Former Head of RNC: I'm Gay

[Tiger Wench]

Bush Campaign Chief and Former RNC Chair Ken Mehlman: I'm Gay
Aug 25 2010, 5:45 PM ET |  Comment

Ken Mehlman, President Bush's campaign manager in 2004 and a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, has told family and associates that he is gay.

Mehlman arrived at this conclusion about his identity fairly recently, he said in an interview. He agreed to answer a reporter's questions, he said, because, now in private life, he wants to become an advocate for gay marriage and anticipated that questions would arise about his participation in a late-September fundraiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the group that supported the legal challenge to California's ballot initiative against gay marriage, Proposition 8.

"It's taken me 43 years to get comfortable with this part of my life," said Mehlman, now an executive vice-president with the New York City-based private equity firm, KKR. "Everybody has their own path to travel, their own journey, and for me, over the past few months, I've told my family, friends, former colleagues, and current colleagues, and they've been wonderful and supportive. The process has been something that's made me a happier and better person. It's something I wish I had done years ago."

Privately, in off-the-record conversations with this reporter over the years, Mehlman voiced support for civil unions and told of how, in private discussions with senior Republican officials, he beat back efforts to attack same-sex marriage. He insisted, too, that President Bush "was no homophobe." He often wondered why gay voters never formed common cause with Republican opponents of Islamic jihad, which he called "the greatest anti-gay force in the world right now."

Mehlman's leadership positions in the GOP came at a time when the party was stepping up its anti-gay activities -- such as the distribution in West Virginia in 2006 of literature linking homosexuality to atheism, or the less-than-subtle, coded language in the party's platform ("Attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country..."). Mehlman said at the time that he could not, as an individual Republican, go against the party consensus. He was aware that Karl Rove, President Bush's chief strategic adviser, had been working with Republicans to make sure that anti-gay initiatives and referenda would appear on November ballots in 2004 and 2006 to help Republicans.

Mehlman acknowledges that if he had publicly declared his sexuality sooner, he might have played a role in keeping the party from pushing an anti-gay agenda.

"It's a legitimate question and one I understand," Mehlman said. "I can't change the fact that I wasn't in this place personally when I was in politics, and I genuinely regret that. It was very hard, personally." He asks of those who doubt his sincerity: "If they can't offer support, at least offer understanding."

"What I do regret, and think a lot about, is that one of the things I talked a lot about in politics was how I tried to expand the party into neighborhoods where the message wasn't always heard. I didn't do this in the gay community at all."

He said that he "really wished" he had come to terms with his sexual orientation earlier, "so I could have worked against [the Federal Marriage Amendment]" and "reached out to the gay community in the way I reached out to African Americans."

Mehlman is aware that his attempts to justify his past silence will not be adequate for many people. He and his friends say that he is aware that he will no longer control the story about his identity -- which will simultaneously expose old wounds, invite Schadenfruede, and legitimize anger among gay rights activists in both parties who did not hide their sexual orientations.

Mehlman, who has never married, long found his sexuality subject to rumor and innuendo. He was the subject of an outing campaign by gay rights activist Mike Rogers, starting when Mehlman was Bush's campaign manager. Rogers's crusades against closeted gay Republicans split the organized gay lobby in Washington but were undoubtedly effective: he drove several elected officials, including Virginia Rep. Ed Shrock, from office, pushed out a would-be presidential campaign manager for George Allen well before Allen was set to run, slung rumors about Sen. Larry Craig's sexual orientation well before Craig's incident in a Minneapolis airport bathroom, and even managed to make homosexuality a wedge issue within the party's activist circles.

In 2006, Rogers caught up to Mehlman and asked him why he gave "so many confusing answers to social conservatives about your homosexuality," and followed up by asking whether Mehlman knew of a man who Rogers had claimed was Mehlman's secret partner. Mehlman denied to Rogers that he had given conflicting answers and said that the man in question was a law school classmate.

In several discussions I've had with Mehlman since he stepped down from the Republican National Committee in 2007, he never volunteered information about his sexual orientation, although charges that he presided over a resurgence in anti-gay sentiment were clearly an ongoing burden to him.

The disclosure at this stage of Mehlman's life strikes one close friend as being like a decision to jump off of a high diving board: Mehlman knows that there is plenty of water below, but it is still very scary to look down and make the leap. Mehlman likes order and certainty, and he knows that the reaction to his public confirmation cannot be predicted or contained.

Mehlman is the most powerful Republican in history to identify as gay.

Because his tenure as RNC chairman and his time at the center of the Bush political machine coincided with the Republican Party's attempts to exploit anti-gay prejudices and cement the allegiance of social conservatives, his declaration to the world is at once a personal act and an act of political speech.

