent. In fact he has been on every side of every issue. His stance changes with the direction of the wind.
He has shown repeatedly that he will say anything to please whomever he is speaking to. He is an empty suit, he has no values, no morals, no substance. In short he is a Republican.
"johndevine" that was very well put ! ! !
Brian-- It may have been "a non-issue for him and his team" (doubtful in my view) but it certainly isn't for his supporters, and he knows this.
Do you know how I can tell? Because he is an "extremely conservative" candidate, and as such, having gay people as part of his campaign does not reflect this nonsensical religious position against gays. It's easy to be homophobic until you have a gay family member. I think Cheney chose correctly on this one point.
BTW -- where is this "fantasy land" I keep reading about? I'm liberal and I don't know where it is, but you appear to. Is it a place to go and "belabor"?
Yeah, right Brian...but unfortunately for you, you haven't heard the last of Mitt's lack of character. Seems there are stories daily about that...way too many for even you to try and spin.
It appears that Mr. Fisher, head of the conservative American Family Association group that originally spearheaded the campaign to get Mr. Grenell out, had a followup about that and Mitt's handling (or lack thereof) of the issue.
Specifically, Mr. Fisher likened it to one of Romney's patented "etch-a-sketch" moments wondering that if Mitt is so easily pushed around, intimidated, coerced and co-opted" by a "conservative radio talk show host" and a "yokel", as he described himself, then how would he "stand up to the Chinese, Putin, North Korea" and noted the "doubts this begins to raise about his leadership".
WHAT leadership??? He reminds me of an old political cartoon that used to play back a decade or so ago...a caricature of the politicians head was on a stick and it was constantly being turned back and forth depending on which way the wind was blowing. Every time Romney flip-flops on an issue, for some reason (?), I remember that commercial. "Wishy-washy"? You betcha...
Granted, a person's sexuality may not be a stumbling block to getting onto Romney's staff...but staying there seems to be a different matter all together. Mitt doesn't have as much support from the evangelical right wingers as he'd like as they're still a bit leery about his Mormonism. So, when a portion of that group grumbles about the homosexuality of one of his staff members and demands that Romney let him go, what does Mitt do? He sticks his head in the nearest sand dune he can find and let's others on his staff do the dirty deed and then offers a "gee whiz" moment about Grenell's leaving, caving to the evangelicals.
It's a wonder that Mitt can even stand up with his obvious lack of any backbone or spine.
Tip for you Mitt...you can never be all things to all people all the time.
Gee Brian...would that be akin to your declaration that Romney never said anything about he wanted to see 500,000 jobs per month growth? Did you find that video on Fox News (try Fox and Friends) yet that makes an abject mockery out of your assertion?
So...who's lying now, Brian?
War on gays! War on women! War on unions! War on Hispanics! War on Iran(as soon as elected- like Iraq and "W"! War on the poor! War on senior citizens! Romoney intends to throw all of the above under the bus because the RWNJ's commands him too!
Mitt Romney is nothing but a DORK.... Republicans better face up to it and start asking themselves one simple question... Why does this twit want to be President?... because he sure isn't communicating why he wants to be and it sure isn't adding up to love for his country when the prick is sheltering Millions in off-shore Swiss and Caymen Island bank accounts.
Can I add "spineless" to that. This is how the "moderate" economic GOP behaves. They do nothing to reign in the social conservatives. Mitch hasn't done it in Indiana, Scott didn't do it in Florida, W. Bush didn't either. Moderates cannot be trusted when they have such an etch-a-sketch history. If Romeny won't stand up for his own - imagine his attitude to the "common" people he doesn't know.
Given the little peek we got into Willard's foreign bank accounts, requesting to see more years tax returns to confirm or deny patterns is legitimate.
His refusal to release prior years (except to the GOP National Committee) raises the suspicion there is something we are not supposed to see.
IT DOESN'T END @!$%# this is a canidate who is still against gay/lesbian marriage NO gay or lesbian person should support this intollerant biggot of an idiot. We should have the same rights as anyone else. To say that marriage should be between a man and a woman is a religious comment not a political one, and anyone who states it should be law is advocating religious based law which will only lead us down the path to Iran. And just because he said it doesn't make it true, hell he shouldn't have worked for Rommney in the first place I don't see how any gay or lesbian person can possibly support the republican party in anyway shape or form right now. Can someone please explain why someone would support a party who doesn't think we should have the same rights as anyone else?
Just like he told his dog that he would: enjoy the ride who was tied down on top of his SUV,you can trust Romney of course! I bet all gay people trust Mitt no doubt,I mean he never lies or flip flops! Right? Just like big tax breaks for the 1% will trickle down to the Middle Class.Yeah I believe that!
