Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Hypocritical Mayor Recalled

Did I report this story already? No ... it seems familiar somehow. James West was a conservative politician, anti-gay ranter, fought for the Defense of Marriage Act -- his public image was both straight and narrow. Until May 5th. Then the local paper came out [pun intended] with a story on him.

It started a little something like this:
In an Internet chat room last New Year’s Eve where he discussed his recent date with an 18-year-old man, Spokane Mayor Jim West criticized the “sex Nazis” who try to regulate private sexual behavior.

For years, that’s exactly what West tried to do in Olympia.

Over two decades, West rose to power in the Washington Legislature with a carefully cultivated image as a fiscally conservative Republican opposed to gay rights, abortion rights and teenage sex.

Hey, we've got some Anonymice here who are starting to think this guy sounds pretty good. He's one of them ...

But the article tooks some twists and turns. I'll cut and paste here...
Sen. Brad Benson, R-Spokane, said he’s heard rumors in Olympia that West preferred young men. But he and West aren’t close because West supported ex-Sen. Brian Murray, West’s former aide, in the 2004 GOP Senate primary, Benson said.

“The Republicans represent two camps,” Benson said. “One camp is about individual liberty and the economy. For them, whether you’re gay or not doesn’t make a difference. But for the conservative wing, adultery and homosexuality plays bad. They want to look at their leaders and say, these are people we can admire,” Benson said.

...
In a wide-ranging interview Wednesday night, West acknowledged he’d recently begun to seek out young men on the Internet and said he couldn’t explain why. “I don’t want to go into the whole issue, but I wouldn’t characterize me as ‘gay,’.” West said.

...
West and 14 other Republicans reacted strongly to Gov. Booth Gardner’s Christmas Eve 1985 executive order banning discrimination in state hiring based on sexual orientation.

Their 1986 bill, which failed, would have barred gay men and lesbians from working in schools, day-care centers and some state agencies. It called for screening prospective employees for sexual orientation and firing employees whose homosexuality became known.

The bill prompted a Spokesman-Review op-ed column by Jeannette Loehr, spokeswoman for the Spokane Gay Leadership Coalition.

West’s bill is “police-state” legislation that stirs up “the fears of the ignorant and the hatred of the bigoted,” Loehr wrote.

You see, this was a very careful article. I wonder how they got this guy to talk to them in an interview...

I think even the Anonymice are seeing that this turns out badly.

Skipping through the story some more (it's quite long and thorough):
As a Senate leader, West consistently opposed efforts to expand civil rights protections for gays in jobs and housing. In an interview Wednesday, he said he’s philosophically opposed to legislation that creates “special classes” of rights for minorities, including gays. “I don’t think you should discriminate against anybody. I have never been outspoken against gays, and I’ve never discriminated against gays,” West said, adding that he felt the gay rights bills were unnecessary.

...
In an April 9 Internet chat, West sent his photo to “Moto-Brock,” the person he believed was an 18-year-old Spokane high school senior. Instead, Moto-Brock was a forensic computer consultant hired by the newspaper to verify the mayor’s identity and presence on Gay.com.

According to the Internet dialogue with the consultant, West repeated his earlier offer of an internship at City Hall for Moto-Brock.

West told Moto-Brock he had to be extremely careful about not revealing “a part of my life I don’t share at all,” the transcripts show.

“Someday I may run for governor and this would be bad if you know what I mean.”

Well, yes, he was right about that part. People don't care if you're gay, but they do object to the hypocrisy.

Spokane voters today recalled West. According to ABC this afternoon:
A little more than half of the 110,000 ballots mailed to voters were counted in the first batch of results released Tuesday night. Of those, 38,718, or 65 percent, voted to recall West, while 20,681, or 35 percent, voted to retain him.

Even though this just happened, the whole thing seems so ... familiar.

34 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jim

This is an old story. I remember reading transcripts of the chat dialogue where he tried to lure a minor into sex.

