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Minnesota Nice/Jim Kolbe on McCain & Palin

September 2, 2008 by GayPatriotWest

Today was quite an unusual day, waking up in Los Angeles, then setting off for St. Paul, dealing with “Minnesota Nice” at the airport where the folks at Enterprise were super accommodating (more on that perhaps anon) and later at the convention site where the cops were amazingly polite as I learned I had parked on the wrong site of the convention site to pick up my credentials (perhaps more on that anon as well.)

When I did get to the right side of the Xcel Center (lots of security here), I saw a number of Ron Paul supporters (one who had come from Florida just to protest on behalf of their man), met a 9/11 “Truther” and caught site of Karl Rove leaving the convention site.

I did chat with two Obama supporters, both (like all people here) super nice, one in a gay bar.  Even the woman wearing a “Liar Liar Pants On Fire” button with a picture of George W. Bush was friendly after I challenged her to identify one Bush lie.  She couldn’t, just offered “Weapons of Mass Destruction.”  I pressed her and asked for a particular statement the president had made which he knew to be false.  She couldn’t.

Still, both she and her friend (visiting from Seattle in order to protest) engaged me in friendly banter over our political differences and wished me a good stay in St. Paul.

Minnesota Nice indeed!  And I haven’t even mentioned my hosts! Â

I challenged both Obama supporters to identify one major accomplishment that their man had spearheaded in his twelve years in the Illinois and United States Senate.  Neither was able to.

I had a wonderful dinner with my friend and fellow blogger Dale Carpenter (Independent Gay Forum and Volokh Conspiracy).  When Dale mentioned he was meeting former Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz) for a drink, I asked if I might tag along.  We didn’t heard back from Jim for a while, so stopped at a gay bar in Minneapolis.Â

Spotting a man with gay Republicans for McCain-Palin button, we approached him, introduced ourselves.  Turns out it was Joel Hastings from the Log Cabin board.  Kudos to Joel for his boldness in advertising his Republican politics in a potentially hostile environment.

Soon, Jim called and remembering me from my DC days, that good man invited me to join them.  We joined Jim and some of his friends at a seafood place.  I was flattered that Jim remembered me from my DC days.  Once together, we had a spirited discussion about the convention, the presidential election gay marriage and other topics.Â

Jim is a great guy and a wonderful conversationalist.

On Sarah Palin, Jim offered (and I report with his permission), the move was “quintessentially McCain.”   He thinks she was a “good choice” even though she is more conservative (than he) on social issues than he.  Referencing the revelation today about her daughter’s pregnancy, he appreciated her candor and didn’t think it would impact the convention of her candidacy.

Jim, who is openly gay, will be addressing Log Cabin’s Big Tent Luncheon tomorrow.  I look forward to hearing him there.

Filed Under: 2008 Presidential Politics, Republican National Convention

Comments

  1. V the K says

    September 2, 2008 at 7:43 am - September 2, 2008

    Minnesota Not-So-Nice: Left-Wing Protesters Assault 80 Year Old Man with Caustic Bleach and Terrorize Cub Scouts.

  2. Leah says

    September 2, 2008 at 12:13 pm - September 2, 2008

    Dan, sometime between hanging out with you and Jim Kolbe, Dale posted this over at the Volokh conspiracy. http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_08_31-2008_09_06.shtml#1220285222

    The poll reveals that 49% of the GOP delegates support either gay marriage (6%) or civil unions (43%). Only 46% of the delegates believe there should be no legal recognition whatsoever of same-sex couples.

    On this important social issue there is change on the Republican side. Which is why, working hard, convincing people that Gays should be mainstreamed is a much better solution than a few elitest judges making policy for a nation.

    As they say, read the whole thing.

  3. GayPatriotWest says

    September 2, 2008 at 5:44 pm - September 2, 2008

    Leah, Dale told me about it last night. I’ll need to link it when I get a moment.

  4. StillH20Julie says

    October 2, 2008 at 2:09 am - October 2, 2008

    I have to apologize, I almost fell over and I’m sitting down. I obviously don’t hang out much on the web but I was looking for some McCain Palin buttons and I came across your site. I think (not that what I think is so fab)
    I just think that I am very proud of you for 2 things specifically. 1. You are proud to share your conservative voice. 2. More importantly, especially because I’m a gal and I like guys, more importantly is that you are not, and you are being a true Patriot! Thank you, and I’m so proud that you are a part of the family of Patriots! (i hope this made sense) P.S. I’m a hockey mom wannabe

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