The Non-story of Mark Buse’s Outing
Please note I had written this piece before John has posted his, but had been holding it.
When I first heard from a gay reader that a gay blogger had posted that a gay radio host had “outing” John McCain’s Senate Chief of Staff, I wondered where the story was. Â The blogger went out great lengths to explain to us that McCain is anti-gay because, well, he didn’t support the legislation gay activists want politicians to support to demonstrate their pro-gay bona fides.
So, of course, this man, in the words of the radio host, has to be engaged in “hypocrisy.” Â Give me a break.
Hypocrisy? Â Huh? Â How? Â Oh yeah, because Republicans are by definition, anti-gay.
Well, anyway, we already know how John McCain treats friends and colleagues when they come out to him as gay. Â It doesn’t matter to him. Â He treats them he same as he did the day before he learned about their sexuality. Â If he didn’t bother him when he found out Jim Kolbe or Neil Giuliano was gay, it wasn’t going to bother him to learn his Chief of Staff was gay. Â And, heck, maybe he already knew. Â So what?
Given McCain’s professed tolerance for gay friends and colleague’s, his campaign’s contacts with Log Cabin and gay bloggers, this “outing” in a total non-story. Â No wonder the mainstream media hasn’t picked it up. Â
And if they did, it would only redound to the benefit of John McCain, providing further evidence of his absence of anti-gay animus.
The Republican presidential nominee treats gay people as individuals. Â That’s been a matter of public record at least since 2000. Â I don’t know why some activists think it’s some big scoop now to report that he trusts a gay man to run his Senate office. Â Maybe it’s their belief that this somehow will matter to Republican voters. Â Or maybe their own anti-Republican animus. Â Why else would they think people would care?
Mark Buse is assuredly a very competent administrator. Â And that’s what matters to John McCain. Â
End of story.
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It’s because the Left treats gay people as second class citizens.
They believe they are entitled to control the way gay people think and vote.
Apparently everyone else has freedom of association and freedom of conscience.. but not gays. Gays could be guilty for Thought Crime per the Left. It’s discriminatory and homophobic.
Comment by Vince P — September 24, 2008 @ 1:27 am - September 24, 2008
I’ve always thought that the Left treats gays like they’re decorative items.
Big deal about McCain’s Chief of Staff being gay. And I’m sure that McCain might have known (how long was he in the Navy?) at some level, but he hired him because he could do the job.
Comment by Nick — September 24, 2008 @ 2:09 am - September 24, 2008
Ugh. Signorile sucks sloppy seconds. Both of his listeners should be ashamed.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — September 24, 2008 @ 4:49 am - September 24, 2008
yes massa.
Comment by michael — September 24, 2008 @ 8:02 am - September 24, 2008
What also is amazing to me is how Democrats (incl. Sen. Obama) get a pass on their own anti-gay positions (or, at least their stated positions). With not all that many exceptions, they are all “against gay marriage.” At least, that’s what they say. Whether or not they truly believe government should recognize same-sex marriage, you can pretty much except every Democratic candidate for national office to talk the talk on keeping marriage just between a man and a woman. If Sen. Obama thinks gay marriage is wrong, why not support the California proposition? If he thinks government-sanctioned gay marriage is just fine, why not say so? It’s Democrats, not Republicans, who are double-minded on this issue. I think Republicans are much more likely to say what they mean, and I respect politicians who do that, even when I disagree. Liberal Democrats seem unable to understand that many Americans, be they Republicans, independents, or conservative Democrats, don’t view gay issues as an all-or-nothing thing.
Comment by cme — September 24, 2008 @ 9:47 am - September 24, 2008
I can’t believe how stupid gay lefties are. They’re going “Hah hah hah – Look at him, he’s gay!”) – just like the playground bullies they claim to oppose – on people who are already known to be gay and nobody cares – and, as if being gay were somehow a bad thing!
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — September 24, 2008 @ 10:05 am - September 24, 2008
Vince, this is true of every group these days, not just gays. Sarah Palin is an inauthentic woman, Condi Rice is neither woman nor Black. I could go on with examples of every ‘minority group’.
Actually I’m thrilled this is such a non issue – even MSM realizes this is a waste of time. The sad thing is that as the nation on the whole is becoming much more tolerant the Left is now becoming the mouthpiece for the worst homophobia, racism and mysogianism out there.
Comment by Leah — September 24, 2008 @ 11:42 am - September 24, 2008
I must be very shallow and self-hating or something for not sharing in the glee. The only thing that I want to know is, is he cute?
