Why does the Gannon thing make DU homophobic?

[Zynx]

I really don't care if Bush Administration officials are gay or not. I'm much more interested in the propaganda angle.

This place is normally extremely tolerent of gays, and sex workers, and presumably gay sex workers. So why do we care so damn much about the fact that this guy sold himself on the Internet for wrestling matches in the buff?

[CO Liberal]

1. We're Not Homophobic - Just "Liarphobic"

:-)

Just as my constantly criticizing Thomas Sowell and Clarence Thomas doesn't make me racist - it makes me opposed to idiots, regardless of their skin color.

[goclark]

2. Exactly

Nothing at all against gays in my mind.

To me its all about the tricks that ROVE swings and all the lies that they tell.

If it was a woman going into the WH to see somebody in this " Christian" administration, I would feel the same way.

They LIE about being so pure of heart - NOT!

[Bridget Burke]

3. I've always avoided the phrase "Gay Male Whore"

Just "Whore" should say it all. If the Republicans get all in a snit because of his gender & orientation, let them.

Personally, I care that the White House Press Corps is generally so easy on Bush & Co. Members should at least be qualified for their jobs. His background seems lacking in journalistic education & experience.

[arwalden]

26. Cokie Roberts Is A "Whore"... Judy Woodruff Is A "Whore"....

... isn't some differentiation needed so that we know exactly what kind of "whore" he is/was/is? Maybe "call-boy"?

[yurbud]

34. He prefers the term "Man Ho" or "recreational rectum"

[Warpy]

4. You gotta work on those reading comprehension skills

I haven't seen homophobia at the root of the whole Guckert fiasco, although it does point out the rabid hypocrisy on the right fringes. What I see is that a man they would have ordinarily have held up as an example of a libertine leftist was granted extraordinary and special access to the inner circle of power, who was whisked past security checks he could NEVER have passed, and who was provided with a fake news service all his own to provide fake credentials.

You just can't get past the fact that he's got to have a sugar daddy in the White House. That's the ONLY reason such a man would have been so lavishly treated against the security needs of the country.

[Zorra]

5. Oh, please....this is not homophobia. It is the exposition of republican

hypocrisy in defense of the rights of GLBT folks.

[LostinVA]

17. You said it better than I could have!

[Unions]

36. Really it's not?

Are you aware damn near every post about it refers to him as being gay?

What if he was a jewish and every post refered to him as "The JEW in the white house..." You don't think that might be a sign of something?

[Zorra]

59. BS. This is to expose republican hypocrisy. Republicans hate gays, and

try to pass laws to restrict the rights and liberties of GLBT folks.

Your analogy regarding "Jews" has absolutely no validity, unless I am unaware that republicans are now proposing and passing anti-Jewish legislation like their fascist party forebearers did in Germany during the 1930's.

[Individualist]

67. Hypocrisy, thy name is republican

You know very well this is not about homophobia. It's about two faced repugs.

[peacetalksforall]

42. Hypocrisy is the key..their rhetoric and their game of pretend is a lie.nt

[pacalo]

6. Wellllll...

(1) It exposes the hypocrisy of this administration's anti-gay stance

(2) Prostitution is illegal in Washington, D.C., yet the gay prostitute Gannon/Geckert is in-like-Flint at the WH -- he comes & goes quite often as he pleases, sometimes not checking in or out, despite the WH having "high security" status.

[sabra]

7. Because sex sells, sadly...

[Az]

8. Its the hypocrisy not the homosexuality

If George Bush was openly gay and enjoying a relationship with Guckert/Gannon I would applaud his relationship. But that is not what is going on.

The GOP runs as one of its platforms opposition to homosexual rights. The religious right upon whom Bush bases much of his power contends that homosexuals are evil, sinful, and should have their rights reduced.

The fact that a homosexual is tied into their machinations draws the attention to their hypocrisy. I could give two wet slaps about who Guckert or Bush are sleeping with. But when Bush demeans the homosexual community and then has a situation like this fall into his lap it should not be let go of.

[spooked911]

54. Exactly. It is the hypocrisy. Plus, isn't prostitution ILLEGAL?????

[Toucano]

9. It isn't homophobic to hate the new Roy Cohn.

It isn't homophobic to hate Andrew Sullivan.

It isn't racist to hate Ken Blackwell or Condi Rice.

If Jimmy Jeff has been peddling his inch of raw mutton to the
most abusive and destructive anti-gay White House in a generation,
it's worthy of criticism and totally relevent.