The fact that he's gay while being against the "gay rights" agenda is not the problem. I mean, since he was gay, he has a right to an opinion on these problems. Why do you think you know better than them what's in their best interest? Maybe they don't want marriage privileges and special job protection rights. This guy seemed to like the whole clandestine thrill of it- you should read the chat room transcripts.

The real problem, and why the voters threw him out, was he pulled a Bill-Clinton-style maneuver, misusing his office to get sex from young people.

December 07, 2005 6:15 PM  
Blogger Dana Beyer, M.D. said...

The sad part is the 35% that voted to keep him. I don't think those were the gay rights supporters, either. It amazes me how some people seem to relish being lied to and manipulated all the time.

I wonder if there is any crossover with the 35% of Americans who still think Bush is doing a great job?

December 07, 2005 6:32 PM  
Blogger Dana Beyer, M.D. said...

Anonymous,

We would all love to live in a country where there was no need for anti-discrimination laws, where anyone could marry the person she loves. Pretty simple. It's called liberty.

December 07, 2005 6:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said, "The real problem, and why the voters threw him out, was he pulled a Bill-Clinton-style maneuver, misusing his office to get sex from young people."

______________

Flip side...Monica Lewinksy was no angel either.

Everyone agrees Bill Clinton should have known better and valued his marriage vows more and showed respect for his wife and his role as Pres.

Monica Lewinsly should have been placing her dreams elsewhere and not on a married man and one with a child. She should have shown respect as well.

Bad for all...bad for us.

The mayor in Spokane should ahve known better as well. But then sometimes what we spout hate about most are the things that we are.

He is gay...what was so terrible about that? I guess he worried about society judging him more and being who he really was in "the dark" until he was outed.

Says he feared society knowing. Sad...

"anon free"

December 07, 2005 7:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Says he feared society knowing. Sad..."

We find agreement, free. I don't why Jim finds the whole thing so gleeful.

You know the thing is, this guy is secretly gay, and he's against all these new policies. Maybe opposition to these policies isn't just based on hate as you guys always assume. Protection from physical violence is a given but maybe all this other stuff is really in no one's best interest.

December 08, 2005 9:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said, "You know the thing is, this guy is secretly gay, and he's against all these new policies"

Anon you are spinning again.

The guy was afraid of what people might think of him being gay. Why is that? Well homophobic bigots are just too hard to take for some including him. He had to pretend to be a Duke Cunningham, etc., because people like you anonymous think gays should remain closeted or change change change.

"anon free"

December 08, 2005 1:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"people like you anonymous think gays should remain closeted or change change change."

no, I just think they should change change change. unlike you, however, I feel some compassion for those who've become ensnared in this trap.

December 08, 2005 1:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said, "I feel some compassion for those who've become ensnared in this trap."
***********************

Then encourage folks to be who they are even if gay and support a comprehensive sex education that deals with these issues, etc. in schools. Be supportive of liberty for all and advocate for same sex rights in couples and families. The list is ongoing.

The above is compassion

Telling folks they need to change change change as if something is wrong with them will not do it.

The immediate above is not compassion.


"anon free"

December 08, 2005 1:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's not in their best interest, free. They're addicted to desires that are harming them.

December 08, 2005 2:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
It's not in their best interest, free. They're addicted to desires that are harming them.

___________________

Okay anon...is it for you to decide what is best for another?

What addiction...???? Loving another or wanting to be a family, etc. or wanting the liberties you enjoy as an apparent homophobe?

Why would that harm you in any way?

It would not.

