August 11th, 2011
On Tuesday the LA Times ran an article by Mark Barabak about gay Jewish Republican presidential candidate Fred Karger,
By running for president and trying to get on stage for at least one debate — the overriding goal of his candidacy — Karger hopes to send a message to people like himself: a boy growing up outside Chicago and, later, a closeted adult, shamed by society’s view of his sexuality and too scared to admit, even to himself, who he was.
They need to understand, Karger says, that not only is it OK to be gay, it’s also possible to be gay and an unflinching candidate for the nation’s highest office.
Ultimately, Fred’s goal is revolutionary. If he is successful, he will – at some point – walk onto a stage in front of cameras and show the world that the quest for the American Presidency actually is open to anyone who is dedicated to the fight and whose positions can resonate with voters.
And, to the horror of much of the Republican Party, Fred mere presence would demonstrate that “anyone” doesn’t come with an *asterisk.
(* – except gay people)
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MattNYC
August 11th, 2011
I think if he and Huntsman together paid for air time and had a discussion of the issues, that President Obama would have a real problem in 2012. Karger and Huntsman are the only sane, smart people running on the GOP side. I disagree with their fiscal views, but they obviously have valid, reasoned ideas.
I only wish we could find someone with a similar temperament, good ideas, and a backbone to run on the Democratic side.
HarrySF
August 12th, 2011
We already have a president with good ideas, unfortunately it is not his backbone that is weak rather the congress’ ability to work toward equality in this country is weak. We see that President Obama has an “evolving” stance on gay marriage (meaning in his heart he has always felt the inequality) but the need to govern from the center and reach consensus has undermined his entire presidency. Like Clinton, he can drop all of that pretense and do the hard work for social and economic equality in his second term.
Regan DuCasse
August 12th, 2011
Karger qualified to be at the debate in IA, OVER Santorum…who didn’t at all.
What’s up with THAT? If Karger, regardless of qualifying for a Presidential debate gets treated like this, what does it say about how the FEC and qualifying standards are to begin with?
Santorum was the one who isn’t likely to qualify to be in on any of these forums. Yet, he’s all over the place as IF.
Were the candidates talking about Jews the way they are gays, and didn’t invite a viable Jewish candidate to debate, they wouldn’t get away with such blatant bigotry.
And Karger and the rest of us would do well to say so. Early and often.
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