"I wish I was where I am today 20 years ago. The process of not being able to say who I am in public life was very difficult. No one else knew this except me. My family didn't know. My friends didn't know. Anyone who watched me knew I was a guy who was clearly uncomfortable with the topic," he said.

During the Rogers crusades, many news organizations made attempts to confirm rumors and stories about Mehlman's sexuality. Republicans close to Mehlman either said they did not know, or that it did not matter, or that the question was offensive.

Mehlman once joked in public that although he was not gay, the rumors put a crimp on his social life. He admits to having misled several people who asked him directly.

He said that he plans to be an advocate for gay rights within the GOP, that he remains proud to be a Republican, and that his political identity is not defined by any one issue.

"What I will try to do is to persuade people, when I have conversations with them, that it is consistent with our party's philosophy, whether it's the principle of individual freedom, or limited government, or encouraging adults who love each other and who want to make a lifelong committment to each other to get married."

"I hope that we, as a party, would welcome gay and lesbian supporters. I also think there needs to be, in the gay community, robust and bipartisan support [for] marriage rights."

Ed Gillespie, a former RNC chairman and long-time friend of Mehlman, said that "it is significant that a former chairman of the Republiucan National Committe is openly gay and that he is supportive of gay marriage." Although Gillespie himself opposes gay marriage, he pointed to party stalwarts like former Vice President Dick Cheney and strategist Mary Matalin as open advocates for gay rights who had not been drummed out of the party. He acknowledged "big generational differences in perception when it comes to gay marriage and gay rights as an agenda, and I think that is true on the Republican side."

But, Gillespie said, he does not envision the party platform changing anytime soon.

"There are a lot of Republicans who are gay, there are a lot of Republicans who support government sanction of gay marriage, a lot of Republicans who support abortion on demand, a lot of Republicans who support cap-and-trade provisions. They're not single-issue voters." Gillespie acknowledged that the party had been inhospitable to gays in the past, and said that he hopes Mehlman's decision to come out leads the party to be "more respectful and civil in our discourse" when it comes to gays.

Mehlman said that his formal coming-out process began earlier this year. Over the past several weeks, he has notified former colleagues, including former President Bush. Once he realized that the news would probably leak, he assembled a team of former advisers to help him figure out the best way to harness the publicity generated by the disclosure for the cause of marriage rights. He is worried that some will see his decision to go public as opportunistic. Mehlman recently moved to Chelsea, a gay mecca in New York City. He refused to discuss his personal life with me, and he plans to give only a few print interviews on the subject.

Chad Griffin, the California-based political strategist who organized opposition to Proposition 8, said that Mehlman's quiet contributions to the American Foundation for Equal Rights are "tremendous," adding that "when we achieve equal equality, he will be one of the people to thank for it." Mehlman has become a de facto strategist for the group, and he has opened up his rolodex -- recruiting, as co-hosts for the AFER fundraiser: Paul Singer, a major Republican donor, hedge fund executive, and the president of the Manhattan Institute; Benjamin Ginsberg, one of the GOP's top lawyers; Michael Toner, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission; and two former GOP governors, William Weld of Massachusetts and Christie Todd Whitman of New Jersey.

Dustin Lance Black, the Academy Award winning writer of "Milk," said, "Ken represents an incredible coup for the American Foundation for Equal Rights. We believe that our mission of equal rights under the law is one that should resonate with every American. As a victorious former presidential campaign manager and head of the Republican Party, Ken has the proven experience and expertise to help us communicate with people across each of the 50 states."

[AUTailgatingRules]

Is he going to now become a democrat?

[Tiger Wench]

Nope - he is a committed Republican.

[AUTailgatingRules]

Does he like gay thread hijacks?  Maybe we should invite him to the X

[Tarheel]

I heard about this news this morning and thought to myself "so what".  The evil mastermind and Illuminati leader himself, Cheney, supports gay "marriage" too but that hasn't made any impact on the RNC's opposition to it.

Perhaps the RNC will be more receptive to the gay "marriage" issue in the future but gay Republicans, like other Republicans, should be more concerned about (and focused on ending) Imam Obama's destructive Economic Policies which are paralyzing the greatest economy on earth.

[AUJarhead]

Perhaps the RNC will be more receptive to the gay "marriage" issue in the future but gay Republicans, like other Republicans, should be more concerned about (and focused on ending) Imam Obama's destructive Economic Policies which are paralyzing the greatest economy on earth.

Totally agree.  If two dudes want to rub dongs all over them, I could care less.  Fix the damn economy.

[Saniflush]

How about they rub dongs on Barry instead?