"anon free"

December 08, 2005 5:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am sorry for double posting it was not supposes to signify anger. I was unaware that a double post means that you are upset. I also have know idea what Dr. Deyer is trying to convey in the statement that the Dr. has seen the gay community thought straight eyes. I am not really sure what Dana means by that. Could the Dr. please elaborate on that? As for the children did the Dr. give birth to them? or is Dana just the legal gardian? I think that is important to know. The brown shirts were homosexuals this is a historical fact. Telling a lie over and over again so people think it is the truth was one of their tactics, this is a fact. I was unaware that you banned any references to Nazis from your website, but I can understand why. As for the term “homophobe” as far as I can see that has been used to describe anyone who is not gay. So how can a homosexual be a homophobe, this is ware your logic completely falls apart. You all deny your homosexuals so does that mean you are homophobes? As for the comments that you chose not to respond to. T Whether it is having anal sex with a toddler, killing your lover, or spreading aids…. only a narcissist would be so inclined to think that everyone is just like him or her…. find a peer reviewed, and duplicated study that contradicts anything I have said. your not so quick to dispell these "Myths" as you call them. what is the hold up? Don't you want to teach the facts?

December 08, 2005 5:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Okay anon...is it for you to decide what is best for another?"

It is when they try to get special privileges from the government.

"What addiction...???? Loving another or wanting to be a family, etc. or wanting the liberties you enjoy as an apparent homophobe?"

They are addicted to engaging in sexual behavior that is harmful to them-and their partners. I'm not for illegalizing it but the government shouldn't be supporting it.

"Why would that harm you in any way?"

Not me. But somebody could get hurt.

We've already established that AIDS gained a beach hold in the US because of the promiscuous behavior of gay men. This has now spread to innocent victims.

Meanwhile, it's also been established here that most gays can function as heterosexuals. Hence, the behavior is voluntary, at least initially.

So while I wouldn't support criminalizing homosexuality, we still don't have to encourage it. It has brought adverse consequences to our society.

December 08, 2005 6:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

EH didn't post the 5:39 comments.

December 08, 2005 6:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

anonymous said:
Meanwhile, it's also been established here that most gays can function as heterosexuals. Hence, the behavior is voluntary, at least initially.

______________

What a dumb thing to say.


_________________________
So while I wouldn't support criminalizing homosexuality, we still don't have to encourage it. It has brought adverse consequences to our society.

_______________________

What a dumb thing to say.

Examples anon.....

"anon free"

December 08, 2005 6:04 PM  
Anonymous Julian said...

Anonymous said:
"It is when they try to get special privileges from the government."

It would help if you could explain clearly what these "special" privileges are. As far as I am aware they are not privileges at all; they apply to everyone, and their effects are equal for everyone.

Anonymous said:
"They are addicted to engaging in sexual behavior that is harmful to them-and their partners. I'm not for illegalizing it but the government shouldn't be supporting it."

The only homosexuals who are addicted to such behaviour are the ones addicted to such behaviour; they are most certainly not all addicted, just like how not all heterosexuals are addicted to heterosexual sex. As for it being harmful, that depends on the activity, and this applies to everyone.

Anonymous said:
"We've already established that AIDS gained a beach hold in the US because of the promiscuous behavior of gay men. This has now spread to innocent victims."

You need to clarify your meaning of "innocent victims" before your meaning is clear.

Anonymous said:
"Meanwhile, it's also been established here that most gays can function as heterosexuals. Hence, the behavior is voluntary, at least initially."

Yes of course it is completely voluntary, unless it becomes an addiction (of which all people can suffer from), or any form of rape is involved.

Anonymous said:
"So while I wouldn't support criminalizing homosexuality, we still don't have to encourage it. It has brought adverse consequences to our society."

And these consequences would be? I doubt you will be able to give concrete examples.

December 08, 2005 7:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"And these consequences would be? I doubt you will be able to give concrete examples."

How about the aforementioned AIDS epidemic? Last year it declined in every segment of the population except gay males. Appears they refuse to give up their bareback practices. They think nature has discriminated against them.

"You need to clarify your meaning of "innocent victims" before your meaning is clear."

Consider infants born with the disease.

December 08, 2005 9:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"How about the aforementioned AIDS epidemic?"

Make that a pandemic.

