Republican Gomorrah

by Max Blumenthal

  190 the anti-Americanism of Columbia’s latte liberals: Matt Sanchez, “Diversity Double Talk: Ivy’s ‘Inclusion’ Excludes Military,” New York Post, December 4, 2006, http://www.nypost.com/seven/12042006/postopinion/opedcolumnists/diversity_double_talkivys_inclusion_excludes_military_opedcolumnists_matt_sanchez.htm?page=0.

  190 Sanchez presented with award: Max Blumenthal, CPAC PART DEUX: Conflicted Conservatives in Crisis, Conservative Political Action Conference, Washington, DC, YouTube, March 5, 2007, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvhn43BmdWM.

  191 a light went on: Andy Towle, “Conservatives Laud Gay Porn Star Marine,” Towleroad, March 6, 2007, http://www.towleroad.com/2007/03/conservatives_l.html; and “Jeff Gannon Redux,” Joe.My.God, March 06, 2007, http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2007/03/jeff-gannon-redux.html.

  191 Finally Sanchez came out: Matt Sanchez, “Porn Free,” Salon, March 8, 2007, http://www.Salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/03/08/matt_sanchez/print.html.

  191 instantly exorcised his homosexual tendencies: Matt Sanchez, Jack E. Jett interview, “Strife of the Party,” Radar, March 30, 2007, http://www.radaronline.com/features/2007/03/matt_sanchez_2.php.

  192 challenged him to produce a marriage license: See http://cplsanchez.info/: “None of the claims has been backed up by marriage records or statements from wives, fiancees, or girlfriends.”

  192 “Gay men are like fundamentalist Muslims”: Matt Sanchez, Jack E. Jett interview.

  192 gay-bashers were delighted: Michelle Malkin, “A Message for and from Matt Sanchez,” Malkin’s blog, March 8, 2007, http://michellemalkin.com/2007/03/08/a-message-for-and-from-matt-sanchez/.

  192 the honor of meeting Sanchez at CPAC: Max Blumenthal, “CPAC’s Gay Porn Star Honoree, Ann Coulter, and the Politics of Personal Crisis,” Huffington Post, March 7, 2007, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/cpacs-gay-porn-star-hono_b_42842.html.

  192 “a very cunning strategy”: Matt Sanchez, “The Press’s War,” National Review, July 5, 2007, http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NzQ3ODUyNGZmNTAxODJkYjMxOWU2MTRlN2UxY2ZiNmU= .

  192 Sanchez’s war cheerleading: Matt Sanchez, “Which to Trust: Media or Vets?” WorldNetDaily, August 20, 2008, http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=72809.

  192 an exhaustive four-part series: Jim Rutz, “Soy Is Making Kids ‘Gay,’” WorldNet Daily, December 12, 2006, http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53327.

  193 likening them to pedophiles: Matt Sanchez, Randy Thomas interview, Thomas’s blog, April 9, 2007, http://www.kimtragedy.info/OT18/.

  193 “Gay Jihad”: Matt Sanchez blurb, Matt Sanchez, “Hypocrisy or Decency? The Left’s Dirty Little Secret,” Right Wing News, November 6, 2007, http://www.rightwingnews.com/mt331/2007/11/hypocrisy_or_decency_the_lefts.php.

  193 “the gay lifestyle”: Jeremy Duboff, “Open Letter to Matt Sanchez,” Jeremayakovka, March 20, 2007, http://jeremayakovka.typepad.com/jeremayakovka/2007/03/an_open_letter_.html.

  193 Alberto Moravia’s novel: Alberto Moravia, The Conformist (New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1951); Bernardo Bertolucci, director, The Conformist, 1970.

  193 “I intend to construct my normality”: Bertolucci, The Conformist.

  195 “Once maybe I touched him or so”: Joel Roberts, “Priest Admits Foley Relationship,” CBS/Associated Press, October 19, 2006, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/19/national/main2104978.shtml.

  195 the Christian right’s mounting anti-gay crusade: Jean O’Leary and Bruce Voeller, “Anita Bryant’s Crusade,” New York Times, June 7, 1977.

  195 Green accused: Kathie Lee Gifford, I Can’t Believe I Said That!: An Autobiography (London: Pocket Books, 1992), cited by Gavin Elster at “They Always Come Back,” http://theyalwayscomeback.blogspot.com/2008/03/anita-bryant.html.

  195 “people who sleep with St. Bernards”: David Jefferson, “How Getting Married Made Me an Activist,” Newsweek, November 15, 2008, http://www.newsweek.com/id/169195/page/2.

  195 Bryant summoned local right-wing forces: Morton Kondracke, “Anita Bryant Is Mad About Gays,” The New Republic, May 7, 1977.

