Tommy Thompson retracts anti-gay statement made during debate - that was quick

[rodeodance]

i missed the debate. Tommy is my old gov (was glad to see him go).
Now he has emerged again, to the embarrassment of Wisconsin (a BLUE state) and home of Tammy Baldwin


http://americablog.blogspot.com/

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Tommy Thompson retracts anti-gay statement made during debate - that was quick
by John Aravosis (DC) · 5/03/2007 10:54:00 PM ET
Discuss this post here: Comments (78) · digg it · reddit · FARK · · Link

Well, that was a quick flip-flop even by Republican standards.

Tonight during the GOP presidential debate, Tommy Thompson said, quite unequivocally - well, after staring at the camera like a deer in the headlights - that he thinks it's okay for employers to fire their employees simply because they're gay. Joe has the video in the post below. Well, an astute AMERICAblog reader wrote Tommy Thompson's main campaign email address at 10:11pm this evening to complain that Thompson was an "ignorant, homophobic fool." Imagine his surprise at 10:20pm, only 9 minutes later, when he received an email from Thompson spokesman Tony Jewell saying that Thompson misheard the question and is opposed to discrimination. Yeah, well, watch the video for yourself - Thompson says it's up the individual employer if he wants to fire someone for being gay. He answered the question twice. Can't be any clearer than that.

But I am intrigued that Joe Blow reader can write the main info email at Tommy Thompson's campaign and get an email back in 9 minutes from the spokesman - that's pretty good. And it's rather telling that in spite of the GOP's rampant homophobia, when they get called on it, they backtrack fast. Though I'm guessing the religious right bigots aren't going to be very happy with Tommy after that.

Now someone needs to inform Tommy Thompson that in most of America it is 100% legal to fire someone for being gay. So, since Thompson opposes such firings, does he support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act which would make it illegal to fire someone simply for being gay?

[southerncrone]

1. Something tells me the damage is already done. Too little, too late.

[calimary]

13. More than okay by me!

[ginnyinWI]

2. He is SO not ready for prime time!

I keep remembering the time I heard his farewell speech to Wisconsin when * asked him to serve on his cabinet. Poor Tommy had to tear himself away to go and serve the prez, and leave the Lt. Gov to serve out the term. I don't think he ever really wanted to do that--and he was a spectacular failure at it. He stood there weeping and blubbering about how much he loves Wisconsin. I guess that's why he left us with a big pile of red ink--and Gov. Doyle has been making it right ever since.

These Repubs love to talk about cutting taxes. Then they borrow to make up the difference.

I heard his answer about firing, and it was basically that each business should be allowed to hire and fire whomever they want. He was quite clear about what he meant.

[DaveinMD]

3. so far

Thompson has attacked Jewish people and gay people. My money is on immigrants for next.

[Hieronymus]

4. Thompson is wasting his time ..

No one would even pick him for VP .. Gross.

[Divine Discontent]

5. I find this talk REFRESHING

only when it appears on a Republican Presidential candidate debate! This shows everyone watching what redneck, bigot, anti-peace, bomb loving freaks the GOP is! If it was in any other setting I'd say how wrong of him, instead it's a blessing, because he just BLEW up his candidacy on LIVE TV... way to go Tommy Boy!
1 loser down, 9 to go. Oh, who am I kidding, like Tancredo & the other nonamers have a chance. 4 to go with Fred, Judy, McCain and Huckabee!

www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- check it out, top '08 stuff

[Divine Discontent]

6. I find this talk REFRESHING

only when it appears on a Republican Presidential candidate debate! This shows everyone watching what redneck, bigot, anti-peace, bomb loving freaks the GOP is! If it was in any other setting I'd say how wrong of him, instead it's a blessing, because he just BLEW up his candidacy on LIVE TV... way to go Tommy Boy!
1 loser down, 9 to go. Oh, who am I kidding, like Tancredo & the other nonamers have a chance. 4 to go with Fred, Judy, McCain and Huckabee!

www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- check it out, top '08 stuff

[Bucky]

7. Tommy T is getting good at retracting things he says.

His campaign probably has a form letter ready to go for these occasions. Just fill in the blanks.

[primative1]

8. I am no longer concerned about Tommy ...

When I heard that the GOPers were unvieling a new "actor" candidate I was having flashbacks to Reagan, but if this guy is the best that they have I am not concerned.
The guy looks like Frankenstein and when answering the questions he doesnt even look at the camera or anywhere near it, just stares at the floor and rambles .... Hes no ray-gun

[dsc]

9. wrong guy

The actor is Fred Thompson not Tommy Thompson.

[primative1]

10. Sad

It did seem like this was going to be too easy ... ah well

[dazzlerazzle]

11. Tommy Thompson

Any candidate that endorses discrimination in any form throws his credibility away. I am guessing that management would always get the benefit of the doubt under most of these moron's.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

12. I'm still fairly new to Wisconsin

But I still can't believe this schlub was a four-term governor.

[bullwinkle428]

14. Thompson is still okay with employers firing Jews, because they're

so good at making money on their own anyway!

:sarcasm: