Comments on: The GOP’s attack on Madia’s ‘lifestyle’: Gay-baiting by any other name…

By: Reeter

Reeter — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:27:09 +0000

This looks like a surrogate attacking Madia’s youth & taxpayer status. I have yet to see any Paulsen surrogate raise the issue of sexuality. All I see is one man using the word “lifestyle”. Really a stretch to call this gay-baiting.

Yet you guys are fine with Madia’s surrogates attacking Paulsen’s patriotism and accusing him of bigotry.

What would be the point of these alleged “whisper campaigns” anyway? We Republicans have supposedly already cornered the racist/gay-basher voting bloc. The potential of chiseling off a few fringe DFL’ers is vastly outweighed by the risk of alienating constituents of the moderate Ramstad.

PS-Madia’s campaign has not been positive. Negativity is fine but let’s be honest, Madia does negative. He’s currently running ads accusing Paulsen of being a corporate shill who hates public schools.

By: Eva Young

Eva Young — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:54:14 +0000

And notice that DFL was totally silent about the gay-baiting. Lifestyle is definitely a code word. The DFL won’t publically go after gay-baiting. They never have about Michele Bachmann – even though that’s major political liability.

But then why should they. They get unconditional support from most so-called “gay rights groups” who do more to be allies in progressive coalitions, than what their mission is about – which is gay rights.

By: Colin Kerr

Colin Kerr — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:21:56 +0000

Lifestyle is just one division between people of faith. In my new book titled “A Heaven-Backed Rebellion,” I argue that today’s polarization between the religious right and the secular left is weakening both sides… especially in an election year. I hope that voters can come together in November to elect leaders without bias.

By: rainman

rainman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:53:24 +0000

Ramstad’s comments about the campaign ads and brochures is totally without credibility, as he lies to the people in saying Madia and his Campaign did this and that to poor Erik. Everyone knows these ads were not Madia’s but the DCCC and one other group, but Rammer must believe that if he says it, it’s true! No way, Jose! How Ashwin Madia can continue to run such an uplifting campaign is remarkable, but he’s been doing it for 11 months so I guess 1 more isn’t too much for him. As always he stays out of the gutter and talks about solutions to the many problems facing us all…he’ll make an outstanding Congressman and will even represent people like Erik Paulsen and Geoff Michel…lucky for them he cares about everyone.

By: UnmarriedDotOrg

UnmarriedDotOrg — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:11:00 +0000

Negative stereotypes about single and unmarried people hurt all of us. They help conceal the fact that unmarried people lead the majority of households in the U.S., and that on average American adults spend as many years outside marriage as in it. Using these sterotypes helps maintain a legal and economic structure that penalizes singles and unmarried families. One way to take the wind out of such unethical innuendos is for all unmarried people to VOTE. Too many of us sat out the last election. It’s time for singles to be the squeaky wheel and demand respect by showing up at the polls. Politicians wouldn’t diss us if they believed we could vote them out of office. You can register to vote (and learn more about your rights) at http://www.unmarried.org

By: daisimay

daisimay — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:34:17 +0000

WOW– these GOPers must have hated Jim Ramstad, all those racy single years he spent doing who knows what! As for Paulsen’s “proud tradition of clean politics and ethical campaigns”, I guess Ramstad hasn’t seen Paulsen’s latest ads. Not much to be proud of there. More like ankle deep!

By: ladybelle

ladybelle — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:24:58 +0000

The truth is…..if Ash Madia weren’t single-mindedly focused on winning the congressional seat, he could have as many dates as he wants. He will need a body guard to keep the women off of him come January. This is a scurrilous rumor that Ash doesn’t deserve. Being gay is not a scourge but using innuendo and rumor to sway others is wrong. As the mother of a gay man I resent the fact that the GOP would use that against someone as if it made someone unworthy of trust and admiration.