Top Santorum Aide Outed As Gay

San Luis Obispo Tribune ^ | 7/15/2005 | Steve Goldstein

[gopgen]

Gay-rights opponent Santorum stands by outed aide

BY STEVE GOLDSTEIN

Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - The senior spokesman for Sen. Rick Santorum, R- Pa., Friday confirmed to a web log that he is gay.

According to PageOneQ, an online gay and lesbian publication, director of communications Robert L. Traynham, said that he was an "out gay man who completely supports the senator."

Santorum, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate leadership has been an outspoken opponent of homosexual rights and a leading proponent of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Santorum, who was traveling in Pittsburgh, released the following statement:

"Robert Traynham ... is widely respected and admired on Capitol Hill, both among the press corps and among the congressional staff, as a communications professional. Not only is Mr. Traynham an exemplary staffer, but he is also a trusted friend confidente to me and my family. Mr. Traynham is a valued member of my staff and I regret that this effort on behalf of people who oppose me has made him a target of bigotry in their eyes.

"It is entirely unacceptable that my staffs' personal lives are considered fair game by partisans looking for arguments to bolster my opponent's campaign. Mr. Traynham continues to have my full support and confidence as well as my prayers as he navigates this rude and mean spirited invasion of his personal life."

Mark Rodgers, chief of staff at the Republican conference, which Santorum chairs, said, "Robert is a tremendous employee and we're all for standing by him." Traynham's homosexuality was not news to the senator or his staff, he added.

In the online interview, Traynham defended his decision to work with the senator. "Sen. Santorum is a man of principle, he is a man who sticks up for what he believes in. I strongly do support Sen. Santorum.

Asked whether he supported Santorum's views on lesbian and gay issues, Traynham told PageOneQ, "Sen. Santorum is a family man. I have been with him for eight years and I am very proud to be with him."

The two-term senator is up for reelection next year. His expected Democratic opponent is State Treasurer Robert P. Casey, Jr.

Traynham began working for Santorum since 1997 as a press assistant and then deputy press secretary. He was press secretary for the senator's 2000 reelection campaign in Pennsylvania. Just prior to becoming communications director in the Senate office, Traynham served as director of communications for the Senate Republican Conference.

Traynham holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, where he currently serves on the Council of Trustees.

In supporting the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would prohibit gay marriage, Santorum has equated homeland security with the sanctity of traditional marriage. He has referred to gay marriage as "messing with the basic family unit."

During an interview with The Associated Press two years ago about a challenge to the constitutionality of Texas's sodomy law, Santorum said that if the Supreme Court allows gay sex at home (which it ultimately did), "you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."

On the marriage issue, Santorum also said: "In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be."

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© 2005, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

[hoosierham]

Well,explain how homosexuality complements any part of the traditional conservative view.

[little jeremiah]

(A) I kept it private until you kept up your nastiness.

(B) My comment was in response to your baseless, personal and vile remarks to xzins.

(C) Is your motto "Free Speech For Me and Not For Thee", by any chance?

[little jeremiah]

How am I pontificating? Are you saying anyone who considers homosexual acts unnatural and immoral and unhealthy, and deplores the promotion of homosexuality is pontificating?

Please clarify.

[Howlin]

It complements the part where conservatives want the United States government to stay OUT of their PRIVATE LIVES, that's how.

Now that is a REAL conservative value.

If you don't want them shoving their lifestyle in your face, why on earth are YOU butting in with your opinion of theirs?

[Howlin]

I'm saying you're here with an agenda, to judge Rick Santorum and anybody else who might associate with gays.

[little jeremiah]

Asking someone how he would feel if his grandson was a homosexual is not stating a fact. Surely you know this.

[Mo1]

And the point of the press reporting this is???

[hoosierham]

It occurs to me that in order to "accept" homosexuality one needs to reject traditional Jewish and Christian teaching,especially one must reject the Biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah. One must reject the concept of free will as well, since the behavior of the homosexual is the point,not skin color,birthplace,or obvious gender.Jesus said the commandment to love others as ourselves is the highest;now do you love yourself if you persist in self-destructive behavior ?

[k2blader]

Great question.

[Howlin]

(B) My comment was in response to your baseless, personal and vile remarks to xzins.

So, asking a person who is JUDGING other people's children because they are gay what will happen if one of HIS "children" is gay is ATTACKING and VILE?

I see which side you're on here; anybody who disagrees with you is attacking and vile.

You kept it private? Don't make me laugh; anybody who speaks to others like that in private OR on this forum, cannot possibly be taken seriously.

