Hypocritical congressman outed, resigns

[Predicto]

Ed Schrock, one of the most anti-gay members of Congress, has resigned after being outed. He was a sponsor of the the Defense of Marriage Act and voted against health benefits for gay partners, adoption rights for gay couples, equal access to employment for gays, and so forth.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/31/virginia.congressman/index.html

It will be interesting to see the spin that will develop, both in the media and on this board. I bet (hope) Santorum will be next.

[Predicto]

Dammit Code - you beat me by one minute!

mods - please close this thread. Thanks

[Ignatius J.]

How is this hypocritical?

He's gay and doesn't want to extend rights to gays. That's more honest to me than someone not gay saying those things.

[Storm]

Its called Reaction-formation, when you bend over backwards to pretend to hate what you really are. Its supposedly a defense mechanism. Santorum has it down well.

[Johnny Punani2]

Can anyone go into detail as to what makes him one of the most anti-gay people in congress?

[Thiebear]

Well, In the 90's he was ranked number 1 by the Journal but since he's been running for President he hasn't shown up for 66% of .. ohhh wait that was the liberal thread sorry..

continue on...

[JimboDaMan]

I'm trying to decide on my favorite post:

- the guy who doesn't find any hypocricy at all :laugh:

- the guy who thinks the point is about what rank of anti-gay this man is, or

- the guy who refers to Schrock as "bending over backwards". :D

[codeorama]

Originally posted by Ignatius J.
How is this hypocritical?

He's gay and doesn't want to extend rights to gays. That's more honest to me than someone not gay saying those things.

If in his mind, or better yet, in his party's mind, there was nothing wrong with it, why is he resigning?

Personally, I don't care if he's gay or not, what I find amusing is how anti gay republican's often are (except for Ahhnold) yet here we have a gay GOPer.
My viewpoint all along is that politicians in general are huge hypocrites. They bash Clinton for his sexual affairs, bash gays, promote morals, but there are probably tons of them cheating on their wifes, smoking pole, doing drugs etc...
Don't attack something you are doing or your teammates are doing.

[Ancalagon the Black]

Originally posted by JimboDaMan
I'm trying to decide on my favorite post:

- the guy who doesn't find any hypocricy at all :laugh:

- the guy who thinks the point is about what rank of anti-gay this man is, or

- the guy who refers to Schrock as "bending over backwards". :D

On your first point, I'll repeat the question I had in the other thread about this.

Was he against being gay or against gay marriage?

[Dan T.]

Ancalagon, I heard discussion that Shrock was outspoken against gays in the military, and favored keeping them out of the service. Shrock, a retired Navy captain, represented the 2nd Congressional District of Virginia in the Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads area, with a large military population.

[jbooma]

our has anyont thought maybe if he was pro-gay then people might think differently if they knew him better then just the public, he didn't want anyone to think he was, so it isn't being hypocritical it was a form of protection, he knew in his line of work being gay is not accepted yet, it is sad but it is the truth, he was a va congressman!!!

[Ancalagon the Black]

Originally posted by Dan T.
Ancalagon, I heard discussion that Shrock was outspoken against gays in the military, and favored keeping them out of the service. Shrock, a retired Navy captain, represented the 2nd Congressional District of Virginia in the Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads area, with a large military population.

Interesting. I wasn't aware of that.

jbooma,

What?

[Predicto]

I know he was a co-sponsor of the Same Sex Marriage Amendment. I believe he was the guy I saw in CSPAN a while back arguing against extending civil rights protection to gays, but I must be honest - I haven't been able to find a link to back this up.

[JimboDaMan]

Originally posted by jbooma
our has anyont thought maybe if he was pro-gay then people might think differently if they knew him better then just the public, he didn't want anyone to think he was, so it isn't being hypocritical it was a form of protection, he knew in his line of work being gay is not accepted yet, it is sad but it is the truth, he was a va congressman!!!
jb, yes it was a form of self-protection. Yes, that was hypocritical. Its the very definition of "living a lie".