He wiggled his way into the inner-circle of the hate mongers and
then turned outward and shouted QUEERS! at the rest of the LGBT
community.

Gay prostitutes are largely predators of closeted gay men. They
are instrumental to preserving the status quo against acceptance.

[quiet.american]

13. Er.. that's actually Roy "Cohn." :) n/t

[Toucano]

21. Thank you. n/t

[quiet.american]

32. :) n/t

[kiki]

10. Totally off topic, but

has anyone noticed how Gannon looks like TV 'psychic' and all-round douchebag John Edward? It's that horrible, permanently mealy-mouthed facial expression, as if they're both constantly aware that each and every word they say is a lie. Sweet Jesus I hate them both.

(Sorry.)

[Bouncy Ball]

11. Actually to me, this is more of a security issue.

We're supposed to believe the bush white house keeps the country safe against dangers, but a person with NO journalistic credentials who is a sex worker is allowed in the white house and in press briefings over and over and over again under a FALSE NAME??? Hell, REAL female journalists have to use their married name and not their professional name since bush started squatting in the white house.

But this guy can just come and go as he pleases?

Yeah, uh right. Something does NOT add up, it smells to high heaven, and it's about the lack of security!!!

[Devlzown]

12. I don't think it's homophobia.

Democrats know that if this story ever really gets legs, Republicans (especially religious Republicans) will freak out. Any division in the Republican ranks is seen as a good thing.

[pacalo]

15. A WH squatter who abuses the term "national security"

deserves a little humble pie.

Speaking for myself, it's not the freepers' sensitivities that I care to arouse; in fact, I don't give them much thought. I care only about getting rid of the worst president this nation has ever had; whatever it takes is fine with me.

Having lived through the Watergate era, I know that it is stories like this one that can unravel a presidency. Watergate began with a newspaper blurb about a hotel robbery.

[madrchsod]

14. didn`t think it did

clinton impeached by a blow job
jimmy`s access to the white house for what? tea and company?

[KharmaTrain]

16. Thank You...I Have Similar Feelings

This is treading on thin ice and I'll be as diplomatic as I can, but there's always been a heavy fascination with the gay angle on this story here on DU way beyond what should have been focused on.

I felt the sex side of this story obscures the propagandist angle of this story...and the far reaching network of corporate, religious and party operatives who control a vast misinformation network that has led to many troubles we now encounter. Gannon/Guckert was just a pawn in the game, not a major player and the hope was this scandal could shine light on this network and the real rats hiding under the surface...people like the Eberles, Blackwell, Finkelstein and others (including, sadly some Democrats) who profit from this network.

The part I find most uncomfortable is the sexual tie-in assumptions some play here about Gannon/Guckert and Snotty McClelland or Bunnypants or any other part of this evil regime. This reeks of Freeper stuff...all gossip and stereotyping and things that won't accomplish what we all hope for...exposing the patterns of lies and deceits this regime has created and making them accountable for them.

[pacalo]

20. (self delete)

[sui generis]

23. it's a comment on hypocrisy

all around - for Guckert being a gay gaybasher, and for the administration trying to claim that Gannon had had his life unfairly inspected, nevermind that either the administration was either completely incompetent about his background or else knew about it and used him anyway.

I think anybody who thinks this brought out a genuine homophobic response on DU is reading w-a-y too much into it. It is just the irony of the situation that bears comment.

[KharmaTrain]

60. Irony Yes, Obsession, Not Quite

I saw a flood of posts all fixated with the sexual side of this mess...and many going into graphic details. This isn't irony, this is ridicule and baiting. It doesn't serve any purpose but to share a joke with others with similar feelings and...if you feel contrary you're "reading w-a-y too much" or just aren't as "enlightened".

Yes, there is the irony of this regime's stance on gays and Gannon's past, but shall we load that to the large list of other ironies? The bigger issue is the manipulation of the media by this regime and how it's set up its own proxy media to do so. Keeping the focus on Gannon's sexuality conflicts with this very key part of the story and creates the ability for the corporate media to downplay the story (this is just a "gay story") or use that as a smokescreen from the larger picture.

[comsymp]

63. Damn, that was nicely said!

nt

[sui generis]

70. you're simplifying things into black and white

It CAN be both, and at the same time.

For the record, the situation is ironic, as I understand the word "irony" and its accepted use in modern speech. I don't believe there is "focus" on Gannon's sexuality, just that it is in the realm of discussion.