December 08, 2005 9:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"It would help if you could explain clearly what these "special" privileges are."

Here's an example:

In the early eighties, the DC govt systematically drove the strip clubs and porno shops out of the area around 14th & I Streets Northwest. Good move.

Flash to 2005. Turns out buying up the land for the new baseball stadium will eliminate several gay strip clubs. DC govt has announced they will try to find a new location for them. Bad move.

December 08, 2005 9:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

anonymous spit out, "They think nature has discriminated against them."

Anon...watch out we might all begin to believe you are a homophobe.

"anon free"

December 08, 2005 9:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Anon...watch out we might all begin to believe you are a homophobe."

Phobe would connote fear, which I don't have. Few people do. It's just another pathetic rhetorical device. A big part of the gay agenda is to twist the meaning of words.

Watch out sense-free, we might think you're part of the agenda.

December 08, 2005 10:01 PM  
Blogger Dana Beyer, M.D. said...

> I also have no idea what Dr. Beyer is trying to convey in the statement that the Dr. has seen the gay community thought straight eyes. I am not really sure what Dana means by that. Could the Dr. please elaborate on that? As for the children did the Dr. give birth to them? or is Dana just the legal gardian? I think that is important to know.<

Sure. I'm a straight woman, not a lesbian, and I have many gay friends and advocate for gay rights. So, like everyone here that I know about,I'm straight.

As for my children, I don't know why it's so important for you to know, and I would appreciate it if you would elaborate, but it's certainly not a secret -- I'm their biological father. And they've managed my transition, and their own, very well.

My point was, and has been, that gender identity and sexual orientation are independent phenomena, unlike the attempt by some of the extremists to just lump them all in together to make sexual variations sound that much worse. All it does is point out the ignorance of those who so comment.

>The brown shirts were homosexuals this is a historical fact. Telling a lie over and over again so people think it is the truth was one of their tactics, this is a fact. <<

That's just more right-wing nonsense. Yes, some of the fascists were gay. So what? They managed to exterminate as many gays as they could get their hands on.


>I was unaware that you banned any references to Nazis from your website, but I can understand why.<

That's because one of the CRC group got a little hot under the collar because Jim pointed out that a CRC member had been linked to a neo-Nazi inthe area.

> As for the term “homophobe” as far as I can see that has been used to describe anyone who is not gay. <

How in the world can you infer that? That's ridiculous.

>So how can a homosexual be a homophobe, this is ware your logic completely falls apart. You all deny your homosexuals so does that mean you are homophobes? <

I'm not sure what you're getting at, but there are striaght homophobes, and their are gay homophobes. It's an old cliche, but some of the worst anti-Semites are Jewish. Why is that? Because when you move in circles where the members are constantly devaluing you, you internalize the shame, hate yourself deeply, then act out on those like you to release the shame and also to prove to your bigoted circle of friends and family that you're not one of "them." It's the reason why conversion therapy is so harmful and has been rejected by the APA's.

> As for the comments that you chose not to respond to. T Whether it is having anal sex with a toddler, killing your lover, or spreading aids…. only a narcissist would be so inclined to think that everyone is just like him or her…. find a peer reviewed, and duplicated study that contradicts anything I have said. your not so quick to dispell these "Myths" as you call them. what is the hold up? Don't you want to teach the facts? <

I have no idea what you're saying here. I don't know anyone who has had anal sex with a toddler, though I do know that the vast majority who do are straight men. Usually when lovers are killed, it's the men killing their girlfriends and wives, and as for spreading AIDS, that is also primarily heterosexual transmission.

December 08, 2005 10:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anoymous tried to say "Phobe would connote fear, which I don't have."


Yeah sure....

Sorry no one believes you.

"anon free"

December 08, 2005 10:06 PM  
Blogger Kay2898 said...

Anonymous said:

Phobe would connote fear, which I don't have.

*******
If you do not have fear...then
why would you care if gays and lesbians have the same rights you do for themselves and their families?