AtB, clearly in the man's heart he was not against being gay. But his public policy stances were consistently opposed to ensuring gays were afforded rights equal to the rest of us. It went way beyong gay marriage.

I kinda feel bad for the guy. I've known "closet gays" and its not an easy way to live. For him, in his public position, it must have been horrible.

But in a way, justice was served. He was one of the crowd that argued protecting gays from discrimination was bestowing special right on them. And now he's lost his job and reputation for being gay.

[The Rook]

I'm from Virginia Beach - Don't feel sorry for this guy. He always ran a self-righteous campaign with a hard right-wing platform. The man was the poster-child for no tolerance.


:laythehur

[Burgold]

Well, if he was a former Naval officer who later advocated against gays in the millitary... I would think that hypocrisy would be hard to argue.

[jbooma]

Originally posted by Burgold
Well, if he was a former Naval officer who later advocated against gays in the millitary... I would think that hypocrisy would be hard to argue.

how is that maybe he believes they shouldn't be allowed we don't know, just because he is gay doesn't mean anything

the man is gay, if a man votes against all bills that favor women in anyway and then is a happily married man who treats his wife great is he a hypocrite?? No because he might believe that we just don't know.

[BurgundyBomber]

heh...don't believe the hype. He resigns because of allegations that he called a gay sex line? There's more here:

Etiher he had a long conversation on that line, and he is aware of a tape that clearly has his voice on it, or

There's something else out there, and his resignation is the only way to keep it supressed.

[Burgold]

jbomma,

He's against gays in the millitary. He served in the millitary. He's gay. Nothing seem off there to you? I suppose he was the only gay in his mind suitable to be in the millitary?

[jbooma]

Originally posted by Burgold
jbomma,

He's against gays in the millitary. He served in the millitary. He's gay. Nothing seem off there to you? I suppose he was the only gay in his mind suitable to be in the millitary?

He still might believe gays should not be allowed, like I said we don't know him and how he thinks. We also don't know when he was in the military was he honest with himself, meaning did he believe he was gay or straight at that time.

[FullbackIsKey]

Originally posted by jbooma
our has anyont thought maybe if he was pro-gay then people might think differently if they knew him better then just the public, he didn't want anyone to think he was, so it isn't being hypocritical it was a form of protection, he knew in his line of work being gay is not accepted yet, it is sad but it is the truth, he was a va congressman!!!

i can't tell if you're defending him a little bit or not, but my :2cents: is that we can't have people in power who are so ashamed of what they are, or scared of what others will think of what they are. If this guy is gay, he should be able to accept that not everybody will look at him the same. This guy is making and voting on legiuslation under a competely false pretense. He's voted anti-gay to hide the fact that he's gay, that's not exactly honest, i don't think.

[jbooma]

Originally posted by FullbackIsKey


i can't tell if you're defending him a little bit or not, but my :2cents: is that we can't have people in power who are so ashamed of what they are, or scared of what others will think of what they are. If this guy is gay, he should be able to accept that not everybody will look at him the same. This guy is making and voting on legiuslation under a competely false pretense. He's voted anti-gay to hide the fact that he's gay, that's not exactly honest, i don't think.

I agree, it is sad though that he had to cover it up for so long, maybe one day we can accept everyone for who they are not what we percieve them as. That saying I don't know if southern VA would ever elect someone gay anyway, that is a sad statement to say living in this state.

[Funkyalligator]

So will you admit that this republican is a hypocrit, jbooma?

[jbooma]

Originally posted by Funkyalligator
So will you admit that this republican is a hypocrit, jbooma?

i can't admit it unless we know all the facts and how he feels, to be a hypocrite you have to deliberatly go against your personal beliefs, we don't know if he did, just because he is gay does not mean he did

[Funkyalligator]

So he could be a gay man who goes against everything that gay's stand for and not be considered a hypocrit.........whatever........what a shocker....