Yes there are some people for whom it is titillating. They don't speak for me or for you, and I can't speak for them either. I have no control over the proxy media or the real media so I can't say that not speaking about a topic will influence what gets reported one way or another. I get what you're saying but I just don't agree that it is exclusive of all other observations on the topic.

[KharmaTrain]

73. Priorities

I don't say the sexual nature of this story isn't one that should be ignored, but kept in proportion to other aspects of what the Gannon/Guckert story involves.

IMHO, once you crack open this regime's credibility regarding it's manufacturing of news and manipulation of corporate media, you open it wide to other inspections. Without one, you won't reach the other since many people won't believe problem number two if they don't see problem number one.

If Gannon/Guckert used sexual favors or was used and this is part of how he got access, yes, this is a part of the story, but a piece in the puzzle...and should be used to shine the light on those who he used or used him.

When this story broke I called for someone to get the records of Gannon/Guckert's running around the White House, and glad to see it's come out. Sadly, I've yet to see any corporate media reports on this.

[yurbud]

41. ask yourself what part of story press and stupids will pay attention to

As long as it's true, it should be fair game.

The Bush followers only believe about Freedom of the Press exactly what Rush et al tell them to believe.

Their homophobia is a bit more deeply ingrained and has been fanned by the Bushies.

[aeolian]

18. Homophobia? What?

No, it's laughing at the hypocracy of a right-wing that demonizes homosexuality while hiring gay prostitutes for personal "use."

No "-phobia" here, dude.

[bertha katzenengel]

19. You'll hear a lot of folks say "because they're hypocrites."

Who cares if they're hypocrites about gay sex? For chrissakes, people, they're hypocrites about straight sex, too. Big fucking deal, this Gannon shit.

[pacalo]

22. Why should we care?

For one, the anti-gay marriage issue was a wedge issue used by this administration in the 2004 election, which also sparked a general "anti-gay" climate in this country.

Let's not become de-sensitized to this administration's endless list of faults just because hearing about so many of them has become too routine.

The hypocrisy is a valid point, regardless of how many examples we may learn about.

[bertha katzenengel]

24. The ignorant of this country have been "anti-gay" long before my

marriage became a wedge issue. No one I know who demands his or her equal right to marriage is going to back down on this just because the RR can use it against us. They use everything else against us.

This may not have been your exact point but I needed to point it out here.

I don't want to ignore any of the administration's faults. I think being hypocritical about sex is pretty fucking bad among a group who claims sex outside of marriage is bad to begin with. Gay sex or straight -- doesn't matter.

[pacalo]

76. I hear ya, bk.

:hi:

[merh]

52. Monica Lewinski ring any bells for you?

Hyprocrites, gay hating, homophobe promoting, liars and hypocrites.

A blow job in the oval office from a 23 year old female is considered horrible, what for the fundies, how do you think they feel about a blow job in the oval office or Lincoln bedroom from a 47 year old man?

[Beam Me Up]

25. It doesn't. FREEPER MALE PROSTITUTE VISTITED WH 202 TIMES!

[tinrobot]

27. It's called attacking your opponent's strength.

Haven't you learned anything from Rove? He attacked Kerry's war record because that was Kerry's strength. We need to fight fire with fire.

They seem to think that protecting America from gay marriage is one of the things that won them the election. Playing to the fundies on this angle is a strong issue for them.

You attack them on this through surrogates and take the gay marriage issue away from them.

[FreedomAngel82]

28. What gives you that idea???

I could care less if he's gay or not. The thing is a gay hooker was in OUR White House when there were no press meetings and even on election night. I don't know about you, but I for one wanna know why he was there and what he was doing there. Especially if security is SUPPOSED to be higher since 9/11.

[Unions]

38. Change this to

"he thing is a JEWISH hooker was in OUR White House when there were no press meetings and even on election night"

and what do you get?

[yurbud]

change it to a female hooker and the president to Clinton

do you think we would even be having this discussion, or would we be watching this on TV 24/7 already?

[Bridget Burke]

57. If Bush had been elected on the strength of anti-Semitism...

I think pointing out the hypocrisy would be quite fitting.

[Blue_Roses]

29. It's all about people who are

tired of the hypocrisy. I don't give a rats ass who is gay or who isn't, but when an administration--namely Rove--who IS homophobic, tries to dress up their lies with judgements, then Yes, exposing one who is gay is justified.