December 08, 2005 10:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"If you do not have fear...then
why would you care if gays and lesbians have the same rights you do for themselves and their families?"

They've got all the rights everybody else has. To say they don't is a ....LIE.

December 08, 2005 11:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous..to say they do is a bold faced lie.


"anon free"

December 08, 2005 11:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Anonymous..to say they do is a bold faced lie."

Give an example, you liar.

The strange free/kay connection.

December 08, 2005 11:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous lied, "They've got all the rights everybody else has."


Examples of you own statement if you can muster that. If not well we understand you did not have any.

"anon free"

December 09, 2005 6:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ocean freeholders reject gay worker's dying wish County will not allow partner to receive benefits

By TRISTAN SCHWEIGER Staff Writer, (609) 978-2015
Published: Thursday, December 8, 2005
Updated: Thursday, December 8, 2005

TOMS RIVER-For 24 years, Lt. Laurel Hester worked as an investigator for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Now Hester is dying of lung cancer, and when she dies, she wants her partner, Stacie Andree, to receive her pension and other government benefits. Thus far, the Ocean County freeholders are not allowing her to do that.


http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/ocean/story/5751976p-5769221c.html



"anon free"

December 09, 2005 6:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Statement of Maryland Religious Leaders

"We clergy of the State of Maryland believe that gay and lesbian couples have the same capacity to love, to form relationships, to commit to one another, and to nurture children that heterosexual couples have. We urge the Court to end the State of Maryland's unfair treatment of same-sex couples in denying them the many family protections that are granted with a legal marriage in the state."



http://www.aclu.org//lgbt/relationships/12136res20050301.html



________________________________



ACLU Urges Maryland Court to Strike Down Law Barring Same-Sex Couples from Marriage Protections (8/30/2005)

(1)

"The Maryland constitution requires that the state treat all Marylanders equally," said Ken Choe, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project who argued the case. "And yet, despite the fact that lesbian and gay people make the same kinds of commitments to their partners and children that straight people make, the state denies them numerous protections that keep families afloat during difficult times. The state cannot justify such unequal treatment."

(2)

"Since this case was filed, more and more Marylanders have come to realize that it is unfair to bar lesbian and gay families from marriage," said Dan Furmansky, Executive Director of Equality Maryland, the state's LGBT rights advocacy group. "Denying same-sex couples marriage protections, such as the ability of partners to make medical decisions for each other during medical emergencies, hurts families and ultimately the state."

http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/gen/19936prs20050830.html



"anon free"

December 09, 2005 6:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Local gay couple featured in film
Movie documents women's struggle with opression


The women didn't hide their relationship, but they didn't advertise that they are gay, either. They simply lived.

But when a Virginia law passed in April 2004 prohibited contracts "purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage" between people of the same sex, many changes were set in motion for Ms. Kenny and Ms. Middleton, both 67.

"We bought into it for all these years and said we are second-class citizens, and OK, we'll live in the shadows. But too many things happened at once," recalled Ms. Kenny.

The Affirmation of Marriage Act for the Commonwealth of Virginia directly affected the women, because Ms. Kenny was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm in 2001. The threat of the aneurysm bursting scared them, but not just because of its medical implications.

"If it (bursts), she can't come visit me. If I die, she can't inherit my stuff," Ms. Kenny said.

The contracts they created giving Ms. Middleton power of attorney were voided by the new law, Ms. Kenny said.




http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=44843


_________

(Anonymous said yesterday) "They've got all the rights everybody else has. To say they don't is a ....LIE.
_____________

Okay anonymous ball is back in your court as we wait for your examples that gays and lesbians have all the rights/liberties you enjoy.

