The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Liberals Scream: ‘No Fair! Conservatives Are Infringing Our Monopoly on Gay-Baiting Republican Closet Cases!’

Posted on | April 21, 2010 | 26 Comments

As Professor Donald Douglas points out, that is the essence of liberal blogger Steve Benen’s concern-troll post at Washington Monthly:

I’m not generally in the habit of defending Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), but some of the abuse he’s been receiving from the right is ridiculous. . . .
For the record, I neither know nor care about Graham’s private life. His sexual orientation is irrelevant — and the attacks are pathetic in either case.

Without regard to whether the ALIPAC attack on Graham is “pathetic,” as Professor Douglas observes, lefty bloggers have been gay-baiting Graham for years without any complaint from Benen. This is all part of a very cynical pattern on the part of liberals, who know all the gossip about the GOP Closet Caucus, but reserve to themselves the privilege of running whisper campaigns, or occasionally “outing” gay Republicans at politically opportune moments.

However, let any conservative make public mention of what “everybody knows” — did somebody say, Charlie Crist? — and suddenly it’s all about “right-wing homophobia.”

Well, if I may be allowed to borrow the two most famous words of Rahm Emanuel: Fuck you.

As I’ve noted before, you can’t accuse the Democrats of having no standards. They’ve got two: One for them, and another for everybody else.

Until liberals are called out on this kind of double-standard crap — called out directly and repeatedly — they’ll continue to twist the narrative to their own advantage. This is all about liberals trying to control the cultural context of politics in ways that protect Democrats, and if conservative play along, the rules of discourse will be defined in such a way that conservatives can’t win.

So we’ll gossip about Republicans as much as we want, and gossip about Democrats, too. A couple of weeks ago, in fact, I heard some interesting rumors surrounding the rather recent divorce of a certain Blue Dog who’s having a tough re-election contest this year. They say he has a taste for “twinks,” and NTTAWWT, but who knows what might happen if the “value voters” in his conservative district start hearing this stuff?

Good luck with those mid-terms, Steve.

Category: Gays, Scandal, Sex

Comments

26 Responses to “Liberals Scream: ‘No Fair! Conservatives Are Infringing Our Monopoly on Gay-Baiting Republican Closet Cases!’”

  1. Joe
    April 21st, 2010 @ 5:17 pm

    I mean come on, Lindsay Graham was in the Air Force–the Navy of the air. Of course he is gay. Don’t ask, don’t tell. Yada yada. Who really cares.

    The problem with Lindsay Graham is he is moderate politically who has rather left leaning views on a lot of issues. So when the conservatives are trying to hold a line, Lindsay pops up to join some gang or another to mess things up. Now not all compromises are bad. Nut when you are fighting major issues of principals and Lindsay pulls the football away just as you are about to kick it…well most people resent playing Charlie Brown to his Lucy.

  2. Joe
    April 21st, 2010 @ 12:17 pm

    I mean come on, Lindsay Graham was in the Air Force–the Navy of the air. Of course he is gay. Don’t ask, don’t tell. Yada yada. Who really cares.

    The problem with Lindsay Graham is he is moderate politically who has rather left leaning views on a lot of issues. So when the conservatives are trying to hold a line, Lindsay pops up to join some gang or another to mess things up. Now not all compromises are bad. Nut when you are fighting major issues of principals and Lindsay pulls the football away just as you are about to kick it…well most people resent playing Charlie Brown to his Lucy.

  3. Joe
    April 21st, 2010 @ 5:24 pm

    Another right wing site baiting Graham…

  4. Joe
    April 21st, 2010 @ 12:24 pm

    Another right wing site baiting Graham…

  5. keyboard jockey
    April 21st, 2010 @ 5:31 pm

    Look Who Is Dominating The News.

    Get Down To Business With Imus Sweepstakes Fox Business News, Ends May 3rd…Scroll Down To Chickaboomer’s Political Bondage & Discipline. It’s not just an RNC issue. Domination it’s an American thing 😉

    http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2010/04/imus-in-morning-imus-in-evening-get.html

  6. keyboard jockey
    April 21st, 2010 @ 12:31 pm

    Look Who Is Dominating The News.

    Get Down To Business With Imus Sweepstakes Fox Business News, Ends May 3rd…Scroll Down To Chickaboomer’s Political Bondage & Discipline. It’s not just an RNC issue. Domination it’s an American thing 😉

    http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2010/04/imus-in-morning-imus-in-evening-get.html

  7. Bob Belvedere
    April 21st, 2010 @ 5:39 pm

    I love it! The Other McCain is adding a little Page 6 action to the mix.

  8. Bob Belvedere
    April 21st, 2010 @ 12:39 pm

    I love it! The Other McCain is adding a little Page 6 action to the mix.