And Brian at least we liberals do not want to deny rights to any other group of people. Until the republicans are willing to say that yes you can get married I am not going to listen to a single word out of the mouth of a single republican. To me social issues are more important than any other social equality and rights are necessary for our society to move forward the conservatives want to keep our society in the past and that is unacceptable.
Mitt Romney: I never told any lie that I didn't believe in! Get it!
It's all in the "magic" underwear! Anything can happen when you wear the "magic" underwear! Trust me!
Being gay is not a sexual "preference." Preference is "I'd prefer corn, but peas would be okay." Preference is "I prefer baseball, but I'll be glad to use your football tickets." Being gay is who and what you are. You were born that way.
Religion is a preference. Race is an innate characteristic. Homophobia is a behavioral choice. Being gay is who and what you were born to be.
While I basically agree with your sentiment I think a lot of people at least feel they don't have any choice over their religion. I was able to leave Catholicism but my parents didn't make me feel like their love for me depended on me going to church every week and taking part in all the sacraments and all that. Not everyone can say the same. Religion can be almost as inescapable as race or gender identity for some cultures and folks.
Mike G, people DO have a choice with religion. If they don't like it or are uncomfortable with it, all they have to do is walk away from it. Trust me, I did it.
So did I. It was easy. I never regretted it. I walked away from organized Catholic religion, but my mother was a devout Catholic until the day she died. Neither one of us suffered because of our beliefs, nor did it affect our relationship. In my family, there are two subjects that never come up for discussion - religion, and personal finances.
But, but, what about Michelle Bachman's husband curing that gay problem you might have? Why didn't Romney send him to them?
Romney has no courage of his convictions, because he has no convictions. Another Etch-a-Sketch, flip-flopping day in the life of Romney. And we're supposed to believe that he can stand up to Iran or China, when he can't even stand up to his own party members?
What Brian no witty come back? That's right you CAN'T defend the sort of bigotry the republican party is guilty of when it comes to marriage equality their position is morally wrong on so many levels that there is NO defense that does not rely on tradition or religion, and thus you cannot make any arguments that are based on logic because the repukes cannot think logically about anything they have no morals no ethics outside of what their hate filled preachers tell them. I dare you and any other conservative to say something to defend the idiot Romney on gay/lesbian issues he can say what ever he likes but until he embraces marriage equality those of us in the gay lesbian and transgender community know his words are hollow and meaningless. Though I really would like to hear from the idiot who held the position how any gay or lesbian person can betray the entire community and work with those who want to deny us equal rights is just wrong. It's like a Jew working for the nazis as far as I am concerned.
Tiffany1,
It is not only gay issues, they have consistantly fought against the equality of anyone who is not a White Christian. They are quite outspoken about who is a "Real American", and that certainly doesn't include Hispanics or blacks or gays or Jews.
They try not to speak about it openly, but if they think you are "one of them" they will express their true feelings. That America is a Christian country that should not include blacks, Puerto Ricans, Jews or anyone else who doesn't exactly fit their idea of the "Real American.
Mitt merely bowed to pressure from the religious right. If tomorrow they come out with an olive branch on this issue he will change his postion again.
Boggles the mind....thinking if he were President, and we had four years of this on a national (and international) level; flipping and bowing to other extremist groups. Scary to me.
EXACTLY RELIGIOUS bold the religious part that word should NEVER enter a political discussion. Politicians who use religion as a basis to make a point are idiotic. I do NOT want any religion involved with political decision making.
I love things like this because they demonstrate that social conservatism is ridiculous nonsense not fit for a preschool sandbox. I mean, I know that's what I believe, and how I feel, but seeing this kind of garbage really is an affirmation of my values. It's the 21st century. Let's stop gasping and crying about homosexual relationships at some point, OK?
Being a Right Wing "Gay" Republican is kind of like being a "Jewish Nazi". It just doesn't quite seem to fit. Unless you're comparing this scum-bag "Grenell" to the jews who worked for the Nazi's in the death camps, then it perfectly fits.......
Obama/Biden - 2012
Dude, gotta kind of blow you out of the water here. ALL of the Jews in the death camps (who were not immediately gassed) were forced to work. Those who refused to do something terrible like dispose of the bodies of their murdered families were just shot or put in the gas chamber as well. This is the problem with comparing other things to the holocaust: nothing else can compare to it. Calling Republicans or Democrats "Nazis" is really not legitimate at all. Have to object.
Calling Republicans or Democrats "Nazis" is really not legitimate at all. Have to object.