[GH2001]

Nope - he is a committed Republican.

Log Cabin

[CCTAU]

Log Cabin

If the left can keep the right concentrated on our rogue gay factions, then they can continue to spend like a drunken gay bar whore.

Give ma a candidate that says he will ignore everything and anything except spending cuts and national security for 4 years and I will vote for that candidate. Right now, the little things do not matter. If we have no viable country, then what does it matter who is boinking who, or which orifice it is in.

[djsimp]

How about they rub dongs on Barry instead?

Greg Gutfeld's gay Islamic bar will be jumping like 1999.

[Snaggletiger]

Greg Gutfeld's gay Islamic bar will be jumping like 1999.

Boink, boink, boink, boink..

[Tarheel]

Greg Gutfeld's gay Islamic bar will be jumping like 1999.

Boink, boink, boink, boink..

Who would have thought there were so many "Red Eye" fans on the X.

[AUChizad]

If the left can keep the right concentrated on our rogue gay factions, then they can continue to spend like a drunken gay bar whore.

Give ma a candidate that says he will ignore everything and anything except spending cuts and national security for 4 years and I will vote for that candidate. Right now, the little things do not matter. If we have no viable country, then what does it matter who is boinking who, or which orifice it is in.

I've commented on this kind of defense before, but it is so bass-ackwards logically, it isn't even funny.

Let's not "waste our time" worrying about things such as the rights of a significant portion of the population. Let's make sure that gay marriage remains illegal, enforce Don't Ask Don't Tell, etc, while continuing to not accept gays as basic decent human beings, even when they are trying to be supportive of a common cause we believe in. Fuck 'em. As if making things illegal is the default, and oppressing a faction of society is the default. It takes far more effort to leave them the hell alone than it does to enforce laws to oppress them? How you figure?

With this situation in particular, you'd think with the current state of the Republican party, you'd be welcoming any support you could get. Guys who like dick get to vote too, you know, as much as some of you wish they couldn't. It's easier to, by default, hate this guy and others like him, who agree with you on every thing but what they like to put their dick in? You'd rather send him away to vote with the Democrats, and therefore, get more votes FOR the economic issues you're bitching about.

[CCTAU]

I've commented on this kind of defense before, but it is so bass-ackwards logically, it isn't even funny.

Let's not "waste our time" worrying about things such as the rights of a significant portion of the population. Let's make sure that gay marriage remains illegal, enforce Don't Ask Don't Tell, etc, while continuing to not accept gays as basic decent human beings, even when they are trying to be supportive of a common cause we believe in. Fuck 'em. As if making things illegal is the default, and oppressing a faction of society is the default. It takes far more effort to leave them the hell alone than it does to enforce laws to oppress them? How you figure?

With this situation in particular, you'd think with the current state of the Republican party, you'd be welcoming any support you could get. Guys who like dick get to vote too, you as much as some of you wish they couldn't. It's easier to, by default, hate this guy and others like him, who agree with you on every thing but what they like to put their dick in? You'd rather send him away to vote with the Democrats, and therefore, get more votes FOR the economic issues you're bitching about.

Looking for an argument where there is none, huh? All I asked for a candidate who would cut spending and have a strong national security policy. And you went off on another dick-sucker-loving tirade. Go figure.

[GH2001]

I've commented on this kind of defense before, but it is so bass-ackwards logically, it isn't even funny.

Let's not "waste our time" worrying about things such as the rights of a significant portion of the population. Let's make sure that gay marriage remains illegal, enforce Don't Ask Don't Tell, etc, while continuing to not accept gays as basic decent human beings, even when they are trying to be supportive of a common cause we believe in. Fuck 'em. As if making things illegal is the default, and oppressing a faction of society is the default. It takes far more effort to leave them the hell alone than it does to enforce laws to oppress them? How you figure?

With this situation in particular, you'd think with the current state of the Republican party, you'd be welcoming any support you could get. Guys who like dick get to vote too, you know, as much as some of you wish they couldn't. It's easier to, by default, hate this guy and others like him, who agree with you on every thing but what they like to put their dick in? You'd rather send him away to vote with the Democrats, and therefore, get more votes FOR the economic issues you're bitching about.

You don't see the big picture.

If this economic mess isn't straightened out and soon, then your sexual orientation or your "rights" aren't gonna matter a whole lot.

[AUChizad]

You don't see the big picture.

If this economic mess isn't straightened out and soon, then your sexual orientation or your "rights" aren't gonna matter a whole lot.

So stop "giving a shit". Stop advocating bans on gay marriage or programs like DADT. Accept guys like the subject of this thread as people that could help your cause.

