Monday, September 12, 2016

Gays remember the last time Mike Pence would not answer a simple question . . .

Trying to build some anti-Hillary Clinton momentum on a comment she made last weekend has probably backfired (at least I hope it does) on the Trump/Pence campaign.

Last weekend during a fundraiser, Clinton said half of Trump's supporters could be put in a "basket of deplorables". She was commenting on various racist, sexist, xenophobic, and all-around nasty comments these folks have made during Trump's campaign rallies.  Even though she had a point, the Trump campaign and various conservatives have been attempting to manufacture a "pivotal campaign" moment from it.

Because of the "magic" of the internet, they have been unsuccessful. Folks have been posting and referring to old videos and articles which proved Clinton's point. However, Trump and company have continued to milk her statement.

They really should have stopped. Today, Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer on CNN and that led to this exchange in which Pence refused to denounce white supremacist and former Klan leader David Duke as "deplorable":

BLITZER: But [Clinton] said, there are supporters, and you know this, there are some supporters of Donald Trump and Mike Pence, who, David Duke, for example, some other white nationalist, who would fit into that category of deplorables. Right?"

PENCE: "As I’ve told you the last time I was on, I'm not sure why the media keeps dropping David Duke's name. Donald Trump has denounced David Duke repeatedly. We don't want his support and we don't want the support of people who think like him."

BLITZER: "You called him a deplorable. You would call him a deplorable?"

PENCE: "No, I'm not in the name-calling business, Wolf, you know me better than that."

The media keeps bringing up Duke because Duke has aligned himself with Trump, including saying that he and Trump share the same voters. Duke also endorsed Trump, who at first, would not disavow the endorsement.

Pence's reluctance to denounce Duke as "deplorable" reminds me of the time last year when he was asked eight times about the anti-lgbt "religious liberty" law he signed as governor of Indiana. Eight times he refused to say whether or not the law could be used to discriminate against lgbts:



And they like to claim that Clinton won't answer a simple question?

'Hate group hoping Trump will roll back lgbt & reproductive rights' & other Mon. midday news briefs

The Family Research has a 'wish list' for Trump if he wins.

FRC's Agenda For President Trump's First 100 Days: Roll Back LGBT & Reproductive Rights - If you don't think this election is a big deal for the lgbt community, think again. Unfortunately almost every election is a big deal for us. Either deal with it or go home and hide under the covers.

New lawsuit demonizes transgender girl for acting like a girl - This is repulsive. The way the anti-lgbt is specifically targeting transgender kids is unlike anything I have seen. And I have seen a LOT.  

My Search For A Lesbian Donald Trump Supporter - Finding an lgbt Donald Trump supporter in general has to be . . . interesting.  

NC Gov. McCrory: Business Lobby Group Helped Shape LGBT Law - McCrory still in the pit of mud over HB2. 

RuPaul Wins His First Emmy! - Batten down the hatches. RuPaul has an Emmy.

Gary Bauer got away with helping to further the AIDS crisis

Religious right talking head Gary Bauer is the classic case of what happens when the lgbt community doesn't raise sufficient hell about those who have harmed us.

In the 80s, Bauer worked in the Reagan Administration.  He also undermined efforts to educate Reagan on the AIDS crisis and efforts to get the president to address it publicly. He was instrumental in undermining Surgeon General C. Everett Koop as the crisis swept through the nation. According to Koop, Bauer felt that AIDS was God's punishment.

So was Bauer ever made to address these issues. No. Not when he was the first president of anti-lgbt hate group the Family Research Council. Not when he ran for president in 2000. And of course not when he gave the following speech last weekend at FRC's nonsensical Values Voter Summit:




I hate to say it but Bauer will probably never have to answer for his efforts in furthering the AIDS crisis.

Related post:  

Gary Bauer - the anti-gay talking head who undermined the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Reagan Administration