Outings And Hot Tips

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I see various "outings" and "hot tips" on this board. Nothing wrong with exposing the mendacity and hyporcisy of the GOPU. My only concern is when these tips or outings don't pan out we look like idiots or worse.

For instance with Larry Craig's outing, all we have is hearsay. Our case would be infinitely stronger if we had an affidavit from one his same sex partners.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. the problem with outing is so much more complex

than having affidavits and not being able to prove gayness.

yes, i understand its hypocritical for congresspeople who are gay to pass anti-gay legislation but how one can indentify as liberals without respecting other peoples right to privacy is mind boggling.

also outing assumes that something is wrong with being gay...no one outs straights...

as much as this sounds strange...gay people have just as much a right to be idiots/bigots/motherfuckers etc.

i think the backlash will just be that gay people will not be elected etc

also outing sometimes causes serious security concerns (esp in the military etc)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. I Am Ambivalent About Outing. If Someone Wants To...Fine...

My point is if you're going to accuse somebody of something they will vigorously contest you better have proof. The "I spoke with Ted and he told me he had sex with John" accusation is worthless. It's hearsay.

[donheld]

3. Hypocrites indeed must be outed

Other people's right to privacy ends when they try to take my rights away. Outing of this sort does NOT assume something is wrong with being gay. Straights aren't hypocritical about straightness. Straight people don't hide in closets and pass laws to deny the right of people to live straight lives. It assumes something is wrong with hypocrisy. Gay's will still be elected, honestly elected now. Indeed gay people do have "the right to be idiots/bigots/motherfuckers etc.", but that doesn't mean we have to let them hide in their closets and gay bash with their legislation. This gay man says OH HELL NO.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. you know i am ambivalent about this whole outing thing

i dont think there is one right answer.

however i do believe that if straight bigots start outing us, it could lead to more gay bashing etc.

however there is something to be said about politicians..they choose the public life...and it is up for scrutiny more than for the rest of us.

its such a ridiculously complex issue for me. i generally have strong opinions ...but this one is such a grey area

[donheld]

8. I would never EVER out someone unless they are

being hypocritical.

[mondo joe]

10. How precisely would outings lead to more gay bashing?

Please explain the sequence - thanks.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. "We" Can't Be Outing People On Hearsay

eom

[donheld]

7. That's exactly right -- we must have hard evidence and plenty of it

before we open our mouths. Otherwise we make ourselves individually and collectively look like fools.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. From Now On When I See Hersay Outing I'm Ignoring It

We end up looking foolish when we repeat it.

I suspect most of the "outings" are true and they have the "ring of truth" but that's not enough. They could be traps.

[sproutster]

6. Word on the street of Idaho is...

"We already knew that."

Kinda sounds like perhaps there has been rumors before. Meanwhile friends and I couldn't guess who it was.

On the other... In our governor race - Brady vs. Otter

Brady has some ads where he says Idaho is not for sale re: selling national parks. But the cool thing is, he got a call out on radio from people who love his ads coz he rips the for sale sign out of the grass - and uses props to show how the tax works that Otter is proposing.