That's what I don't get. You say "Yeah, we shouldn't care about these things, we should be focusing on these other things", but in fact, you obviously do care about these things, or it wouldn't be an issue at all.

I agree with your premise, but don't think you guys are truly following it.

So the dude's gay. He's on your side of the Healthcare debate. And some here are trying to say "Fuck that guy, we don't need him on our side."

If "concentrating on rogue gay factions" is a distraction, then truly stop giving a shit. Legalize gay marriage. Abolish DADT. THAT'S not giving a shit. Not continuing these laws and policies that make it an issue.

[GH2001]

So stop "giving a shit". Stop advocating bans on gay marriage or programs like DADT. Accept guys like the subject of this thread as people that could help your cause.

That's what I don't get. You say "Yeah, we shouldn't care about these things, we should be focusing on these other things", but in fact, you obviously do care about these things, or it wouldn't be an issue at all.

I agree with your premise, but don't think you guys are truly following it.

So the dude's gay. He's on your side of the Healthcare debate. And some here are trying to say "Fuck that guy, we don't need him on our side."

If "concentrating on rogue gay factions" is a distraction, then truly stop giving a shit. Legalize gay marriage. Abolish DADT. THAT'S not giving a shit. Not continuing these laws and policies that make it an issue.

I, CCT, Jarhead and Tarheel have actually all said we could careless if he rubs ding dongs with other dudes as long as he gets it where it counts now which is economically. Handel (in GA) was reportedly pro-gay marriage and she was who I supported (although I dont live in GA and didnt vote). Because its not an issue that is going to decide the direction of our country. A direction that will either be what we have the last 200 years or one where we will practically be owned by the ChiComms (who own the most of our debt) ?  We don't have the time and resources to have every issue today on the table. You don't just "abolish" DADT with a wand. It is something that has to be written, something to be debated, voted on, etc etc.....Although important to many, this issue does not rank with the economy at the moment.

Let the dust get settled some on this turmoil the country is going through, and I would have no problem with this issue being brought to the table - whichever way it turns out.

[Tarheel]

You don't see the big picture.

If this economic mess isn't straightened out and soon, then your sexual orientation or your "rights" aren't gonna matter a whole lot.

The Economy is THE big issue...I don't even see gay marriage on the radar any more, Chizad, with all due respect.  I know there's a lot of folk who care about it but the Economy, Government Ethics, Healthcare, Taxes, Social Security, Education, National Security, Immigration, Afghanistan, and the War in Iraq are ALL ahead of it.  Social Issues are going to have to wait.

Besides, the Defense of Marriage Act is the Law of the Land and it explicitly leaves the definition of "Marriage" to the States and defers to the States' authority to recognize (or not recognize) another States' definition of "marriage".  This is the essence of Jeffersonian democracy at work.

When some Dems tried to repeal DoMA last year guess who stopped the attempt....wait for it....Rep. Barney Frank (GayDem-MA).  Imagine that.

[Tarheel]

...
I agree with your premise, but don't think you guys are truly following it.

...

Chizad, I do follow it.  I just don't support gay marriage; I guess you don't follow that.  I do support Civil Unions for legal purposes for gay couples; you may not follow that either.

I also support DoMA which allows the States to define Marriage as they see fit (please see my post above).

*Edit: Just FYI, the Defense of Marriage Act which was overwhelmingly approved by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton...was authored by...Bob Barr.  (Wait...wasn't he the Libertarian Presidential Candidate last go around?  Political flip-flop comes to my mind.)

[GarMan]

So stop "giving a poop". Stop advocating bans on gay marriage or programs like DADT. Accept guys like the subject of this thread as people that could help your cause.

That's what I don't get. You say "Yeah, we shouldn't care about these things, we should be focusing on these other things", but in fact, you obviously do care about these things, or it wouldn't be an issue at all.

I agree with your premise, but don't think you guys are truly following it. 

The TigersX ADVOCATE has spoken... 
Meanwhile...  http://www.thebody.com/content/art58735.html

So the dude's gay. He's on your side of the Healthcare debate. And some here are trying to say "phuk that guy, we don't need him on our side."

Who?  Has anyone in this thread said anything like that?  There are plenty of gay Republicans.  So what?  There are also plenty of gays, Republican and  Democrat, who don't support gay marriage either.  In fact, there are plenty of gays who don't support repealing DADT, but your side won't let them have a voice. 

If "concentrating on rogue gay factions" is a distraction, then truly stop giving a poop. Legalize gay marriage. Abolish DADT. THAT'S not giving a poop. Not continuing these laws and policies that make it an issue. 

Do you have one of these on your bumper?