Republican velvet mafia feels the heat of gay sex scandal

The Times ^ | October 11, 2006 | Tom Baldwin

[MadIvan]

Let's be perfectly honest - the gay community exercises an influence in politics and the media which has made it impossible to critcise them without charges of homophobia being raised. If the Foley case erases this taboo, so much the better.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[Echo Talon]

are caught in the crossfire of an election-time battle over who should take the blame for allowing Mr Foley to continue his predatory activities for so long.

UNNGGG... if they have evidence lets see it..

[hsalaw]

The "velvet mafia"? What? I thought they called themselves "log cabin Republicans," based on their unsupported contention that Pres. Lincoln was a homosexual.

[kinoxi]

the “velvet mafia”

I know that this will be removed. I had these bundles of sticks. Who is the *od-faggot?

[elmer fudd]

Let's be perfectly honest - the gay community exercises an influence in politics and the media which has made it impossible to critcise them without charges of homophobia being raised. If the Foley case erases this taboo, so much the better.

Don't be naive. It's always been ok to criticize gay Republicans and it always will be.

[Doofer]

Right-wing blogs are increasingly blaming the velvet mafia...

Funny I read right wing blogs daily and not only have I not seen them blaming the velvet mafia, I've never heard the term until reading this article.

[Bush gal in LA]

[devolve]

[dennisw]

Gays work for Democrats and gays work for Republicans. Nothing new here. The problem is some of the Democrat gays are sickos who want to nuke (via outing) conservative gays because they see them as hypocrites and betrayers of their great gay causes such as gay marriage

[cricket]

Given that Representatives 'represent'. . .their constituency; why is it necessarily hypocritical for someone who is Gay to vote against Gay marriage?

Do Gays have a choice here; or not?

Do all Gays want 'same-sex' marriage legislation? There are non-Gays who favor this; why cannot Gays have the same option to NOT favor the Gay agenda? Does sexual orientation - at least if one is Gay. . .automatically define and/or limit one's judgment?

Are they hypocritical on the issue? Maybe; but maybe not. Think these 'agenda driven' Gays are themselves hypocritical and worse, in their assuming they have the right to threaten another so as to coerce a vote.

Seems 'choice' should be the operative as to how anyone lives their life. And for those elected. . .'choice' just may be, choosing to represent your consituency in a manner they deem appropriate.

[cricket]

Funny I read right wing blogs daily and not only have I not seen them blaming the velvet mafia, I've never heard the term until reading this article.

Thought perhaps I was not reading the 'right' ones - but never heard this term either.

[maryz]

The Republican leadership has always been remarkably tolerant of homosexuality in private, despite its public exploitation of voters’ fears on issues such as gay marriage to mobilise its base support during elections. Even Senator Santorum, who once compared gay sex to bestiality, incest and polygamy, employs the openly gay Robert Traynham as his communications director.

No slant here! Just perfectly objective and accurate reporting . . . /s

[Uncle Chip]

I'll bet the list of "velvet mafia" members in the Democratic Party is longer than Hillary's nose after a press conference. Why don't we get a look at that list?

[Liz]

......the gay community exercises an influence in politics and the media which makes it impossible to critcise them without charges of homophobia being raised. If the Foley case erases this taboo, so much the better.....

Excellent point, MI.

The Foley Follies will level the playing field so that conservatives are not held to a different standard.

The PC atrocity has created a dual playing field----with gays elevated to being a "protected class."

When conservatives defend their values, the paranoic PC crowd yells "homophobia."

It's time to put the PC beast out to pasture.

[TexKat]

Google image search on Velvet Mafia

[LRS]

Do Gays have a choice here; or not?

Nope.

Just as all Blacks must believe in affirmative action.

All women must believe in abortion.

All Latinos must believe in open borders.

etc.,

All gays must believe in gay marriage.

Ahhh, the wonderful totalitarian black and white world of liberalism!

[Liz]

Democrats who have knowledge about Foley should not be spared investigation.

What did Rahm Emanuel know and when did he know it? And did he put pages at risk, by holding back information to score political points? (Rahm is Dem Cong Committee Chair).

It strains credulity to suggest Foley's activities were not known in small-town Washington where every "secret" is public knowledge and discussed 24/7.

Everybody knows who hangs out in "the club" bars and book stores on Dupont Circle.....that includes Democrat club members.

The bizarre video episode seen on news segments where Foley is addressing Congressional pages is clearly Foley as predator, visibly "turned on" by youngsters.

It was not the first time Foley "outed" himself in public view. He seemed to have had no problem flaunting it.

[DungeonMaster]

How are gays getting elected by the Republican party? I assume they are way in the closet or something. I HOPE it is because they are in the closet. Surely once they are outed Republicans would not re-elect them.

[q_an_a]

Great point.

Someone should mention to Hollywood that the decline of their movies and TV shows is related to the influence and population of gays running the "back rooms" of the industry. There is no difference between the "mafia" of gays and women in Hollywood and the same groups running mainstream churches like Episcopal, Methodist or Church of England; their control has resulted in the decline of participation of the mainstream population.