Comment by sonicfrog — September 24, 2008 @ 11:59 am - September 24, 2008
When has liberals outing anybody ever worked? As far as I can recall, it never has. Yet they do the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
Ya know, you don’t have to be a pickaninny on the DNC plantation. You can walk away and become a free thinking man whenver you want. Uncle Howard Remus may tell good stories, but he’s proven time and again that he doesn’t give a solid shit about you.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — September 24, 2008 @ 12:50 pm - September 24, 2008
Sonicfrog, he’s adorable.
Comment by Hunter — September 24, 2008 @ 12:53 pm - September 24, 2008
Meh. Not my type. But, to each his own
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — September 24, 2008 @ 1:14 pm - September 24, 2008
I tried to find a pic on Google Images but did not see anyting
Comment by Vince P — September 24, 2008 @ 1:15 pm - September 24, 2008
I vote for cute.
But then again, that shouldn’t surprise you, ILC.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — September 24, 2008 @ 1:16 pm - September 24, 2008
So, again… Here we are, gathered again, because “Oh my God, someone who believes in a Republican gay-friendly centrist reformer who consistently strives to put Country First, is…. gay-ayyyyy!!!!!!!”
ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…….. *ILC’s forehead thunks keyboard*
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — September 24, 2008 @ 1:18 pm - September 24, 2008
“Leah: Vince, this is true of every group these days, not just gays. Sarah Palin is an inauthentic woman, Condi Rice is neither woman nor Black. I could go on with examples of every ‘minority group’.”
HI Leah. Yeah I know that.. I was just using their stupid arguments against them.
Comment by Vince P — September 24, 2008 @ 1:20 pm - September 24, 2008
Sorry not my type. He has a an ‘open’ relationship, a sling in the closet, and his Manhunt ID is “DupontPig”. To each his own, but I tend to be attracted to guys who value monogamy and faithfulness. It just saddens me that these revelations will only reinforce the image that we are obsessed sex pigs and undeserving of marriage rights. The general public would not support an adoptive child being raised by someone in an ‘open’ relationship and a sling.
Comment by Scott L — September 24, 2008 @ 4:35 pm - September 24, 2008
Scott, agree with your sentiments 100%.
And yet…. it is *still* true that a “pig” with a sling will be among the first to suffer from high taxes and socialized medicine, and among the first to be put to death if Sharia is ever proclaimed in Washington, DC… so his support for McCain is completely understandable. Dopes like Signorile don’t get it. Their ‘outing’ weapon is not a weapon of gay progress anymore (if it ever was), but only an irrelevant, ineffective weapon of their stupid and petty partisanship.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — September 24, 2008 @ 5:47 pm - September 24, 2008
I left a message on the other site…
Aaaah the vile Left, so clueless about the people they hate.
No one cares he’s gay
Just like no one cared Palin’s daughter was pregnant
Just like no one is going to care if she even had an affair
Vincep1974 | Homepage | 09.24.08 – 8:20 pm | #
Comment by Vince P — September 24, 2008 @ 8:15 pm - September 24, 2008
The story is that Buse promoted discrimination and violence against lgbt people by working for a vicious bigot like McCain.
Comment by libhomo — September 24, 2008 @ 10:28 pm - September 24, 2008
As a Sirius subscriber, I’ve come across Signorelli on OutQ from time to time. Like most bitter liberals, he is positively giddy about outing anyone and everyone they feel is a traitor to The Cause.
He’s one of the most unoriginal voices on radio.
And his voice annoys the ever loving shit out of me.
Comment by Chad — September 24, 2008 @ 11:28 pm - September 24, 2008
The reason for the outing is McCain’s pick of Palin, you knuckleheads. Us pinko lefties aren’t surprised that toadies for capitalism would hire a gay person — the outing was framed around a “Roy Cohn” award. (Can gay republicans read?) We’re not surprised that, because of your love of money and power and the symbolic sentimentality about national strength, you are willing to serve as scapegoats and smokescreens for your team. I for one don’t expect you to choose integrity over your tax rate. What outing is and always has been, silly conservatives, is a Political Tactic, one way a l’il queer fellah can help hoist McCain-Palin by *their* own petard. I’m not saying it’ll work. But don’t congratulate yourselves for knowing that … Roy Cohn was gay! Let me not give up hope: Maybe someday some of you will ask, gee, is a mild increase in the tax rates of those earning more than $250,000/year really worth threats to gays rights to adoption, marriage, work, military service, library representation, and the gross mismanagement of the economy and international relations? I won’t hold my breath. But if you can accept the cynical use of homophobia from your team, and you all cravenly do, surely the few thinkers among you can be a bit less literal about this tactic. I don’t think all of you are idiots, just because you have undemocratic and uncharitable values.
Comment by cdbackslash — September 24, 2008 @ 11:56 pm - September 24, 2008
Really? What discrimination? What violence? What “vicious” bigotry? Has McCain called for gay people to be imprisoned, bashed, killed, or stripped of normal rights under the Federal Constitution? (All of which, by the way, the Islamists call for – that McCain wants to defend us against.)
