Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Monday, February 21, 2005

Conservative Press in Tizzy over Outings

Conservative Internet site Worldnet Daily today carped about gay activists' role in the scandal of the pseudo-reporter with the pseudonym, Jim Guckert (aka Jeff Gannon). They also whined about the recent avalanche of outings of leading figures in the supposedly conservative GOP.

Worldnet's Joseph Farah conveniently forgot to mention that bloggers such as Mike Rogers and John Byrne have previously outed major, homophobic GOP leaders, such as Reps. Ed Schrock, R-Va., and David Drier, R-Calif., and these scandals have so-far withstood scrutiny. Why should we doubt their word on other right wing figures? Worldnet Daily certainly failed to give us a reason to doubt the latest outings.

The larger story not mentioned by Worldnet Daily is the elitism of a Washington GOP that secretly embraces well-connected homosexuals, while publicly bashing less-connected gays in the hinterlands. As more GOP leaders get outed, it appears that publicly denouncing gay people is only a cynical political tactic, not a heart-felt belief by many party leaders.

The truth be told, cultural conservatives such as James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Lou Sheldon and Jerry Falwell are getting used by the GOP for votes and money. While these preachers pray and prey on gay people, their increasingly amoral party leaders - gay and straight - only worship power. They will use gay bashing as a tactic to win. They will also string along conservative leaders, without offering them substance.

It would all be very funny if so many people were not being hurt by an unnecessary cultural war that only benefits those in power.

Meanwhile, Gannon tells Newsweek he is now thinking of suing the bloggers, "liberal interest groups" and others for the "political assassination" that drove him from his White House gig at Talon News.

Aside from Gannon not understanding free speech, such a trial would be delicious. Put aside the graphic court-graphics of his reported secret Internet lifestyle. Forget the titillating, tawdry tales that might come from such an event, including the bizarre, shadowy, "conservative" characters slithering in and out of the courtroom. The main event would be hauling into court major GOP officials to finally get to the bottom of who sanctioned this circus act to get White House press passes.

For all the bravado from Gannon/Guckert/Whoever the hell he really is - we have yet to hear an honest account of who is responsible for letting him in the White House briefing room. Who is his connection? How do they know each other? Exactly what is their relationship?

Let us hope we get such answers. It would help if conservative media outlets like Worldnet Daily would spend as much time finding answers to such pertinent questions as focusing on gay activists. After all, it is their conservative base that is getting hosed by this administration.

4 Comments:

Gannon is such a clown. And what do you expect from Worldnet?
posted by Anonymous, at 2/21/2005 11:35 AM