  196 the Miami Archdiocese’s role: John Tanasychuk, “Exhibit Marks 30th Anniversary of How Anita Bryant Fought and Helped Gay Rights,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 4, 2007.

  196 law against homosexuals adopting children in Florida: Angela Gilmore et al. vs. Charlie Crist, Robert Pappas and the Department of Children and Family Services, 99-10058-CV-JLK, Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, January 28, 2004, caselaw.findlaw.com/data2/circs/11th/0116723p.pd.

  196 “Why Certain Sexual Deviations Are Punishable by Death”: Bob Moser, “Holy War,” Southern Poverty Law Center, Spring 2005, http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=863.

  196 South Florida’s culture war was a microcosm: Tina Fetner, “Working Anita Bryant: The Impact of Christian Anti-Gay Activism on Lesbian and Gay Movement Claims,” Social Problems, 48, 3 (2001): 411-428, http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/sp.2001.48.3.411?cookieSet=1&journalCode=sp.

  196 “It’s vile”: Bill Adair, “Congress Sees Through Party-Colored Glasses,” St. Petersburg Times, September 12, 1998, http://www.sptimes.com/Worldandnation/91298/Congress_sees_through.html.

  197 Foley’s lifelong passion: R. Jeffrey Smith, “Foley Built Career as Protector of Children,” Washington Post, October 1, 2006, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/30/AR2006093001177.html.

  197 fellow Republican lawmakers, who said nothing: Carl Hulse and Jeff Zeleny, “Review of Messages Sent by Congressman Begins,” New York Times, October 2, 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/02/washington/02foley.html?ex=1317441600&en=05964d30032a0385&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss.

  197 “watch out for Congressman Mark Foley”: Brian Ross, “Foley’s Behavior No Secret on Capitol Hill,” ABC News, October 1, 2006, http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2514770.

  197 Alexander went to RNC chair Tom Reynolds: Carl Hulse and Raymond Hernandez, “G.O.P. Aides Knew in Late ‘05 of E-Mail,” New York Times, October 1, 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/washington/01foley.html?hp=&pagewanted=all.

  197 Foley donated $100,000: Jennifer Hoar, “Candidates Unload Money from Foley,” Associated Press, October 3, 2006, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/03/politics/main2059264.shtml.

  197 “What’s at stake here”: Bob Moser, “Holy War,” Southern Poverty Law Center, Spring 2005, http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=865.

  197 “kill him and tell God he died”: “Swaggart Apologizes for Talk of Killing Gays,” Associated Press, September 23, 2004, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6074380/.

  197 avoided making any public statement: Adrian Brune, “Outed Hill Staffer Condemns Campaign,” Washington Blade, July 9, 2004, 200http://washingtonblade.com/2004/7-9/news/localnews/outed.cfm?page=2.

  198 involving Kirk Fordham: Peter Wallsten and Noam N. Levey “Aide at Center of the Controversy,” Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2006, http://articles.latimes.com/2006/oct/04/nation/na-fordham4.

  198 “but not in the press”: Alex Koppelman, “The Glass Closet,” Salon, October 20, 2006, http://www.Salon.com/news/feature/2006/10/20/outing/print.html.

  198 Trandahl alerted Van Der Meid and Fordham: Jonathan Weisman, “Hastert Aides Interest Ethics Panel,” Washington Post, October 12, 2006, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/11/AR2006101101639_pf.html.

  198 “these slaps on the wrist”: Chris Crain, “Trandahl Finally Speaks,” Citizen Crain, October 19, 2006, http://citizenchris.typepad.com/citizenchris/2006/10/trandahl_speaks.html.

  199 Foley fired off a breathless letter: Mark Foley, Florida Member of Congress, to Jeb Bush, Florida Governor, June 18, 2003, posted by CNSNews.com, June 20, 2003, http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=5633.

  199 “Foley has a point”: John Cloud, “Nude Family Values,” Time, June 25, 2003, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,110
1030630-460225 ,00.html.

  199 Foley’s instant messaging with page: ABCNews, posted February 2, 2003, abcnews.go.com/images/WNT/02-02-03b.pdf.

  200 outing Foley as gay: Mark Meenan, “Is He Gay or Not? US Rep. Mark Foley Calls Press to Say He Won’t Talk About His Sexual Orientation,” Gay City News, May 30, 2003.

  200 suggestive e-mail entreaties: Hulse and Hernandez, “G.O.P. Aides Knew.”

  201 Ross refused the deal: John Nichols, “The House Republican Leadership Scandal,” The Nation, October 03, 2006, http://www.thenation.com/blog/the-beat/126922/the_house_republican_leadership_scandal.

  201 Hudson on Foley: Lev Grossman, “Lane Hudson,” Time, December 16, 2006, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570716,00.html.