"anon free"

December 09, 2005 7:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ø To Dr Dana?
Ø You are the one who brought up your children and you are the one that held yourself out, as an example of a straight woman there fore it is appropriate for you to elaborate what you meant. I think that I understand better ware you are coming from. Thought your statements raises more questions like the word “transition” your children have also gone through a transition similar to your own? Were your children born one sex and then transition to another? How ware and when did that happen? are there records to prove it? If you want to hold your self up as an example of a straight normal family you can not then say it is none of my business. You have to decide weather you want to hold yourself up for public scrutiny or keep your life private you cannot do both.

Ø “Because when you move in circles where the members are constantly devaluing you, you internalize the shame, hate yourself deeply, and then act out on those like you to release the shame and also to prove to your bigoted circle of friends and family that you're not one of "them." It's the reason why conversion therapy is so harmful and has been rejected by the APA's.”
Ø You are speaking in the first person in this statement. Is that because you have personal experience in this regard? Is that why you and your children went thought a transition so that you could clam to be a straight women instead of a man who was sexually attracted to men? And is that why you think you are a person with gender identity disorder and not sexual orientation disorder? It sounds like you are a homophobe?


Ø To quote the good Dr.“the fascists were gay. So what?”
Ø Well I guess this does not need explanation you obviously see nothing wrong with what the Nazis were trying to do.
Ø
Ø I guess the right wing nonsense is not being tolerant of Nazis.
Ø
Ø They managed to exterminate as many gays as they could get their hands on.
Ø Well your going to have to produce some evidence to back up this statement and I hope you have some because there is no evidence that the gay community was targeted as part of the final solution to date.
Ø CRC member had been linked to a neo-Nazi. Who? How?
Ø I guess I was wrong everyone is a homophobe. It must mean human.
Ø
I have no idea what you're saying here. I don't know anyone who has had anal sex with a toddler, though I do know that the vast majority who do are straight men. Usually when lovers are killed, it's the men killing their girlfriends and wives, and as for spreading AIDS, that is also primarily heterosexual transmission.
Ø
Ø Well you also clam to be straight so I hope you don’t mind if I am not totally convinced by this statement. 97% of the population is straight. It is only recently that HIV became a problem in the heterosexual community. How did it make the leap? I guess we can thank the homosexual community for that. Death and destruction ware ever you go.
Ø As for the anal sex with toddlers Jim K stated he had no problem with this. How about you?

Ø Ps still have not received any proof of your statements what’s the hold up cant you find any?

December 09, 2005 3:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
"Anonymous..to say they do is a bold faced lie."

Give an example, you liar.

The strange free/kay connection.

------------

Anon do not talk to your significant other
this way or otherwise I will cut off your blogging and make you
do work around the house instead of giving you time to blog.

"anon free"

December 09, 2005 3:26 PM  
Blogger JimK said...

As for the anal sex with toddlers Jim K stated he had no problem with this. How about you?

This kind of thing does make it a little hard to hold an honest discussion...

JimK

December 09, 2005 4:45 PM  
Anonymous Julian said...

Anonymous said:
"How about the aforementioned AIDS epidemic? Last year it declined in every segment of the population except gay males. Appears they refuse to give up their bareback practices. They think nature has discriminated against them."


If you consider that an "adverse" effect on the whole of society then I can't debate against that.

Anonymous said:
"Consider infants born with the disease."


Your meaning is still not clear. You're implying that homosexuals are to blame for infants being born with the disease.

Anonymous said:
"In the early eighties, the DC govt systematically drove the strip clubs and porno shops out of the area around 14th & I Streets Northwest. Good move.

Flash to 2005. Turns out buying up the land for the new baseball stadium will eliminate several gay strip clubs. DC govt has announced they will try to find a new location for them. Bad move."


How exactly is that a special privilege for homosexuals? How is thateven a privilege at all? You're talking adult stores and clubs being driven out of one area and being assigned another. Your opinion on that scenario is also irrelevant.

Anonymous said:
"They've got all the rights everybody else has. To say they don't is a ....LIE."


Just because a right applies to everyone equally does not mean their effect is equal for everyone.

December 10, 2005 10:08 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home