[jbooma]

Originally posted by Funkyalligator
So he could be a gay man who goes against everything that gay's stand for and not be considered a hypocrit.........whatever........what a shocker....

i know a guy who is gay that really feels he is straight, like i said we don't know yes he could be gay but he might think he is straight how does that make you hypocrite, you have to be clear in what you think

[AJWatson3]

Originally posted by jbooma


i know a guy who is gay that really feels he is straight, like i said we don't know yes he could be gay but he might think he is straight how does that make you hypocrite, you have to be clear in what you think

you know a guy who is gay but the guy thinks he is straight? so, is he gay (as in dates men) or do you just know he is because he has a soft-voice, flaps his hand when he talks, and watches Oprah every day, wears tight jeans, and has a rainbow tatoo, yet he still dates women?

[jbooma]

Originally posted by AJWatson3


you know a guy who is gay but the guy thinks he is straight? so, is he gay (as in dates men) or do you just know he is because he has a soft-voice, flaps his hand when he talks, and watches Oprah every day, wears tight jeans, and has a rainbow tatoo, yet he still dates women?

he dates men, but says he is straight, very confusing if you ask me

[luckydevil]

So he could be a gay man who goes against everything that gay's stand for

What exactly do gays stand for?

[AJWatson3]

Originally posted by jbooma


he dates men, but says he is straight, very confusing if you ask me

that makes absolutely no sense at all. you tried smacking him around some, telling him to wake the **** up and examine himself?

[AJWatson3]

Originally posted by luckydevil


What exactly do gays stand for?

i am guessing equal treatment.

[jbooma]

Originally posted by AJWatson3


that makes absolutely no sense at all. you tried smacking him around some, telling him to wake the **** up and examine himself?

:laugh: no i respect his decision, i think it is because if people found out then it might hurt his work, so because of this he trys to think that he is straight

why i think it is similar to this congressman, after so many years trying to convince others he was straight he might have had a warped reality

[luckydevil]

i am guessing equal treatment.

fair enough

[AJWatson3]

Originally posted by jbooma


:laugh: no i respect his decision, i think it is because if people found out then it might hurt his work, so because of this he trys to think that he is straight

why i think it is similar to this congressman, after so many years trying to convince others he was straight he might have had a warped reality

sometimes it is easier to live a lie than face reality. sounds like he is one of those ashamed homos, probably due to family influences...

[jbooma]

Originally posted by AJWatson3


sometimes it is easier to live a lie than face reality. sounds like he is one of those ashamed homos, probably due to family influences...

that is what is sad, you are half right, the other is his job, people would be shocked

[AJWatson3]

Originally posted by jbooma


that is what is sad, you are half right, the other is his job, people would be shocked

i am trying to think of what job would require he be straight? is he in a metal band? or, :doh: , maybe a priest?

[jbooma]

Originally posted by AJWatson3


i am trying to think of what job would require he be straight? is he in a metal band? or, :doh: , maybe a priest?

let just say he is around a lot of guys

[AJWatson3]

ok. it is a shame though. that you can't lead the kind of life you want because of your job.

[jbooma]

Originally posted by AJWatson3
ok. it is a shame though. that you can't lead the kind of life you want because of your job.

i agree comepletely, think if this congressman was openly gay what chance would he have in an election in southern va, NONE

[Ancalagon the Black]

Originally posted by JimboDaMan

AtB, clearly in the man's heart he was not against being gay. But his public policy stances were consistently opposed to ensuring gays were afforded rights equal to the rest of us. It went way beyong gay marriage.

I kinda feel bad for the guy. I've known "closet gays" and its not an easy way to live. For him, in his public position, it must have been horrible.

But in a way, justice was served. He was one of the crowd that argued protecting gays from discrimination was bestowing special right on them. And now he's lost his job and reputation for being gay.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I think the man is despicable--not because he's gay, but because he advances discriminatory legislation. I'm sorry that he had to be a closet homosexual, but I think it's appropriate that the anti-gay sentiment he clearly nurtured has come back to bite him.

My only point was the following: clearly he is against equal treatment for gays legally; the question is does he seek equal treatment for himself? If the answer is yes, as it seems to be, then yes, he is a hypocrite. But that had to be established.