Fellow Republicans

[CatholicGeek1]

There may be a chance that this person did have a sexual past that could be dredged up, and that would be used to smear him and ruin his reputation. It could be brutal. The more I think about it, the more I’m inclined to agree that this person might be better off working for another candidate, not running himself.

Again, I do not think that we should encourage people living moral lives to run and hide for fear of what opponents will say or do. I think there has been far too much of that capitulation in politics and look what it has gotten us.

 

[CatholicGeek1]

if he is actually “chaste”, why would he have to admit to being gay?

As I mentioned before, the opponent will likely bring it up, and then he controls the narrative which is a bad place to be with something like this.

Even if he is chaste, I am sure the info that he is gay would be pretty easily attainable given that there are clearly people that know about his SSA.

 

[Della]

I don’t think that we should be encouraging people that are living moral lives to stay in the background or on the sidelines based on what their opponents might say/do.

I’m not “encouraging” him to do anything. I’m simply stating what will happen. I suggested he may want to work behind the scenes so his sexual orientation wouldn’t be a distraction from the issues he wants to promote by running. Because, it will become a distraction–a major distraction the moment he announces he’s gay, chaste, Repulican and running for office. That’s the reality of the situation–he needs to be aware of it if he wants to deal with it.

 

[Fairwinds]

I’m not “encouraging” him to do anything. I’m simply stating what will happen. I suggested he may want to work behind the scenes so his sexual orientation wouldn’t be a distraction from the issues he wants to promote by running. Because, it will become a distraction–a major distraction the moment he announces he’s gay, chaste, Repulican and running for office. That’s the reality of the situation–he needs to be aware of it if he wants to deal with it.

I have a little experience with campaigns, and I can assure you, absolutely without question, the majority of people, including people working on his campaign, will not believe he’s chaste.

 

[Della]

I have a little experience with campaigns, and I can assure you, absolutely without question, the majority of people, including people working on his campaign, will not believe he’s chaste.

I’m sure you’re right. Isn’t it sad?

 

[Fairwinds]

I’m sure you’re right. Isn’t it sad?

its sad. its also something for his campaign people to preempt, somehow. the best thing to do might be just to state it up front and honestly … that he’s gay and chaste and focus on issues instead.

 

[CatholicGeek1]

its sad. its also something for his campaign people to preempt, somehow. the best thing to do might be just to state it up front and honestly … that he’s gay and chaste and focus on issues instead.

That is my point.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I have a friend who first off believes very deeply in the political beliefs of the republican party as well as his personal catholic beliefs, having said that he plans in the near future to run for public office whould you vote for a man who shares the same beliefs as you but is gay. I have known him for years and while he accepts his homosexualtiy he has never engaged in homosexual activites he has led a chaste life so naturally I cant put to many details because he still hasnt come out and I dont want him to know but I do plan on running his campain when he is ready one last point he has also served in the military so with that basic information would you consider voting for him even though hes gay

His orientation wouldn’t affect my vote. It’s what policies he would put into place. I don’t know of any republican or conservative who wouldn’t support someone just because they are gay.

And I think it’s wonderful that your friend has accepted who is and strives for chastity.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Well that’s really the problem - that he would be targeted as their enemy since he shows the world that it’s possible to be SSA and also chaste.

The problem is that progressive straights who are looking to flash their tolerance colours thinking they’ll get a standing ovation from all people GLBTQ by supporting so-called “gay marriage”.

I’ve noticed a few GLBTQ folks who are against so-called “gay marriage” or will at least respect your opinion on the issue no matter what it is.

But these activist straights just plow over them demanding what they think is “equality”.

 

[Fairwinds]

His orientation wouldn’t affect my vote. It’s what policies he would put into place. I don’t know of any republican or conservative who wouldn’t support someone just because they are gay.

And I think it’s wonderful that your friend has accepted who is and strives for chastity.

I wouldn’t support someone who is gay in a primary if I though that affiliation would lose the general election. otherwise, I’d vote the party line.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

if he is actually “chaste”, why would he have to admit to being gay?

Have you ever heard of a homosexual having a fake boyfriend/fake girlfriend?

In the minds of many, being a single adult is “weird.” And, it’s one thing to be single, but quite another to be perpetually single. It’s not just, “why aren’t you in a relationship?”, it’s “why are you never in a relationship?” So, I think for many it raises questions as to your mental and emotional stability, your interpersonal skills, etc.

This is true of Catholics, even. Believe it or not! There was a Catholic Answers blog post not too long ago that chided single people for not moving towards marriage, with the core idea being that people have standards that may be unrealistically high for potential spouses. It spoke of the idea that there is “no single vocation.” (Which makes me wonder what the heck SSA people are supposed to be doing, and whether the Church even has a role for them or not. But that is another discussion.) So a single person is an oddball, according to many.

Add to this that the candidate appears to be somewhat conservative, and thus probably has to appeal to the “family values” crowd, which is just like any other group - there are many among them that are just plain ignorant and will question him because he doesn’t have a family of his own.

