Comments on: CPAC’s Gay Porn Star Honoree Matt Sanchez

By: Cezar

Cezar — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:55:54 +0000

Somehow I think Jeanne Kirpatrick would find all this highly amusing . . .

By: Keasler

Keasler — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 06:06:56 +0000

Isn't it the contention of the conservative christians that one can switch ones sexual orientation as easily as making a choice between paper or plastic? Maybe the selection committee just assumed that Sanchez was gay on film but had "straightened out" when in went into the Marines.
This would solve that whole DADT silliness. The troops could come out on liberty on Friday night and be hetero as Mark Foley on Monday morning.

By: Pug

Pug — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:39:17 +0000

Would the Ted Haggard or Mark Foley scandals been as big had they not been gay?

Kind of have to disagree with this one, James. If Foley had been pursuing young female pages it still would have been huge. Haggard maybe not so much, but it would still have been a scandal if it was a female prostitute furnishing him with drugs and other favors, for a fee, of course.

Can Ann Coulter now say there are "faggots" she admires?

By: McGehee

McGehee — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 02:20:23 +0000

Why are you even reporting on this if you don’t know if it is true or not???

To give the gallery a chance to opine, of course. Getting out in front of the facts in any story is what we commenters are for.

By: Sean Hackbarth

Sean Hackbarth — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 01:33:34 +0000

Can Ann Coulter call Sanchez a "f*ggot?" Can Sanchez then proceed to pop Coulter in the mouth?

By: Christopher

Christopher — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:09:58 +0000

James,

Why are you even reporting on this if you don't know if it is true or not??? THAT seems very irresponsible. If Marine Reserve Corporal Matt Sanchez is NOT gay and was NOT in porn, it is reckless of you to print this story.

By: carpeicthus

carpeicthus — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 23:08:13 +0000

They really should just have the Gay Porn Star of the Year Award. It would make the convention a lot more festive.

By: NoZe

NoZe — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 22:57:56 +0000

Maybe Ann Coulter can present the award?

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 21:37:28 +0000

So here’s the question, whatever he did to deserve this award in the first place, is it stripped of it’s meaning because he is gay? or a former porn star?

Well, sure. Part of the point of an organization presenting an award is to confer its bonafides on the individual and, conversely, to say "these are the kind of people we are."

Further, symbolism matters. The fact that Sanchez is a Marine and Iraq War vet added substantial credibility to his stance. The he is someone who, had the facts been known, wouldn't have been allowed into the Marine Corps changes that message. (Although it adds yet more fuel to that particular fire.)

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 21:14:30 +0000

Indeed, Michelle Malkin, a major Sanchez booster, observes, Should CPAC organizers be embarrassed if the rumors about his alleged porn star past are true? Well, yes. Next time, they should do more extensive background research before handing out an honor with Jeane Kirkpatricks name on it.

I'm not sure what the award was honoring, but I'm willing to bet it wasn't the "Best non-gay non-porn star" award. So here's the question, whatever he did to deserve this award in the first place, is it stripped of it's meaning because he is gay? or a former porn star?

By: Stormy Dragon

Stormy Dragon — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:28:27 +0000

Okay, it's clear that Coulter's remarks a few days ago were out of bounds, but isn't this overcompensating a bit? ;>

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 19:53:27 +0000

Would the same sentiment be expressed if he was just a porn star (i.e. with females) and a gigolo?

Doubtful. Would the Ted Haggard or Mark Foley scandals been as big had they not been gay? No, of course not.

By: Patrick McGuire

Patrick McGuire — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 19:45:22 +0000

What does it say that the whole focus of this is about a homosexual being honored at CPAC as opposed to the fact that he was a porn star and male prostitute? Would the same sentiment be expressed if he was just a porn star (i.e. with females) and a gigolo? Why the hell is this being couched in "gay" terms?

By: Don Surber » Blog Archive » The hate that dares not speak its name

Don Surber » Blog Archive » The hate that dares not speak its name — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 19:10:02 +0000

[...] UPDATE: James Joyner at Outside the Beltway disagrees with me: “surely, Blumenthal is right that there is a faction of the conservative movement that ‘exploits anti-gay sentiment for political gain.’ It’s not unreasonable to point that out.” [...]

By: Polimom Says

Polimom Says — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

s life was not lived by the Wholesome Family Values Creed, one should not be permitted to rise above that. We’ll let you work for our side (the thinking seems to be), but you’ll always be just a bit dirty. Even those conservatives who are not inclined toward judgmentalism, though, can see that CPAC, and the conservative movement, has fairly earned the label “hypocrites”. It’s obvious that social conservatives have branded them homophobic…. and it’s their own fault. That