  201 the story gathered momentum and exploded: David Folkenflik, “Foley Story Wasn’t Reported, Until It Was,” All Things Considered, NPR.org, October 6, 2006, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6211216.

  201 Drudge’s proposition: David Brock, Blinded by the Right, p. 283.

  201 “a piece of fiction”: Nolan Clay and Michael McNutt, “Istook Aide to Cooperate with Inquiry,” The Oklahoman, October 6, 2006, http://www.newsok.com/article/2951710.

  201 headed off Pelosi’s investigation: Charles Babington and Jonathan Weisman, “Rep. Foley Quits in Page Scandal,” Washington Post, September 30, 2006, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/29/AR2006092901574.html.

  202 Father Mercieca had molested him: Abby Goodnough, “Foley Was Sexually Abused as a Youth, His Lawyer Says,” New York Times, October 4, 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/04/washington/04foley.html?scp=8&sq=congress%202006%20foley%20election&st=cse.

  202 the vicious cycle often continues: Pamela Cooper White, “Soul Stealing: Power Relations in Pastoral Sexual Abuse,” Christian Century, February 21, 1991, pp. 196-199, http://www.anandainfo.com/soul_stealing.html.

  202 “Punch Foley for Joe”: Brit Hume, “Negron’s New Campaign Slogan: Punch Foley for Joe,” FoxNews.com, October 27, 2006, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,226007,00.html.

  202 elected Democrat Tim Mahoney: “Democrat Tim Mahoney Wins Race to Replace Mark Foley,” Associated Press, November 7, 2008, http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/FL/2006-11-07-FL-US-house_x.htm.

  203 Hastert refused to resign: Mike Dorning and Rick Pearson, “Hastert Vows to Hold On,” Chicago Tribune, October 5. 2006, http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2006/oct/05/news/chi-0610050132oct05.

  203 Tony Perkins vented the movement’s rage: Max Blumenthal, “The Coming Gay Republican Purge,” The Nation, October 12, 2006, http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061030/blumenthal.

  203 the old reverend was furious: Ibid.

  204 On Washington Confidential: Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer, Washington Confidential (New York: Crown Publishers, 1951), p. 116. Also see David Johnston, The Lavender Scare: The Prosecution of Gays in the Federal Government (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004).

  204 the ruthless Roy Cohn: Tom Wolfe, “Dangerous Obsessions,” New York Times, April 3, 1998, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6D9163BF930A35757C0A96E948260 .

  204 “defended fags”: “Right-wing Gay-baiting Queers,” Democratic Underground, October 2, 2006, http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2287207.

  204 “Roy [Cohn] was not gay”: Jeffrey Toobin, “The Dirty Trickster,” The New Yorker, June 2, 2008, http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/02/080602fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=all.

  204 “Hot, insatiable lady”: Ibid.

  205 Lee LaHaye outed: Michael Rogers, “They MUST be kidding at Concerned Women for America! Write or Call Lee LaHaye Today,” blogActive, http://www.blogactive.com/2004/08/action-they-must-be-kidding-at.html. Rogers referred to LaHaye as “openly gay.” LaHaye has never denied the designation.

  205 son of Tim LaHaye: Tim LaHaye, The Unhappy Gays (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 1978).

  205 Phyllis Schlafly’s gay son: Yvonne Abraham, “At 80, Schlafly Is Still a Conservative Force,” Boston Globe, September 2, 2004, http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/09/02/at_80_schlafly_is_still_a_conservative_force/.

  205 Robert Traynham: Sean Loughlin, “Two Republicans Criticize Santorum for Remarks About Gays,” CNN.com, April 24, 2003, http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/04/24/santorum.gays/; and “Spokesman for Antigay Senator Says He’s Gay,” The Advocate, July 16, 2005, http://www.advocate.com/news_detail.asp?id=18876.

  205 Wildmon interrupted me mid-sentence, and backpedaled: Blumenthal, “The Coming Gay Republican Purge.”

  205 nothing but “siege and suspicion”: Mark Leibovich, “Foley Case Upsets Balance of Gay Republicans,” New York Times, October 8, 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/washington/08culture.html?pagewanted=1.

  CHAPTER 18: THE WIDE STANCE

  207 allegations about his homosexual tendencies: Dan Popkey, “Men’s Room Arrest Reopens Questions About Sen. Larry Craig,” Idaho Statesman, August 28, 2007, http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/143801.html.

  207 honorably discharged in 1972 after six months: Ibid.

  207 Craig felt compelled to deny his involvement: ABC News, July 2, 1982, posted on YouTube October 17, 2006, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RntWGPEjoo.

  207 Craig married Suzanne Scott: Dan Popkey, “Men’s Room Arrest.”

  208 “Just ask my wife”: Dan Popkey, “More Gay Men Describe Sexual Encounters with U.S. Sen. Craig,” Idaho Statesman, December 3, 2007, http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/226703.html.