[0007]

30. Homophobia? I don't think so!

[yurbud]

31. It's the hyprocrisy--like a Jewish Nazi or black Klansman

[yurbud]

33. Is Bush the Marlboro Man or just vogueing?

[Unions]

35. When you're gay you'll notice

that many people who TELL you they have no issue with you being gay actually DO have an issue, they just like to pretend they don't for some reason. Still no idea why.

Anyone who tells you they don't have a problem with people who are gay and then go around shouting "There was a GAY guy in the white house!" well....

It's almost like saying "There was a BLACK reporter...." at every instance mentioning he was BLACK. (just like people at every instance mentioning he was GAY) Or perhaps saying "There was a JEW in the white house that..."

The ONLY reason it's mentioned he was GAY at every possible moment is due to anti-gay bigotry.

[aeolian]

37. Well, if the shrub had been actively campaigning for an ammendment to ban

interracial marraige, while simultaneously hiring a black prostitute, then yes, I'd be shouting "there was a black prostitute in the white house!"

Please, it's got nothing to do with sexual orientation per se.

[Unions]

40. BS

In case you haven't noticed bush likes killing arabs and is many people who support him are racists. So if this is true why not make it a big deal every time an arab reporter is in the room?

[yurbud]

44. The Arab reporter should mention it--especially Arab reporters killed

[Unions]

47. Oh I see

so now it's up to the arab reporter to mention it, but when it's someone that's gay you don't have a problem taking up that little responsibility your self.

[aeolian]

50. Dude, are you trying to sound like a victim?

Don't be so brittle. We're not your enemy, no matter how much you may believe that everyone is a closet homophobe.

[yurbud]

58. that's the opposite of all your earlier comments

We are bringing this up to underline his gay bashing in a way that will get noticed.

[Unions]

61. No, actually it's not

It was sarcasm. Perhaps I should have used the little sarcasm graphic, but I thought it was obvious.

[comsymp]

65. Lest you forget, that was tried

And DUers raked Ms. Coulter over the coals for it. :shrug:

[yurbud]

39. So this is the same as GOP gay bashing?

You don't see the difference in intent?

The religious right would like to kill gays (literally, read the Christian Reconstructionist stuff).

That the same behavior they want to ostracize and punish is practiced by their beloved leader and/or his key lieutenants isn't a legitimate way to undermine the persecution of gays?

[Unions]

43. WTF are you talking about?

"That the same behavior they want to ostracize and punish is practiced by their beloved leader and/or his key lieutenants "

Gannon is now considered a "leader" & "key lieutenant" now? That's news to me - It sounded like he was a pawn.

"The religious right would like to kill gays "

And the religious right people that want to kill gays also want to kill arabs and muslims/jews. So by this same logic why not bring up everytime an arab/muslim/or jewish person is in the room?

[yurbud]

45. gannon isn't lieutenant--customers are

Religious right doesn't want to kill Jews.

Do your homework on the reconstructionist stuff.

[Unions]

49. I think you should do your homework

You're right - they want to keep the jews alive. But if you read extreme christian fundamentalist belief they ONLY want the jews alive because they are ALL supposed to be slaughtered when jesus comes back. Thus they need to be around in order for them to get raptured. Otherwise they would be on the same list as muslims.

[yurbud]

53. correct--but I wouldn't be too worried if I was on post-Rapture list

Right now they LOVE Jews and Israel and are bigger Israel hawks than Sharon.

[Save The World]

46. I think that it's sad.

n/t

[spooked911]

56. How about if we just stick to the prostitution angle?

[comsymp]

64. Even better, how 'bout if we

just stuck to the angle that deals with the fact that someone in the BA has made it possible for partisan hacks with criminal backgrounds to waltz in and out of (arguably) the most secure building on the planet whenever they feel like it, apparently without requiring them to check in / out with the SS?

Maybe it's just my worldview, but that seems much more disconcerting than TEH GHEY.

[spooked911]

66. so you have no problem with someone in the White House using a prostitute?

I believe prostitution is illegal.

Think how they would react if a Democratic Whitehouse had a known prostitute going in like this.

btw, I don't know what "TEH GHEY" means. They are Gay? The gay?

[comsymp]

68. In fact, no I really don't. Just my opinion, but

I think prostitution should be legalized.

Regardless, as you state, since it's currently illegal, the first challenge: Evidence that any acts of prostitution have been performed at the WH?

It just seems pathetic to me that, of all the verifiable illegal / immoral acts which have been committed by the BA, people here are scrabbling around in the dirt trying to... hell, I'm not sure what the point is exactly, "out" somebody in the BA, I guess.

