A Republican hero, but was Abe Lincoln gay?

[aikido15]

Paul Harris in New York
Sunday December 19, 2004
The Observer

It is news guaranteed to make many Republicans squirm. Was Abraham Lincoln, founder of the party now seeking a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in America, actually gay himself?
A new book, published next month, certainly thinks so. The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln by C.A. Tripp produces evidence that one of America's greatest Presidents had a long-term relationship with a youthful friend, Joshua Speed, and shared his bed with David Derickson, captain of his bodyguards.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1376919,00.html

Wouldn't this just rock the neocons world?

[imenja]

1. very difficult to prove a historical figure was gay

Unless his own writings confirm it. Sexual relations are inherently private, homosexual ones all the more so. Lincoln was married and from all accounts loved his wife Mary deeply. Even if he had some sort of sexual relationship with a man, that doesn't establish he was gay. As a historian, I'm not going to put a lot of stock in a historical work written by a sex researcher, though ultimately it's credibility depends on the author's use and citation of sources. Most importantly, I don't care about his sexual orientation unless it impacted his presidency in some way.

[aikido15]

2. Personally...

I wouldn't think any less or any more of old Abe whether he was gay or not. I was looking at it from a Rush, O'Reilly point of view wondering how they would spin it if in fact it can be proven.

[imenja]

5. it worked!

I see your point, and evidently it worked. You got quite a strong reaction from our conservative friend below.

[aikido15]

6. yep...

Sure did...aren't they a lovely bunch? Things that make you shudder!
or:puke:

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[imenja]

8. how crude

Such a crude comment to come from someone on the side of moral values. Being a morally degenerate Democrat, I aim for educated, thoughtful comments written with a sense of decorum.

[Wabbajack]

4. I don't think Lincoln "founded " the gop

did he?

I know Lincoln's predeccesor was gay. 2 gay Presidents in a row? That would've been something.

[imenja]

7. Lincoln was the first Republican president

The Republican party formed in 1854 in response to the controversy surrounding the Kansas-Nebraska act. They were essentially a single issue party founded on stopping the spread of slavery into the new territories acquired from the Mexican War. They ran a candidate in 1856 and then won the 1860 election. Lincoln qualifies as one of the party's founders, and certainly is their best known founder.
One point I'd like to make: Lincoln is an American hero, not just a Republican hero. The Republicans were on the side of justice in the election of 1860, even though many of their motives were based on self-interest rather than humanitarian opposition to slavery.

[Moderator]

9. Duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1077548