  208 “a nasty, bad, naughty boy”: Larry Craig, Matt Lauer interview, Today, NBC, October 16, 2007, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21303825/page/2/.

  208 “stand up now and protect traditional marriage”: “Senator Pleaded Guilty, Reportedly After Bathroom Stall Incident,” CNN.com, August 27, 2007, http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/27/craig.arrest/index.html.

  208 “a lifestyle I don’t agree with”: Larry Craig, Matt Lauer interview, p. 6.

  208 Statesman investigation: Dan Popkey, “More Gay Men.”

  209 “the best place for anonymous action”: Andy Birkey, “Minneapolis Airport Restroom Sting Nabs Idaho Senator,” Minnesota Monitor, August 27, 2007, http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2309.

  209 Karsnia’s bathroom sting report: David Karsnia, “Lewd Conduct,” June 11, 2007, posted to Smoking Gun June 12, 2007, http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0828071craig1.html#Reporthere.

  209 “wide stance”: Dan Popkey, “Idaho Senator Larry Craig Arrested in Airport Men’s Room,” Idaho Statesman, August 28, 2007, http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/143517.html.

  209 Craig appeared before a mob of reporters: Boise, Idaho, August 28, 2007, The Situation Room, CNN, posted to YouTube August 28, 2007, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8C3tR9Yl4g.

  210 the wrath of his peers: William Yardley, “Craig Defends Decision to Stay in Senate and Attacks Romney,” New York Times, October 16, 2007, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/us/politics/16craig.html.

  210 Perkins condemned Craig: Tony Perkins, Chris Matthews Hardball interview transcript, MSNBC.msn.com, August 28, 2000, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20496581/.

  211 compare gays to alcoholics and kleptomaniacs: Lott to Williams, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, July 22, 1998, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/congress/july-dec98/gop_7-22a.html.

  211 “we don’t know the whole story”: Armstrong Williams, “Sex, Lies, and Videotapes,” Townhall, September 3, 2007, http://townhall.com/columnists/ArmstrongWilliams/2007/09/03/sex,_lies,_and_videotapes.

  211 accepting a $240,000 bribe: Greg Toppo, “Education Dept. Paid Commentator to Promote Law,” USA Today, January 7, 2005, http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-06-williams-whitehouse_x.htm.

  211 accused of sexual harassment: John Cloud, “He Said/He Said,” Washington City Paper, 17, 24 (June 13, 1997), http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=12891.

&nb
sp; 211 “false, baseless, and completely without merit”: Deborah Mitchell and Beth Landman, “A Lott of Irony for Trent Interviewer,” New York Magazine, July 6, 1998, http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/2902/.

  211 “wholly unrelated” to his official duties: “Sen. Larry Craig Vows to Stay in Office,” CBS/AP, September 5, 2007, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/05/politics/main3235652.shtml.

  212 the Idaho Hall of Fame: “Craig to Be Inducted into Idaho Hall of Fame,” Associated Press, October 7, 2007, http://www.idahostatesman.com/1264/story/177526.html.

  212 nabbed outside a men’s bathroom: CNN, July 11, 2007, posted on YouTube, August 8, 2007, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmeGpAzPIho.

  212 arrested for performing oral sex: Larry Thomas, “Murphy Resigns Political Posts; Cooperating with Police in Apparent Criminal Investigation,” Jeffersonville News and Tribune, August 8, 2007, http://www.news-tribune.net/breakingnews/local_story_219210228.html.

  212 arrested after calling the police: Joe Peterson, Spokane Police Department Additional Report, October 27, 2007, posted by Dan Savage, The Stranger, October 30, 2007, http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/richard_curtis_more_shocking_details.

  213 Curtis resigned: “Rep. Richard Curtis Resigns over Gay Sex Scandal,” Associated Press, King5.com, October 31, 2007, http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_103107WAB_curtis_resignation_LJ.1c5c1238f.html.

  213 Spokesman-Review exposé: Bill Morlin, “Mayor West Offered Perks, Internship to Expert Posing as 18-Year-Old During Web Chats,” Spokesman-Review, May 5, 2005, http://www.spokesmanreview.com/jimwest/story.asp?ID=050505_online_relationships.

  213 West accused of molestation: David Postman, “Even the Mayor Wonders: Who Is the Real Jim West?” Seattle Times, December 2, 2005, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002649195_west27m.html.

  213 Despite his privately acknowledged bisexuality: Jim West, Matt Lauer interview, “Jim West on ‘The Today Show,’” The Today Show, NBC, May 31, 2005, http://www.spokesmanreview.com/jimwest/story.asp?ID=053105_transcript_today.