As for TEH GHEY, it's a term of mockery - AOLspeak and its associated preteen mindset. Probably should have typed it as "TEH GHEY!!!1eleventyone". Google offers some background reading

[yurbud]

48. I get the feeling this thread is flak inspired

like all the GOP consultants who helpfully told democrats to stick to the high road in the 2004 election--so they would make easier targets and wouldn't fight back.

[aeolian]

51. It does have that flavor, does it not?

regardless of what the OP intended, it's descended to that level.

[yurbud]

55. YEP--why don't you guys close your eyes and sing Kum by ah while...

we get the shotguns, rope, and torches.

[comsymp]

62. Flak inspired or not, it has resonance with some of us on the ground

I've been uncomfortable with the emphasis placed by so many here on "Gay Prostitute", too. Frankly, some of the comments I've read have made me nostalgic for the deep discussions of common events I enjoyed in Jr High.

And it's one helluva leap to imply that he has a client in the WH. Nobody here has an iota of evidence about his access beyond what's been made public, and there's nothing there which suggests anything sexual.

And for those who claim it's not the sex, it's the hypocrisy (a comment which has a familiar ring to it, IIRC), personally, I'm still offended at the low nature of the Clinton Dick Hunt and sure as hell have no intention of contributing to a Dem version.

I agree completely with both Zynx and Unions.

/TEH GHEY

[NVMojo]

69. Sex is sex and the repubs said they didn't want it in the white house ...

[Lab2112]

71. It's how the opponents of DU characterize the issue

Or in other words, it's that framing the issues aspect again.

If something like this had occurred during Bill Clinton's presidency, the right wing would have howled even louder and fiercer than anything "Monicagate" had brought to the surface. In this case, it's a national security risk and coverup issue, not just lying about marital infidelity.

So, the right wing does the only thing it can do when the tables are turned on them: deflect and misdirect.

Reframe the issue.

It's not that Jeff Gannon lied about his background, posed falsely as a journalist for a false news outlet and shamelessly shilled for the Bush administration, and worse still, was allowed to gain repeated access to the White House without proper credentials (possibly being waved through on several occasions), it's simply, plainly that members of the Democratic Underground and Democrats everywhere are homophobic bigots for pointing out that Jeff Gannon was a male prostitute (as if this is the only problem Guckert has).

Got that, fellow liberals?

LAB

[libertypirate]

72. Dopey it's Bush that is GAY!!!!

That is the freaking story.... We just can't say it... why, no one has taken a picture of our love butt president. I care if Bush is gay because it would make all those assholes that think their is a liberal press have to eat crow. All that liberal press and no one thought that the president being a closet booty lover was significant oh please....

Let me make this clear:

The finger tip wave...

Cheerleader, roommate at school was gay.

He is walking through a garden today holding another grown mans hand.

He called another man's face pretty twice in the same sentence, not a straight guy thing to say. It barely made the papers.

Man whore checks in 13 times and doesn't check out.

Man whore is bald, bush likes rubbing bald heads(fetish?). Pictures available on the Internet.

I think what we have here is one queer president folks.

[donheld]

74. It's the HYPOCRACY, silly! This is NOT about homosexuality!

Few if any here at DU care if there are gay's in the white house, but we care very strongly about the hypocracy in the white house :spank:

[H2O Man]

75. I think people may err

in believing that the mysterious Mr. Gannon's sexuality is known. There were some things posted on the internet. That's all we really know about it -- either he or someone else posted those.

Likewise, there is a thread on GD that has a photo of him in a military shirt and hair-style. A poster wrote that "we know he was not in the military." No, actually we do not. We do know that the story we are being spoon-fed says he was not in the military.

We do know that for about two years, starting about the time of the Plame article by Robert Novak, Mr. Gannon began to attend press conferences. We know he had no journalistic qualifications. We know that the corporate media, which is capable of uncovering almost every detail of most American's lives, seems strangely unable to tell us anything about Mr. Gannon but that which is spoon-fed them.

And now we know that Mr. Gannon was able to come and go, without following the normal regulations for security, and visit unknown people in the White House.

Could it be related to sex? Possibly, though there is little reason to assume that it does. I'd think more in terms of those who are able to come and go outside of the normal channels. I would bet a thousand dollars to a doughnut that it has nothing to do with sex.

[hippiegranny]

77. as one the gay flock of DU

I will say that my impression was never that the problem we have with Gannon is based on his orientation, rather it is about the total and bald faced hypocracy of his being given "special love" by this oh-so-homophobic bunch of nitwits in the White House.