[Howlin]

I ask a simple question, period.

[Howlin]

Asking someone how he would feel if his grandson was a homosexual is not stating a fact.

And please tell me why that is a vile personal attack?

I think it's only fair to ask somebody what THEY would do if it happens to them, don't you?

[little jeremiah]

You are looking for something that is not there. You will notice I have not criticized Sen. Santorum; in fact, this is what I said:

Freedom of association is a basic right. I am not saying that Santorum was right or wrong to hire the guy; maybe he didn't know he was a homosexual when he hired him, maybe the guy is very good at what he does; who knows, maybe he would like to change! Maybe this, maybe that.

[Howlin]

You were called to this thread to defend your pal.

And maybe he did know he was a homosexual when he hired him; that has NOTHING to do with whether he's a conservative or not, much as you'd like it to be different.

[Concerned]

NMH WROTE: "Santorum is a self serving HYPOCRITE!"

NMH ADDED: "His "personal life" is PUBLIC when you are in a PUBLIC position."

NMH ADDED: "Defending a homosexual when you claim to be AGAINST their life style choice is disgusting when it BENEFITS you."

NMH ADDED: "Disgusting."

Senator Santorum is an elected public official. His staff is NOT.

I am about as pro-life and anti-sodomite-lifestyle as one can get, yet I have no problem with Santorum's stance. (BTW, I prefer to use the Biblical term for such behaviour.)

I used to work as a sales person with someone I strongly suspect was a sodomite. We worked together, however---as a TEAM---extremely well and we were the TOP two in sales in the store.

He NEVER said a word about what he did in his bedroom or with anyone he might have been involved with. In fact, I have NO idea IF he was seeing anyone because he NEVER mentioned it.

THE KEY is that it is NOT what people do in their BEDROOM that offends people so much---it is what they do and FORCE you to see IN PUBLIC!!!

To me, it really makes NO difference whether you are FORCED to see PUBLIC indecency by two sodomites, two heterosexuals, a pedophile and their victim or anyone participating in indecent behaviour IN PUBLIC---I don't want to see ANY of it!

Let me ask you: If you had a sales business, i.e. your business DEPENDED on sales volume, and a sodomite was a fantastic salesperson and in fact, was the TOP salesperson in your sales force, wouldn't YOU want to have the VERY BEST PRODUCING SALESPERSON work for YOU??? I sure would! And apparently, Senator Santorum thinks the same way.

BTW, we ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of GOD!

[little jeremiah]

I really think you should retire to your chamber with a vial of lavender oil and perhaps some warm milk. You're shadow boxing with your own phantasms.

No one called me to this thread; I saw it on the sidebar.

BTW, you claimed that just about everyone here has a homosexual relative. If you really think that, you've drunk deep of the Koolaid.

[Dane]

And maybe he did know he was a homosexual when he hired him; that has NOTHING to do with whether he's a conservative or not, much as you'd like it to be different

Everybody take a breather here, LJ was not attacking Sen. Santorum.

If anything LJ was sticking up for Santorum.

We all know that Rick Santorum is one of the most conservative Senators, Howlin, my opinion FWIW, don't burn any bridges with a match lit by the liberal media.

[jdhljc169]

You cannot have a gay person as a friend? What if you work with a gay person, do you refuse to deal with him? If you live next door do you refuse to say hello?

Gay people exist. You can hate the lifesyle, you can hate the gay activist agenda, but you shouldn't hate the individual.
*******

YEP!

[hoosierham]

If they didn't insist on special parades and an outrageous over-representation in the evening tv shows and movies,didn't try to tell obvious lies about their intent when wanting to be scout leaders ,etc. then I wouldn't know and wouldn't care. Homosexuals these days are into recruitment, not acceptance.

I don't believe the courts were correct in extending special protections to the un-natural acts of those afflicted by a mental disorder; instead they ought to be helped to control their urges.

Of course the courts have done very little for years that anyone with an interest in preserving the family with the hard-working, decent father as head, the mother as natural nurturer, the family home as a secure refuge from unwanted outside interference,etc.

This Nation was founded by a Godly people and its Constitution will not restrain the ungodly. When Man truly believes his wisdom and judgment is supreme and there is no afterlife,then he may do whatever he pleases;murder,rape,lies,-all are only tools of the strong against the weaker. Strongest man takes all.He who dies with the most toys and ,perhaps, offspring, wins!!!!

[jayhorn]

I think it's only fair to ask somebody what THEY would do if it happens to them, don't you?

What do feelings have to do with this? Logic is a more than sufficient debating tool.