  9. Bob Belvedere
    April 21st, 2010 @ 6:03 pm

    Now that I’ve had a few moments to swallow what you wrote, Stacy, one question arises: Can weasels be gay?

  10. Bob Belvedere
    April 21st, 2010 @ 1:03 pm

    Now that I’ve had a few moments to swallow what you wrote, Stacy, one question arises: Can weasels be gay?

  11. Joe
    April 21st, 2010 @ 6:13 pm

    Don’t see, don’t tell!

    And above all don’t embarass da One!

  12. Joe
    April 21st, 2010 @ 1:13 pm

    Don’t see, don’t tell!

    And above all don’t embarass da One!

  13. Bob Belvedere
    April 21st, 2010 @ 6:26 pm

    STACY!!! Proof [or Poof?] from Jonah Goldberg that Rich ‘Twinkle Toes’ Lowry is light in the loafers:
    http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTc5NDE4MDRkNTA5NjRkYTgyYWJlZmIxYzY3ZWI3MDg=

  14. Bob Belvedere
    April 21st, 2010 @ 1:26 pm

    STACY!!! Proof [or Poof?] from Jonah Goldberg that Rich ‘Twinkle Toes’ Lowry is light in the loafers:
    http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTc5NDE4MDRkNTA5NjRkYTgyYWJlZmIxYzY3ZWI3MDg=

  15. Largebill
    April 21st, 2010 @ 6:39 pm

    To me the real issue is the closet. While I think it is a goofy decision, I don’t care if a boy decides to like boys (or girl/girl). This issue is the potential to be compromised. Bawney Fwank isn’t going to be influenced by a threat to expose his being a queer. However, a supposedly straight, conservative, male congresscritter living a secret life with a boyfriend is open to blackmail. Does anyone doubt that libs would threaten to out a Republican senator to get him to take a different stance or cast a different vote. IMO, politicians have a moral obligation to ensure they are not potential targets of manipulation due to hidden character flaws.

  16. Largebill
    April 21st, 2010 @ 1:39 pm

    To me the real issue is the closet. While I think it is a goofy decision, I don’t care if a boy decides to like boys (or girl/girl). This issue is the potential to be compromised. Bawney Fwank isn’t going to be influenced by a threat to expose his being a queer. However, a supposedly straight, conservative, male congresscritter living a secret life with a boyfriend is open to blackmail. Does anyone doubt that libs would threaten to out a Republican senator to get him to take a different stance or cast a different vote. IMO, politicians have a moral obligation to ensure they are not potential targets of manipulation due to hidden character flaws.

  17. Thrasymachus
    April 21st, 2010 @ 7:31 pm

    The double standard accusation doesn’t work because it is implicitly believed by many, liberals, moderates, and even some conservatives, that being motivated by idealism gives liberals the right to be hypocrites. Until this idea- that liberal ideas are motivated by morally superior concerns- is attacked this will not change.

  18. Thrasymachus
    April 21st, 2010 @ 2:31 pm

    The double standard accusation doesn’t work because it is implicitly believed by many, liberals, moderates, and even some conservatives, that being motivated by idealism gives liberals the right to be hypocrites. Until this idea- that liberal ideas are motivated by morally superior concerns- is attacked this will not change.

  19. Bob Belvedere
    April 21st, 2010 @ 8:33 pm

    Without regard to whether the ALIPAC attack on Graham is “pathetic….

    Isn’t that Ali Akbar’s PAC?

  20. Bob Belvedere
    April 21st, 2010 @ 3:33 pm

    Without regard to whether the ALIPAC attack on Graham is “pathetic….

    Isn’t that Ali Akbar’s PAC?

  21. Paul A'Barge
    April 21st, 2010 @ 10:09 pm

    Lindsey Graham is a big Fag? Who knew?

  22. Paul A'Barge
    April 21st, 2010 @ 5:09 pm

    Lindsey Graham is a big Fag? Who knew?

  23. wombat-socho
    April 22nd, 2010 @ 2:39 am

    He may not be gay, but he’s certainly perpetrated enough faggotry in his time to make his colleagues wary in the shower.

  24. wombat-socho
    April 21st, 2010 @ 9:39 pm

    He may not be gay, but he’s certainly perpetrated enough faggotry in his time to make his colleagues wary in the shower.

  25. McGehee
    April 22nd, 2010 @ 12:59 pm

    wombat-socho
    April 21st, 2010 @ 09 39

    They sing,

    (Drop the soap)
    Don’t drop the soap, baby
    (Drop the soap)
    And don’t you bend over!

  26. McGehee
    April 22nd, 2010 @ 7:59 am

    wombat-socho
    April 21st, 2010 @ 09 39

    They sing,

    (Drop the soap)
    Don’t drop the soap, baby
    (Drop the soap)
    And don’t you bend over!