Comments on: Gay Republican Outed, Resigns

By: D Cyanide

D Cyanide — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 15:17:35 +0000

This is the second time I had to post. Guess freedom of speech doesn't exist here. Guess it is the Republican way "Freedom of speech, as long as we agree"

By: dean

dean — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 09:01:32 +0000

I don't live in VA, but it seems to me that Schrock is a political figure who chose to make anti-gay positions a political policy with impacts on people throughout the country. Outing him is political news and important because it directly calls into question his motivations on public policy.. just like taking a bribe or ownership in a company would. Are you saying if Mrs. Bush had a secret abortion and W wants to make it illegal in all cases it wouldn't be news worthy? This is different than Clinton's private life. He wasn't trying to change the Constitution to ban cigars.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 16:17:59 +0000

dc,

If that is indeed him on the tape, he has zero chance of re-election in Virginia. Maybe in Barney Frank's district but not in the South.

By: dc

dc — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 16:12:08 +0000

The exposure of Ed Shrock as a secret homosexual must be tough for his wife and chldren. Keeping this kind of secret was the wrong choice to make. His choice to quit the race and give up his office is another wrong choice. His personal life does not necesarrily have to impact his public life. This is something he should have let the people of Virginia decide. Clinton proved that personal weaknesses can be forgiven by the public. It helped, of course, that Clinton besides being a weak man was a strong president.

By: carpeicthus

carpeicthus — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 13:55:58 +0000

D.M.:

Your logic does not come close to my Earth-logic. Even if that's what James had been saying, the extension is that heterosexuals must support heterosexual marriage, which is not mutually exclusive.

By: Kathy K

Kathy K — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 13:36:56 +0000

I have to agree with Attila Girl on that one.

But if he's running on family values and committing adultery, that is hypocritical (no matter who he commits adultery with).

By: Attila Girl

Attila Girl — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 05:11:13 +0000

On the surface, you are correct. However, it's not necessarily hypocrisy unless he was secretly asking men to marry him.

We should all have the freedom to espouse the values we believe in--even when we may not be able to live up to them perfectly.

Of course, the libertarian in me is delighted that we may finally have to recognize how widespread homosexuality is--and make some sort of allowance for it, whether that means marriage or something else. Neither Democrats nor Republicans should have to lead double lives.

By: Who Can Really Say?

Who Can Really Say? — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 02:08:04 +0000

Hoist, Meet Petard
Too busy, too rushed, but read this. VA has it's own McGreevey....

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 01:29:12 +0000

The Virginian-Pilot story linked by Drudge (and on my blog) has more details of how the whole situation evolved over the past 2 weeks.

By: Bithead

Bithead — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 01:26:35 +0000

Does seem a bit strange, though...
IN the case of Bubba Clinton, Democrats were complaining that his personal life was exactly that, and shouldn't enter into any discussion on fitness for office. Yet yet in a case like this, those judhgements are given the heave ho.

As I say... strange how that works

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 01:19:38 +0000

Just that, if you're an active but closeted homosexual and working against a cause that a lot of homosexuals find self-defining, it's not surprising if they "out" you.

It is rather hypocritical to run as a family values Republican while leading a sleazy secondary existence, however.

By: Jeff Harrell

Jeff Harrell — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 01:08:15 +0000

I wonder how long it's going to take folks like Markos to wrap their heads around the idea that people can enjoy having sex with other people of the same gender and still be opposed to the changing the definition of marriage.

These folks will probably use the term "hypocrite." Which just shows that they don't get it.

By: Backcountry Conservative

Backcountry Conservative — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 00:57:58 +0000

GOP Congressman Steps Down Amid Allegations
Associated Press: Republican U.S. Rep. Edward L. Schrock abruptly announced Monday that he will not seek a third term, citing unspecified allegations that have "called into question" his ability to serve. Schrock said in a five-paragraph statement th...

By: Director Mitch

Director Mitch — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 00:56:51 +0000

> supporting a ban on gay marriage, it's hard to find much sympathy for him if the charges are in fact true.

So your point is that by default every homosexual must support gay marriage? By that logic all heterosexuals must, by default, oppose it.

I with you on the rest of it, though.