Comments on: Welcome Out, Ken Mehlman

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:23:38 +0000

It is like republicans fall out of the closet sometimes. Plus people already have pretty well thought out assumptions based on behaviors in the first place.

By: Rob in San Diego

Rob in San Diego — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:14:03 +0000

I agree with you Junius, he needs to not support candidates that fight against our causes.

By: Other Fred in the UK

Other Fred in the UK — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:09:03 +0000

My tuppence worth …..

There a reason why politics is full of opportunists, opportunism is a very successful strategy. Very few who stick rigidly to all the principles they hold are successful in politics. Compromise and supping with the devil, albeit with a long spoon, are useful skills.

If American Lesbians and Gays want equal rights sooner rather than later I suggest that you make the most of opportunities such as Mehlmam. Other the other hand you are free to put your principles before your rights.

By: L. Junius Brutus

L. Junius Brutus — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:46:21 +0000

Ben M: “Um… he hasn’t apologized for it, and continues to active support anti-gay candidates. Maybe in his mind supporting these candidates is balanced out by supporting marriage equality, but all his fund-raising would be for naught if he got his candidates elected and they passed the FMA.”

This is true. But do you think that he has an obligation to become a one-issue person? It may be easy for left-wingers to always support the person who is most liberal on gay issues, but this is difficult for people who are more conservative.

By: David Wood

David Wood — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:19:07 +0000

Mehlman is just Karl Rove’s gay-boy. He can now help split the gay vote against President Obama, just like it’s happening elsewhere as republicans find public opinion has changed. More of the insidious way they will try to win at any cost.

By: Ben M

Ben M — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:40:06 +0000

Brutus said “Mehlman hasn’t done that, which is why I embrace him fully.”

Um… he hasn’t apologized for it, and continues to active support anti-gay candidates. Maybe in his mind supporting these candidates is balanced out by supporting marriage equality, but all his fund-raising would be for naught if he got his candidates elected and they passed the FMA.

By: Jimmy Mac

Jimmy Mac — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:03:46 +0000

This self-serving action was a day late and a dollar short. What is he going to do to atone for the damage against the LGBT communities that he fomented while protecting his own butt?

By: L. Junius Brutus

L. Junius Brutus — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:54:10 +0000

Ashburn defended his conduct, and continued to defend his anti-gay positions, until he was reformed. And I might be mistaken, but wasn’t he married? He was rightfully criticized for both those things. Mehlman hasn’t done that, which is why I embrace him fully.

Tommy: “No Brutus, as always it would be “GO TO HELL FOR NOT COMING TO THAT OPINION WHEN YOU COULD HAVE ACTUALLY DONE SOMETHING TO SUPPORT IT!” and “YOU LYING [explicative deleted] FOR USING OUR RIGHTS TO DRUM UP VOTES FOR YOUR FAILED POLICIES, AND THEN HAVE THE AUDACITY TO COME TO US WHEN YOUR COW RAN DRY CLAIMING A FAKE CHANGE OF HEART!””

Yeah. In other words, you are never happy or content, no matter what someone does. I for one would be happy if Bush expressed his support for gay marriage. I don’t think we should criticize him for doing something right, regardless of his past actions. I realize that I’m not owed anything by people.

But I’m impressed that you can divine whether a hypothetical change of heart is “fake”.

By: Mihangel apYrs

Mihangel apYrs — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:04:30 +0000

I suppose the most positive thing one can say about his integrity is that he didn’t marry, unlike too many politicians, especially on the Right (we’ve just had one come out in the UK, had a wife and son: not really on in this day and age!)

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:37:18 +0000

I too was considering how Ashburn has slowly and gradually earned the commuity’s respect. But I do recall the same comments being made by many folk here about Ashburn at the time.

Perhaps in a year or so Mehlman will also earn your respect. We can certainly hope so.