Posted on 07/16/2005 12:12:46 PM PDT by 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.
Visit Philadelphia Online, the Inquirer's World Wide Web site, at http://www.philly.com
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
I never said that. Please don't put words in my mouth.
God is offended by all sin, I never said He is not. Further, I question you. For which particular sin, among other sins, was it that He actually destroyed a whole city?
Should I have said that God is offended by all sin EQUALLY?
More bullying by the fascist left.
That said, Santorum should have known better than to hire the guy. It just causes trouble. This poor judgment doesn't speak well of his re-election chances.
Santorum is just a basically decent guy while the left is basically evil.
I thought Santorum was Catholic.
What do FReeper Catholics think about this?
The Dems have outed GOP gays a lot lately.
It doesn't take. They just keep getting elected, re-elected and appointed.
Like most people, we are not interested in the private lives of individual people .We are against the gay political and social agenda.
Yeah, but I still don't see where I mentioned employment.
I think my suspicion of libertarian Republican will explain all of those ratings except perhaps the 100% Christian Coalition rating and the anti-civil rights rating....it depends on the specific issues looked at.
Doesn't bother me. I don't know how Santorum would have known. It actually would bother me if he was asking. Unless the guy was making out with another guy in front of him, why would it even be an issue?
My bosses never knew anything about my personal life. Maybe they wouldn't have wanted to hire a Catholic, who knows?
"For which particular sin, among other sins, was it that He actually destroyed a whole city?"
There are other instances of God laying waste to entire populations in the Old Testament. Off the top of my head there was Saul and the Amalekites. ISamuel:15
Yeah, but I still don't see where I mentioned employment.
Ummm, thats what the article is about... A gay dude works for him...
Well said. I just don't want it in my face. I think the civil rights laws and murder laws apply to all and don't have to have a special gay section!
BTTT.
Either you're right and we need to do some housecleaning, or you're wrong and you've just smeared by innuendo a good portion of the party infrastructure. My guess is the latter.
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.
My oldest son worked at the Capital after he left the Marine Corps. He told me there are so many homosexuals working in , and around there.
Of course the article is about some dude who works for Santorum. There wouldn't be an article otherwise would there be?
I'm talking about what led to the above question you asked.
Where did I say anything or even hint at anything about the guy's future employment or about the employment of gays, in general?
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