Add to this the pain of living with this secret. When everyone is wondering aloud, to your face, “why don’t you find a spouse?” I’m sure it is painful to keep covering that up, it must cause a lot of distress.

Add to this the need to “control the message” as another poster spoke of.

 

[Fairwinds]

Have you ever heard of a homosexual having a fake boyfriend/fake girlfriend?

In the minds of many, being a single adult is “weird.” And, it’s one thing to be single, but quite another to be perpetually single. It’s not just, “why aren’t you in a relationship?”, it’s “why are you never in a relationship?” So, I think for many it raises questions as to your mental and emotional stability, your interpersonal skills, etc.

This is true of Catholics, even. Believe it or not! There was a Catholic Answers blog post not too long ago that chided single people for not moving towards marriage, with the core idea being that people have standards that may be unrealistically high for potential spouses. It spoke of the idea that there is “no single vocation.” (Which makes me wonder what the heck SSA people are supposed to be doing, and whether the Church even has a role for them or not. But that is another discussion.) So a single person is an oddball, according to many.

Add to this that the candidate appears to be somewhat conservative, and thus probably has to appeal to the “family values” crowd, which is just like any other group - there are many among them that are just plain ignorant and will question him because he doesn’t have a family of his own.

Add to this the pain of living with this secret. When everyone is wondering aloud, to your face, “why don’t you find a spouse?” I’m sure it is painful to keep covering that up, it must cause a lot of distress.

Add to this the need to “control the message” as another poster spoke of.

I see your point, I’m all for controlling the spin. it won’t be an easy task, my suggestion was honesty as well.

 

[moeinaction233]

Thank you all for your recommendations, my senior staff has been thinking about this for a long time considering many of the points that y’all have mentioned. I have known my friend since primary school so I know that he has the strength to weather the storm of politics. and if the issue of his sexuality comes up (which is likely considering certain aspects of his personality) we most likely take the JFK approach because I can also say my friend is a man of principle when he confided in me of his final acceptance of his sexuality was when we were both in seminary and instead of continuing knowing this he withdrew because he knew it was the right thing to do (I left a year after him) in closing one of my college professors told me something that has led my political career to do this day “Races are never won by the candidates, they are won by the framework supporting them”

 

[JackieMom]

Have you ever heard of a homosexual having a fake boyfriend/fake girlfriend?

In the minds of many, being a single adult is “weird.” And, it’s one thing to be single, but quite another to be perpetually single. It’s not just, “why aren’t you in a relationship?”, it’s “why are you never in a relationship?” So, I think for many it raises questions as to your mental and emotional stability, your interpersonal skills, etc.

This is true of Catholics, even. Believe it or not! There was a Catholic Answers blog post not too long ago that chided single people for not moving towards marriage, with the core idea being that people have standards that may be unrealistically high for potential spouses. It spoke of the idea that there is “no single vocation.” (Which makes me wonder what the heck SSA people are supposed to be doing, and whether the Church even has a role for them or not. But that is another discussion.) So a single person is an oddball, according to many.

Add to this that the candidate appears to be somewhat conservative, and thus probably has to appeal to the “family values” crowd, which is just like any other group - there are many among them that are just plain ignorant and will question him because he doesn’t have a family of his own.

Add to this the pain of living with this secret. When everyone is wondering aloud, to your face, “why don’t you find a spouse?” I’m sure it is painful to keep covering that up, it must cause a lot of distress.

Add to this the need to “control the message” as another poster spoke of.

You’re right. I think most men who have made it to 30 without a serious relationship are quietly assumed to be gay and closeted anyway.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

You’re right. I think most men who have made it to 30 without a serious relationship are quietly assumed to be gay and closeted anyway.

I’m sorry to go off the rails, but I couldn’t resist this anecdote.

When I was about 25 years old, my then girlfriend (now wife) and my family were gathered around the table for Christmas brunch. We rose from the table, and said “we have an announcement to make.” It was just an inside joke, really… we were pretending as if we were going to tell them I had proposed or something, since that’s how my brothers announced their engagements.

Well, first thing out of my dad’s mouth: “VLM… are you… gay?” Dead serious, too. He thought maybe we were in some type of fake relationship or something, I still don’t understand why. I suppose because my then girlfriend (now wife) was really my first girlfriend. He’s a steadfast Catholic, so you would like to think that he would appreciate the fact that I waited for the right one. Oh well.

But yeah, if one’s own father can falsely believe that at 25, then who knows what people think about strangers…

 

[Allegra]

I’m not affiliated politically, but the guy sounds like a good choice. I’d probably vote for him.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I wouldn’t support someone who is gay in a primary if I though that affiliation would lose the general election. otherwise, I’d vote the party line.

That’s a fair point, but you may be surprised at how little people care about sexual orientation.

 

[Joko2599]

I’m not a Republican, but if I were, I’d vote for him. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with public office.