SC Lt. Gov. outed by Blogactive

[RandySF]

http://www.blogactive.com/

And for those reasons I am now able to confirm a rumor that has circulated in South Carolina for years. South Carolina Lt. Governor Andre Bauer is a closeted anti-gay politician who stands to replace Mark Sanford should Sanford resign or be impeached (a real possibility as Sanford is caught in his own sex scandal.)

So, what is the deal with Bauer? I have confirmed and spoken to four individuals who I have no doubt are telling me the truth. These men have been hit on by Bauer, with one of them telling me it happened at least five times since Bauer's election in 2003. To a varying degree I have met with and believe the sources. And, as you'll recall, I have that 100% record.

This was still not enough for me to report on him. Then another call came in and I met with the source while he was visiting DC recently. "He's gay," the source told me.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Because I've had sex with him on two separate occasions." That too, was not enough for me to report on without confirmation from others. I was led on a path to chatting with acquaintances of the source and two former employees of Bauer who served on his staff between 2004 and 2007. They reported to me that on a total of three occasions Bauer spent hours alone with men in hotel rooms. Each of them explained that the visits were with younger men who were not on the staff of the Lt. Governor nor had any official reason to be with him. The two men each confirmed that they had not known each other and each described similar circumstances under which these interactions occurred. One of them confirmed that he was told by the Lt. Governor's visitor he had a sexual encounter with Bauer.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Impeach Sanford now.

It's time to change laughingstocks.

[mth44sc]

2. Mark Sanford

thanks you for your work on his behalf...

[tosh]

3. Please help me understand this:

"closeted anti-gay". Does that mean he takes an anti-gay stand publicly/policy-wise?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. Yes.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. Read Sam Seder's "F.U.B.A.R."

He covers this "gay anti-gay" topic quite extensively in his "I Hate Myself: Life As a Gay Republican" chapter in a *straight* and thoughtful manner. ;-)

[abumbyanyothername]

4. I know that everyone is going to say hyprocrisy

but I still fail to see how we can consider these kind of revelations relevant to his political status without being in some sense of the word anti-gay.

Being closeted, at least for some periods of time and in front of some audiences, is a big portion of the gay experience and this kind of non-consensual outing is abusive, regardless of the politics of the person at whom it is directed.

[mitchtv]

7. Sorry, politics has a great deal to do with it

Politicians who support anti Gay agendas, do not have a right to be secretly gay and at the same time stab the community in the back. It is typical of rich republicans to act so. Political hypocrisy should be outed as was his het friend Sanford. So , You think that hypocrisy should be permitted? that's my interpretationof your post

[abumbyanyothername]

10. We should oppose anti-gay

on the basis that anti-gay is wrong.

Not on the basis that the person who is anti-gay is a hypocrite.

And certainly not on the basis that the person who is publicly anti-gay is privately gay.

Outing someone without their consent is abuse.

[mitchtv]

12. so is denying a class of people's rights

tough , don't like it? don't do it . It is a question of dishonesty

[abumbyanyothername]

13. Don't like it, don't do it.

That's what I am saying.

I don't like abusing people who have been marginalized by society and I don't like piling on people who are suffering from self-hatred and such.

If it floats your boat, go for it. But don't ask for my approval, because I find it despicable.

[Toasterlad]

22. Don't Worry, I Won't Ask For Your Approval.

If you'd waste one ounce of pity on a vile, hypocritical piece of shit who'd betray his own people, your opinion is neither coveted nor respected.

This is war, Mary.

[mtnester]

25. +1

exactly

[RandySF]

15. The hypocrisy of people in power

can have a direct impact on the well-being of the governed. Such can be the case if Bauer becomes governor.

[Toasterlad]

21. Bullshit.

I am VERY much against outing: I believe that everyone must become comfortable with their sexuality at their own pace, and that everyone has the right to determine when they will live openly as a gay person.

Except hypocritical gays in positions of power.

If you are a lawmaker, and you are making anti-gay laws, YOU ARE THE ENEMY. If you are secretly GAY and STILL making these anti-gay laws, you are hypocrite of the highest order, as well. You deserve no consideration, no empathy. You forfeited your rights to those things when you used your position to make life more difficult for the gay men and women who are choosing to live their lives openly and with pride. You are scum, and whatever methods can be used to bring you down, SHOULD be used.

[sweetpotato]

24. Because THEY made it an issue

If a person's sexuality wasn't an issue to conservatives, if it wasn't an issue what I do with my body - then I wouldn't give a flying fig what or who Bauer sleeps with.

But HE decided to go all "family values" on us - so he MUST be held to that standard. He is part of the group that SET the standard. It would be the very definition of hypocrisy for Bauer to rail against gay people when he is one.

The conservatives have chosen to make this a plank in their platform - they have to stand on it.

[The Straight Story]

5. We must find out who all is gay, we need a national movement now to show us who is gay

Can't have people being gay and not telling us.

[mitchtv]

8. certainly not lying republican hypocrites

political hypocrisy can be dangerous to your career

[The Straight Story]

9. And next we need to out the gun owners in congress

You can't own a gun and vote against gun rights.

[mitchtv]

14. what are gun rights?

that question is not so simple. Wyoming is not NYC. If for example a rep wants to bar gun ownership, then your premise has some validity; if it is a question of assault weapons inside city limits then it would only be valid if the rep lived in a city and had assault weapons himself.

[Toasterlad]

23. You Wanna Toss a Few Bananas In With Those Apples and Oranges?

And if you're not too busy, maybe you could explain how people choosing or not choosing to own a deadly weapon is in any way analogous to legislating against people because of how they were born?

[Are_grits_groceries]

16. I wouldn't care what Bauer does except

for the fact that he is in a position of influence. He is gay, but he uses his bully pulpit to denounce homosexuals and side with the fundies. That I have a problem with. Big time!

I also have a problem with Sanford and his sanctimonious self acting like a wholesome family man. NOT! He also has tried to put policies in place that fiscally tear at the fabric of the state. He does this while spending the state's money on whatever he deems necessary for himself.

I am glad they are both in the spotlight for their hypocrisy to be seen by all.

[Toucano]

17. Found this image.

Made me laugh, so I share.

[Are_grits_groceries]

18. Bwahahahahaha!

Do you have a link?

[Toucano]

19. Yep.

Found it here.

www.willisms.com/archives/2006/06/index.html

The original yahoo news article is offline.

Original caption reported as:

"South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, gets a hug from Senate Chaplain, George Meetze, wearing dark suit, as he begins the session Wednesday, June 14, 2006, in Columbia, S.C. Bauer is headed for a runoff against Republican challenger Mike Campbell. The winner of the June 27 runoff will face Democrat Robert Barber in the general election in November in the lieutenant governor's race. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)"

[Are_grits_groceries]

20. Thanks! nt