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."
---
© 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 actually looked at the stuff you linked, but No, I didn't read it closely. I've read much similar stuff in the past. They're not "facts," by the way. I love the internet, really, but what I hate about it is, people like you read something that doesn't have all that many misspellings and think, it must be a scientific tract. I can't rely on "personal testimony" about "conversions" as "fact." Scientists have strict standards for this stuff. Even the much maligned field of journalism asks for a "second source"--corroboration. I mean, real corroboration. Just my opinion: I feel you're out of your league.
"Good night, maybe we will meet again on a subject we both agree on."
Nice thing to say. I hope so. Good night.
( o )
Are you lying or parsing? It's hard to tell from here.
Why do you feel compelled to ramp up the heat using personal invective?
Actually, I don't even want to know. Delphinium, xzins and myself have not insulted homosexuals, have not used perjorative words describing them, and you are one of the ones who has used personal insults to bait us with.
I am perfectly happy to debate with those who disagree with me. But how can a debate be carried on when one side (you in particular, and a couple of others) simply name call and use personal attack methods?
Any observer can see what happened on this thread tonight. Who was the incendiary, and who wasn't.
So Dr. Spitzer's an idiot like me?
"...to rant and rave about "demon" homos getting in line for the everlasting fires of hell...is to hand the other side more victories than they deserve. "
OK, put your money where your mouth is. For the benefit of all of us who have put time into this thread, kindly document exactly where I ranted and raved about any types of demons or divine retribution whatsoever. Please cite the number of the post and the exact wording.
"Any observer can see what happened on this thread tonight. Who was the incendiary, and who wasn't."
I love it when they run out of steam...and back down... and try to make people feel sorry for them.
Re post 4, I agree with your take on this.
Santorum equates the BEHAVIOR of homosexuality with that of incest..illegal activity. Ok to employ seudo-criminals?
Bad behavior is the effect of poor judgement. This staffer exercises poor judgement in his personal life that is proven in studies to reduce life expectancy drastically. At a minimum this staffer has a conflict of interest with a key stance Santorum has taken. At a minimum this staffer's judgement is certainly to be questioned.
Regarding other people's claims that homosexuality is common among conservatives, I shudder and can now understand the party's long term trend of sliding to the left and embrace of humanism and hedonism.
I wonder if you'd act as tough in person.
I highly doubt it. It's easy to be an armchair bad guy, tossing insults about like hard candy.
So Dr. Spitzer's an idiot like me?
grey_whiskers, I am tired of looking at post 33.If you think I'm a troll-oh nevermind.
This debate isn't about me, or you - it's about facts. Which you have slithered away from consistently.
Nighty night!
Do you realize how ironic these statements appear?
"OK, put your money where your mouth is. For the benefit of all of us who have put time into this thread, kindly document exactly where I ranted and raved about any types of demons or divine retribution whatsoever. Please cite the number of the post and the exact wording."
Context is everything. That sort of blind quote is used to make a point--it's not a direct quote of anyone in particular, it's the kind of "general quote" a certain "type" might be relied on to utter or think. And don't come at me for that, it's right out of journalism 101. By the way, I reread it, and there's nothing there to suggest I was saying I was directly quoting YOU.
As for "the benefit of all of us who have put time into this thread," get over yourself. Like the libs say, if you don't like the content, change the channel.
Tone down the language or you'll get yourself a time out
That's pretty naive. If Santorum was that clueless, he has no business being a US Senator.
I'm not suggesting you be that forgiving. Particularly for his betrayal of Toomey, and the fact that he went all out for Spector coupled with his arrogant comments regarding his behavior after the election (i.e. Sometimes people have to take one for the party), I will not be voting for Rick this time around. It's time for Rick to take one, for the conservative cause.
Other conservative politicians will then realize, their supporters aren't working for their election for NOTHING only to be forgotten and ignored after they win. We expect to be rewarded for our hardwork.
I do believe the first politician Santorum ever worked for was pro-choice. That says it all right there. For Santorum, politics comes first.
"He rode the conservative wave to where he is and now he feels safe enough to be who he really is."
He'll compromise his principles to save his career.
"I also believe that he seriously miscalculated the anger he engendered."
Absolutely.
I'm sure that the media is having a field day with this because Traynham probably opposes the militant Homosexual Activist Agenda.
I have a few friends who are gay, both of them make me look like a liberal/RINO by comparison.
I'd love to see the (likely private) reaction some liberal pols or MSM people have if one of their children came out... Probably quite intolerant.
"By the way, I reread it, and there's nothing there to suggest I was saying I was directly quoting YOU. "
Then why reply to me? You were wrong and you couldn't match my show down, so you try to slide out. It's not working.
You have done little but label others offensively this evening, then deny responsibility when confronted.
Since you are so worried about what others think, think this: learn to communicate your points without attacking others, only the topic.
See if you can go ten whole posts without defaming someone. I bet you can't.
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