Majority Of Americans Reject Right Wing’s Anti-Gay Smears In Foley Scandal

[slobone]

Hmm, this sounds like good news:

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/14/hrc-poll/

POLL: Majority Of Americans Reject Right Wing’s Anti-Gay Smears In Foley Scandal

Since the Foley scandal broke, many right-wing activists have attempted to brand the scandal as a homosexual issue. Linda Harvey of the conservative site WorldNetDaily stated that “sex with youth are built into the ‘gay’ sub-culture” and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said that “neither party seems likely to address the real issue, which is the link between homosexuality and child sexual abuse.”
Fortunately, the American public has rejected their dishonest scare tactics. A new Human Rights Campaign poll shows that Americans continue to support gay rights:

– 62 percent of Americans believe that Foley’s behavior was “typical of politicians,” as opposed to just 30 percent who believe his behavior was “typical of gay men.”
– 70 percent of Americans say that the Foley scandal has not changed their opinion of gay people.
– 80 percent of Americans believe it is important to make “sure that gays and lesbians receive the same rights and protections under the law as other Americans,” up from 77 percent in April 2006.
​

Foley’s behavior was the disgraceful behavior of a pedophile. It had nothing to do with the behavior of gay men.

Posted by Amanda October 14, 2006 1:01 pm

 

[slobone]

^^^ Yeah, I probably should have deleted that comment. It's the opinion of "Amanda", whoever she is, and has nothing to do with the poll. This was part of a blog. Messy...

 

[CuriousMonkey]

Wasn't the guy of legal age though???????

Age is not the (only) issue - I'm more offended by the abuse of authority.

 

[crlcxll]

Foley is not a pedophile per se. The psychological definition of a pedophile is one who is sexually attracted to prepubescent children. Homosexuality, of course, has nothing whatsoever to do with it.

Foley did misuse his power to try to have cybersex with the page and allegedly other pages. There was an attempt to have cybersex by what Foley said in his emails and IM's, ergo, he was misusing his power in that respect. The operative word here is "attempt". Foley was using his power to attempt to gain sexual favours via the internet. The elected members of Congress are not there for that reason. If, as was mentioned in another thread, this was a non issue, then why did Foley resign immediately?

Issue, non issue, misuse of power or not, the electorate does not care for this kind of behaviour.

 

[ladygrey]

and, let's just say it ok?

he was freaking creepy. And he was using the internet to send strange messages to someone who was clearly vulerenable.

So....

he's freaking perv who shouldn't be represeting the population

(and not a good kind of perv.)

 

[Croynan]

Ephebophilia has been defined as a sexual preference in which an adult is primarily or exclusively sexually attracted to postpubescent adolescents.

I believe that Foley would fall under the above classification for his sexual endeavours.

His responsibility was to act responsible as an elected official of the government. His role as a member of the House of Representatives does/did not include having any involvement with Pages on the staff of the House - other then for governmental purposes.

As to how voters will respond to the Right Wing's Anti Gay Campaign involving Foley, i think i would be inclined to wait until the day after the November elections to determine whether such is the case.



eM.

 

[slobone]

Well, I was hoping people would comment on the poll instead of on the stupid comment by "Amanda", whoever she is.

But now that I look at the way the questions were phrased, I think the poll is somewhat ambiguous.

Let's go over this, shall we?

– 62 percent of Americans believe that Foley’s behavior was “typical of politicians,” as opposed to just 30 percent who believe his behavior was “typical of gay men.”

Hard to say what this means unless we know how that 30% would characterize his behavior. Are they still thinking "pedophile", or "predator", or just "promiscuous"? Which of the three p's?

– 70 percent of Americans say that the Foley scandal has not changed their opinion of gay people.

Very weaselly-worded. What was their opinion before? Does this include the 30% who already thought Foley was typical?

– 80 percent of Americans believe it is important to make “sure that gays and lesbians receive the same rights and protections under the law as other Americans,” up from 77 percent in April 2006.

That sounds like a great number until you see what it actually says. "The same rights and protections," not any special rights or protections. In other words, they don't think we should have our rights taken away from us. But still, 80% is a good number, since it has to include at least some of those who think we're all Foleys.

So -- conclusion? We need more polls, I think.

 

[lunarus]

– 80 percent of Americans believe it is important to make “sure that gays and lesbians receive the same rights and protections under the law as other Americans,” up from 77 percent in April 2006.

That sounds like a great number until you see what it actually says. "The same rights and protections," not any special rights or protections. In other words, they don't think we should have our rights taken away from us. But still, 80% is a good number, since it has to include at least some of those who think we're all Foleys.

So -- conclusion? We need more polls, I think.

This isn't that good I think. If these people all 80% of them truly believe that we all should be treated with dignity and respect and have the same rights as heteros, then where they HELL are they when we have elected morons trying there damnedest to make sure we are amended back to the darK ages.

 

[glo-unit]

So -- conclusion? We need more polls, I think.

Damn right we need more huge polls that are fun to ride.

On a serious note, yes we need more polls, and more specifically we need them to lists examples like the ones you said. How many people actually believe homosexuality and pedophilla are related, and how far should gay rights go.

 

[looseliam]

as opposed to just 30 percent who believe his behavior was “typical of gay men.”

This still troubles me.

 

[slobone]

This isn't that good I think. If these people all 80% of them truly believe that we all should be treated with dignity and respect and have the same rights as heteros, then where they HELL are they when we have elected morons trying there damnedest to make sure we are amended back to the darK ages.

Well, it's only "back" in Massachusetts -- that's the only state with same-sex marriage. And many or most of the politicians who oppose marriage have no objection to civil unions (which is as far as UK and Germany have gone).

So on the whole I think things are going well. Remember it wasn't long ago that even the idea of gay marriage would have sounded preposterous, even to many gay people.

 

[sparky95]

I think the general population is way ahead of the majority of politicians on this one. I also think the culture of corruption and sleaze may be pushing people towards an attitude of "If politician X says this, then the opposite must be correct".

 

[tbonez]

What strikes me about this whole "issue" is that Foley is/was not a "gay man". He was/is a simpering, slimy, pathetic, lying CLOSET CASE. He may be homosexual, but he sure as hell isn't "gay"!

What seems to be absent from the debate (in my estimation) is the fact that if he had felt that he could have been an out and proud gay man and still been a successful politician instead of a cowering little self-loathing phoney he would likely never have found himself in the situation which has consumed his life and destroyed his career.

Foley is exactly the kind of homosexual the 'religious right' loves to hate. He is their creation, their child and their collective wet-dream. A homosexual who set himself up for ridicule and humiliation and he undermines the whole gay rights movement.

The whole Foley non issue : What did he really do? Proposition a young adult...How many politicians or straight men haven't done the exact same thing?!?! If he were straight, it would be much less of an issue.

Foley embodies the reason I have nothing but contempt for closet cases. He has gone from one closet to another, hiding in rehab. This is the exact reason why closet cases need to be outed: So they can't victimize others...Which is exactly what all closet cases do, victimize others... In particular, out-proud gay men and women and others.

Grow some balls, get a life and come out of the closet. Closet cases are part of the problem, the single biggest contributor to homophobia and the tool of fundamentalist who wish to deny equality to homosexuals.

If you are living in the closet take note: Foley's fate is your own. Stop being such a spineless coward and the embodiment of homophobia. (literally)