Mike read my post: I didn't compare repubs to Nazis, I said that Being a Right Wing "Gay" Republican is kind of like being a "Jewish Nazi". It just doesn't quite seem to fit.
I see your point, but it seemed from your comment that you were comparing the Republicans' persecution of the gays to the Nazis' persecution of the Jews. And I think that's a little irresponsible.
Well, the way I see it, the Republicans are using a lot of the Nazi tactics. Like demonizing unions so there is no organized resistance, repeating lies till they become truth, and controlling the media. Just look at the thinly veiled Internet security bill that passed the house which basically censers the internet, dividing the country and blaming others, using fear and hate to sell guns and ammo, and a hole lot more. It's starting to add up.
I
If you have been around long enough you will certainly recognise this essential part of the Republican playbook. One of the most dedicated adherents to the beliefs of Goebbels is Karl Rove. He has consistently employed the tactics of Goebbels for many years. These tactics work well on conservatives, because, although not all conservatives are stupid, most stupid people are conservative.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" may no longer be the policy of the U.S. Armed Services but it is the policy of the Republican Party. Unless you're working for someone like Rick Santorum, you can be openly gay and work on the staff of a Republican politician - just don't be so open that the constituents find out. You also can't be enough of a "radical" to expect the same rights as every other American.
I'm disgusted with the Republicans who say they support gay rights (or, at least, their own definition of gay rights) but don't really do anything about it. Laura Bush has declared her support for gay rights - after leaving the White House. Dick "don't call my daughter a lesbian" Cheney has put some distance between himself and the extreme homophobes in the GOP (gay oppressing party) - after taking part in two presidential campaigns which vilified gays. Oh, and who was the mastermind of those campaigns? Ken Mehlman, who came out of the closet - after serving as Chairman of the GOP.
I know the GOP's anti-gay stance is intended to appeal to religious conservatives but don't they realize just how many voters they stand to lose? Not just gay voters but the families and friends of gays. As Chris Rock says: "everyone has at least one gay cousin". How long do they expect people will vote against the rights of their own friends and family?
Conservatism destroys cultures and society's more than any other force in the world. EVERY society must change and adapt at some point. Traditions are the chains binding us to the past and preventing us from moving on into the future. Tradition can be useful but over all conservatism and tradition have very limited value over all.
Liberals believe that everyone should be able to do pretty much anything they want to do as long as no one gets hurt.
Conservatives seek to retain their traditional social, political, economic and religious beliefs and impose them on other people.
You're right, Tiffany. Conserv's seem to want to lead us back to the 1860's; a divide nation, and an even larger separation between income classes. Along with imposing their ideas upon the land. Divide and move on. Sad.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Traditions that celebrate events in history that demonstrate the superior human virtues overcoming crises too big to even imangine, that should still occur. Tradtion reminds us who we are, where we come from, what we are capable of doing for the human species.
Traditions that celebrate killing others, destruction of people and environments, yes those traditions must be replaced.
If by some terrible twist of fate Mitt were to become president I have a very bad feeling that he will be the president for conservatives and nobody else. We're stuck with a tea party governor here in Florida and he consistently screws over everybody but the tea party in this state. Oh, and big business. They get tax breaks while the rest of us get program cuts. Great guy. We should expect the same from a Romney presidency.
A Mittens presidency makes me twitch and my palms sweat too. But on the other hand... When you think of everything that he's been saying for the last year...and all his 'promise's' in the next six months...only maybe 50% of them will happen. I mean, he's a flipper, everyone knows that.
Gov. John Huntsman got it right when referring to Romney as a
The Mormon Church, Willard Romney and the GOP stand in the way of civil right battle of our time.
There is no place for homosexuality under the Romney America.
Romney says he's a very accomplished spokesperson. Then WHY mittens wouldn't you let him speak?????????????
Grenell was hired to act as Romney's spokesman on foreign policy and was, in fact, a veteran Republican aide, having served as U.N. Ambassador John Bolton's spokesman. He’d also built up a reputation over time for being especially combative with reporters.
Gay or not, the guy sounds like a grade A schmuck. Bolton was nothing but a bully and has no real accomplishments that I know of.
Bottom line; Romney is unacceptable to anyone but Mormons.
It's really interesting to see how the Romney campaign contorts itself over this issue. Notice one thing though, Mitt is not even around doing this. What a leader he would be. He can't personally stand up to social conservatives over a foreign policy expert he so desparately needs. How would he ever stand up to another country over some issue? He's not an etch-a-sketch but rather a bowl of warm milk.
You sir are a jello head! Thank god YOU will never be in charge of anything!
Wow Joe, so short, right to the point. Too bad it's all you got.