I know McCain opposes gay marriage. I also know that rational people can disagree over it, and that McCain supported gay people when he explicitly *opposed* Federal anti-marriage amendments. So, please do tell what “vicious” bigotry and violence he is guilty of. We’re all breathless.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — September 25, 2008 @ 12:09 am - September 25, 2008
Also – if Buse was already out to everyone in his life, including McCain, then how is his “outing” an “outing”? (ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…….. *again ILC’s forehead crashes into keyboard, from sheer boredom*)
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — September 25, 2008 @ 12:12 am - September 25, 2008
>The reason for the outing is McCain’s pick of Palin, you knuckleheads.
Oooh, so somehow because she’s a Christian, he becomes a target of the Christian-haters?
I guess that makes sense if you are a sociopath
>Us pinko lefties aren’t surprised that toadies for capitalism would hire a gay person — the outing was framed around a “Roy Cohn†award. (Can gay republicans read?)
I’m a conservative , not a Republican.
>We’re not surprised that, because of your love of money and power
How do you know what I love. You and your ilk don’t seem to understand the people you claim to hate at all.
Instead you all believe in a bizarre stereotype that doesn’t exist.
>and the symbolic sentimentality about national strength, you are willing to serve as scapegoats and smokescreens for your team. I for one don’t expect you to choose integrity over your tax rate.
The Left holds no value for integrity, so I refuse to accept your objection. The Left adheres to no principles in its obsession over State power and having that power.
>What outing is and always has been, silly conservatives, is a Political Tactic, one way a l’il queer fellah can help hoist McCain-Palin by *their* own petard.
Except that no one cares.. The normal world understands what you’re trying to do and most people refuse to give you what you want.
I bet you thought Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy would cause the Religious Right to reject her.. am I right? Well everyone else knew that it would make them support her even more.
You don’t understand the people you claim to hate
>I’m not saying it’ll work. But don’t congratulate yourselves for knowing that … Roy Cohn was gay! Let me not give up hope: Maybe someday some of you will ask, gee, is a mild increase in the tax rates of those earning more than $250,000/year really worth threats to gays rights to adoption, marriage, work, military service, library representation, and the gross mismanagement of the economy and international relations? I won’t hold my breath. But if you can accept the cynical use of homophobia from your team, and you all cravenly do, surely the few thinkers among you can be a bit less literal about this tactic. I don’t think all of you are idiots, just because you have undemocratic and uncharitable values.
This is coming from the deranged Left which is in cahoots with Radical Islam that wants Sharia law imposed over the world…. that will only be stopped by the military of this country… both the military and country are despised by this political nullity.
This guy is the perfect example why gays shouldn’t adopt.. can you image the values he would pass onto his kid? What an angry , hateful unprincipled world it would be.
Comment by Vince P — September 25, 2008 @ 6:45 am - September 25, 2008
OK, let’s ask the question there, too. How does that injure or oppress gay people? What has she done against gays? Is it that time she *supported* gays, by vetoing a bill that would have removed some gay partner benefits, that has y’all in an uproar? Or is there something real, to your complaints?
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — September 25, 2008 @ 10:58 am - September 25, 2008
cdbackslash,
1) Doing his best, Obama will mismanage both the economy and international relations far worse than any Republican would dream of doing on his worst day. He has made it clear he’s learned nothing from the spectacular failures of the Carter administration.
2) Mike Rogers finished his blog post on Buse’s Cohn Award with a call for all readers to alert Focus on the Family of Buse’s presence on McCain’s staff. Those who support Roger’s vindictive efforts do not get to complain about “the cynical use of homophobia.”
3)
Don’t project your own unsavory opinins onto your opponents. Only an idiot does that.
Comment by David — September 25, 2008 @ 11:18 am - September 25, 2008
The reason why the left finds it logical is because they find it sad that a gay man is helping to run the office of someone who believes he should not be serving in the military, or people like him being discriminated in their workplace.
People like TR.Knight and Ellen can buy their civil rights, but not all of us have them depending on what state you live in.
Comment by center left in California — September 25, 2008 @ 11:33 am - September 25, 2008
LOL,
Ive been banned from leaving comments on Signorile’s site for daring to leave ONE comment, pointing out it is not anti-gay to think buttsex is not as valuable to society as bringing life into the world and that it should not be put on the same pedestal. That its instead a rational, logical, reasonable, and reality-based opinion. (pretty close to my actual words)
Course I think i also said that he was a partisan hack and a shrill hysterical queen, but still…entirely reality based!
Comment by American Elephant — September 26, 2008 @ 10:05 am - September 26, 2008