Presidential Candidates and Gay Issues -- Tommy Thompson

In the recent Republican Presidential debate, Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin and former head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, was asked if a private employer should be allowed to fire a gay worker, "if the employer finds homosexuality immoral?"

Thompson's answer was, "I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be."

Afterwards Thompson offered several different excuses for his answer: he had the flu, he was taking medication for bronchitis, he badly needed to get off the podium and go to the restroom and therefore wasn't listening to the question, he thought it was about there being enough laws already to address discrimination in the workplace. Also, he added that he is deaf in one ear and that his hearing aid battery for the other ear had gone dead.

"I said it, I'm sorry, and it won't happen again but it's not my record. ... There's nothing discriminatory about me at all."

If you believe that, go Google these words: Tommy Thompson comments on Jews.

Presidental Candidates and Gay Issues -- Sam Brownback

Presidential candidate and Republican U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, from Kansas, on gay weddings...

In May 2007, Republican presidential candidate and Kansas senator, Sam Brownback bullied a nominee for a judgeship in Michigan, Janet Neff, because she had attended a same-sex union ceremony in 2002.

The Senate Judiciary Committee had cleared Neff for the post, but Brownback had questions about her role in the same-sex ceremony, which surfaced because of a wedding announcement in The New York Times.

Neff attended the ceremony for the daughter of close family friends and her partner. Neff said she gave a homily, but did not preside over the service. The family lived next door to Neff for 26 years.

"...was it a marriage ceremony?" Brownback asked.

"It was not," Neff said.

Brownback said the key issue is whether Neff participated in an illegal ceremony. Brownback blocked her nomination, arguing that being friends with a gay neighbor for more than two decades necessarily disqualifies a person for the federal bench, even if you’re nominated by the Bush White House.

He eventually dropped his opposition to her nomination. But only after proving to his base how macho he is. Read all about it here.

Photo from All Aussie Beef.

Soybeans make you gay

More weird science from the religious far right's favorite news service -- World Net Daily.

"There's a slow poison out there that's severely damaging our children and threatening to tear apart our culture." A warning from WND columnist Jim Rutz on the dangers of soy products.

It's worse than we thought...

Don't let the U.S. religious right wingers hear about this or we will all end up inside a piece of pita bread.

Mel or Fidel?

The planet's editorial cartoonists have had a wonderful couple of weeks since Mel had too much to drink and Fidel landed in the hospital. Daryl Cagle, at his site, Professional Cartoonists Index, offers you the following collections (and many more):
Mel Gibson Cartoons
Castro's Condition

Forget the Eurovision Song Contest

Get your tickets for the Mr. Heterosexual Contest, now!

Tired of hearing about gay contests such as the "Mr. Gay International Pagent?" Want just a teeny more intolerance in this world of ours? A Massachusetts talk show host has created the "Mr. Heterosexual Contest."

Sadly I have found no mention of the rules for the event's bathing suit competition.

Tom Crouse is host of the radio program Engaging Your World. The show is heard on several radio stations in the northeastern United States. Crouse is also pastor of Holland Congregational Church in Holland, Massachusetts.

According to the bio on his website, in his 43 years he has "led a rock band, wrestled professionally, been a VP of marketing for a private payphone business, owned his own business and sold everything from lawn care to kitchen cabinets to industrial painting equipment." Certainly the ideal background for someone who knows that homos are sinners and can be cured.

You can learn a lot more about him and his points of view at the Mr. Hetero site. Maybe it's just me but the guy seems to have a love of publicity and a good sized chip on his shoulder. Maybe it's from the years of pro wrestling?

Bang, bang!

I recently discovered a political blog out of Washington, DC called Capitol Hill Blue. Today they have lots of posts and comments on Dick Cheney's shooting party and the official explanations.

From CHB's founder, Doug Thompson, "...the White House once again proved it cannot even report on an accident without attempting to avoid blame."