When news broke that Florida Sen. Mel Martinez was named the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, we were unaware of his history. But it makes sense: Replace Ken Mehlman—long plagued by questions about his sexuality—with someone whose anti-gay and reactionary credentials are impeccable. Here is his resume:
· Zero rating from the HRC. "Senator Martinez was elected in 2004 by taking page one out of Karl Rove’s gay baiting playbook," says HRC's Joe Solmonese. "His campaign was one of the most anti-gay, bigoted and divisive campaigns in the nation’s history."
· How divisive? In 2004, The St. Petersburg Times revoked its endorsement after Martinez sent a mailer against his opponent, Rep. Bill McCollum, calling him “the new darling of the homosexual extremists" because McCollum had the nerve to support hate crimes legislation.
There was so much anti-gay rhetoric that even the state's Republican governor, Jeb Bush, asked him to stop.
· Martinez is also a hypocrite. Americablog reports top staffers on the Martinez Senate campaign were the openly gay John Dowless and Kirk Fordham—the latter was formerly chief of staff to disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley. At the least, it calls into question the sincerity of Martinez' commitment is to the anti-gay agenda; at worst, he's an opportunist and those staffers have enabled him dangerous pandering.
· Terri Schiavo. Martinez authored the talking points memo that encouraged Republican lawmakers to speak out on the case, saying it was "a great political issue" and the "pro-life base will be excited." Media Matters reports, "Despite Sen. Tom Harkin's (D-IA) claim that Martinez had handed him the memo on the Senate floor, Martinez denied having any knowledge of it."
Let's file Martinez under ... "Some of my best friends and employees are gay."
Anti-Gay Sen. Martinez Next RNC Chair (HRC)
Fox News Ignored Schiavo Memo (Media Matters)
McCollum for GOP (St. Pete Times)
Anti-Gay Senator to Head Repub (America Blog)
More Anti-Gay Republicans:
Breaking: Ken Mehlman is Out (Rod 2.0) Bill Maher Outs Ken Mehlman on Larry King (Rod 2.0) Repub Party Accepts Money from Gay Porn (Rod 2.0) Mr. Mehlman, You've Given So Many Confusing Answers About Your Sexuality" (Rod 2.0) Parody of the Racist Bimbo Ad (Rod 2.0) Repub Party Accepts Money from Gay Porn (Rod 2.0) How Low Will They Go? (Rod 2.0) Repubs Obsessed with Gays and Sex (Rod 2.0) How Low Will They Go? (Rod 2.0) UCC Slams Fundies (Rod 2.0) Blame Gays, Clinton and the Victims (Rod 2.0) GOP "Attack Dog" Outed (Rod 2.0) Foley Latest: Blame it on the Gays (Rod 2.0) Vast "Liberal Conspiracy" (Rod 2.0) Repubs Wanted to Avoid "Gay Bashing" (Rod 2.0) GOP Leaders in Foley Cover-Up (Rod 2.0) Congressman Resigns (Rod 2.0) GOP Rep. Emails 16 YO Boy (Rod 2.0) FBI Investigating VA Republicans (Rod 2.0) Julian Bond Denounces VA Amendement (Rod 2.0) MD GOP Hires Homeless (Rod 2.0) Republican BABE of the Week! (Rod 2.0) Republican HUNK of the Week! (Rod 2.0) "I Pledge Allegiance, to the Flag" (Rod 2.0) Blackwell Compares Gays to Arsonists (Rod 2.0) Steele Uses Gay Marriage to Wedge (Rod 2.0) Spreading the Santorum (Rod 2.0) New York's Black Republicans (Rod 2.0)
I love it. You aestaying on top of these hypocritical Rethugs. Thank you.
Posted by: Greg | 15 November 2006 at 14:45