Posted on 07/04/2007 7:49:30 AM PDT by chief911
Robert Traynham, former communications director for U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., had been wooed by several presidential campaigns, but seemed to be heading for something of a timeout from politics.
Now it seems he's changed course and has signed on with actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson's campaign as a senior adviser.
It's a "shrewd move," says Sharon Cobb...
who notes Traynham brings strong qualifications to the campaign plus hiring the openly gay man could help win support of moderate Republicans.
Since Santorum's defeat, Traynham has hung out his own PR shingle, working for a variety of private sector clients including Philadelphia-based Comcast and has been working on projects including a book deal of his own, teaching and serving as a commentator for National Public Radio.
When we e-mailed Traynham last night saying we thought he was staying out of politics for a while, he responded, "I thought so too!"
"Yes, I am (on) board and very pleased to be helping Senator Thompson test the waters for a possible presidential run," he wrote.
There goes my last hope of Santorum running for President. Perhaps a VP slot is in the works. I believe Santorum could help the GOP carry Pennsylvania in 2008.
Katie, bar the door.
Here come all the “why did he hire a GAYYYY man” negative posts.
This opens Fred to attacks, certainly. On the other hand, Santorum was reliably pro-life and pro-family, an orthodox Catholic.
This is the first time I’m dissappointed with Thompson. It makes NO sense to hire an openly homosexual in a prominent role. VP Cheney’s homosexual daughter has hurt him.
One of the reasons I so strongly oppose Rudy the Rumpranger is because he is to homophilic. Senator Thompson, please don’t make the same mistake. You don’t have to condemn homosexuals, but don’t embrace them - which gives them the “legitamacy” they desire - either.
Senator, please don’t sink your campaign so soon buy doing something stupid. Stay clear of pro-choicers, gun grabbers, and homophiles.
Traynham only became openly gay once he was outed by slimy gay activists, so it's not like he flaunts it.
As long as Traynham doesn't promote a homosexual agenda, I have no problem with this. There are many, many hetereosexuals who promote the gay agenda, and I have a much bigger problem with them than with a gay man who doesn't.
Traynham isn’t running, Thompson is.
If Traynham is the best in the business and he can help get a conservative into office, I say, go for it.
This guy will be serving roles as Thompson's communications and press director. He will have ZERO influence on policy. He has an extensive, impeccable record; not only did he work for Santorum, he also worked with the RNC and on Capitol Hill.
The fact that he's homosexual is completely irrelevant, although unfortunate.
You said: “I believe Santorum could help the GOP carry Pennsylvania in 2008.”
How, he couldn’t even keep his own senate seat?
I don't see how, since it is Elizabeth Cheney (the straight one) who is an advisor.
This time, he won’t be running against a Pennsylvanian. If you are from York or Allentown or Erie, who do you choose? Santorum? Or Hillary?
Is Liz Cheney also working for Thompson?
Isn’t Santorum now a resident of Virginia ?
BUMP what you said!
Pennsylvania has been on the precipice of scumbag “blue” for a long time. The city parasites have continued to infest the suburbs, and there has been a huge influx of New York City garbage into Bucks County, where they fled to escape the disaster they voted themselves up north.
Like Carville once said, “Pennsylvania is Philadelphia at one end, Pittsburgh at the other end, and Alabama in between.” It’s all about turnout, and it takes a lot of turnout by the normal people in flyover country to defeat the Democrat fraud and union mobilization efforts in Philly.
Yes - she signed on last month.
And into the Lehigh Valley region (Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown) once I-78 was completed.
There went the neighborhood.
I don’t have a problem with it unless his position is used as a platform to advance and promote the gay agenda.
I’m just fine with this.
“Big tents” are meant to include conservatives of all stripes (not Rinos).
I trust Fred to hire the right guy.
And while a few fringe loonies (who will still vote for Fred anyway if nominated) might “worry” about it, the likelihood is that this makes Fred less frightening to moderate voters, like gays who can now set the gay political fears aside, and vote their wallets (or handbags.)
As crazy at this may sound, he seems to push social conservatives over more moderate or liberal ones, and even though he is gay, seems to push hard against the gay agenda.
Bill Clinton made a referance to him, and another gay republican operative when he referred to them as "self hating" and a few other slurs.
I'm trying to remember the name of the other gay operative he was referring to, but that one lives in NYS, and made it a personal mission to stop Hillary, and had a history of working for Helms.
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