Top McCain VP pick kills 'South Carolina is so gay' ad

[MiaCulpa]

Source: Raw Story - John Byrne

McCain VP candidate and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford recently killed a tourism advertising campaign that would have branded his state "so gay," according to the SC gay paper, Q Notes.

The state employee who approved the ad and was promptly forced to resign at the governor's urging, even though he or she apparently violated no state rules.

The ad, approved by a state official and posted in the London Tube during gay pride week, announced, "South Carolina is so gay." Sanford is in the running for a slot on McCain's ticket as Vice President, according to ABC News.

The state employee was called in to management and promptly resigned, according to a spokesman for the state's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Sanford reportedly ordered a department head "to do the right thing personnel-wise or process-wise to ensure this does not happen again," Sanford's spokesman Joel Sawyer told Q-Notes.

"If the employee broke any rule in the conduct of her job, it was apparently an unwritten one," the paper said.


Full story at the link.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Top_McCain_VP_pick_kills_South_0717.html

[gratuitous]

1. Now THERE's some governmental accountability

We can't prosecute anyone for authorizing or committing torture because the poor dears who institute or carry out those policies are such sensitive, diaphanous flowers. But by golly, you write an ad campaign to promote the wrong kind of tourism, and your resignation better hit the governor's desk toot fuckin' sweet.

[liberal N proud]

2. Up is down, wrong is right in the post bu$h regime world.

Nothing makes sense any longer.

[kskiska]

3. Fallout from 'So Gay' ad likely to cost South Carolina

State making itself appear unfriendly to gays, lesbians, one expert says

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The flap over an ad promoting South Carolina as "So Gay" will cost the state tourism dollars, according to an industry expert.

Gay and lesbian travelers will likely be turned off by the political posturing surrounding the ads, which were pulled by the state tourism agency and led one employee to resign.

"We experience discrimination every day, so we certainly don't want to when we travel," said Wesley Combs of the Washington-based communication firm Witeck-Combs, which specializes in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travel.

Combs noted that national media attention about the ad, including jokes on Conan O'Brien's late-night TV show, sends a sour message to gays and lesbians who spend an estimated $712 million a year in travel.

"We read," he said. And state government leaders "are sending a signal that gay people are not welcome in South Carolina."

more…
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/07/16/south_carolina_gay.html

[mwb970]

4. Is the idea that gays are not welcome in SC some kind of new news?

I would think people would know that by now.

[AlbertCat]

6. Been to Myrtle Beach lately?

The Carolina Bear Lodge (lots of big hairy gay men.... woof!)has an annual get together there: "Bear Hunt". They fill up 2 hotels...with just the overflow.

Of course SC ain't welcoming us with open arms or anything. (Well, the hotels are.)

[underpants]

5. Wtch 2 minutes of Gov. Sanford's MEMORABLE performance on CNN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x157514

[mitchum]

7. Understandable confusion; South Carolina really does suck...

but that doesn't necessarily make it gay