The "Gay-baiting" of Mitch McConnell

James Kirchick gets himself all into a lather over supposed horrible "gay-baiting" of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell by Democrats. He's talking about a radio ad and a flier -- which is, actually, pretty hilarious -- that question why McConnell was discharged from the military. Yes, the people pushing it are no doubt trying to appeal to homophobia in many voters. But they are also appealing to my -- and presumably many Kentucky voters' -- desire not to have a hypocrite and liar in office. And that's not a bad thing. Sorry, but I have little sympathy for the antigay McConnell, and certainly people should know if indeed he is some tormented closet case.

Since McConnnell is a senator who has voted antigay over and over again, it's certainly relevant to ask the question if things just don't add up, and there's nothing wrong with implying someone is gay or asking the question, is there? And if McConnell is not, and there is some other truth to his discharge, why not just state it?

And isn't Kirchick giving this whole issue more attention by circulating the flier on The New Republic site and around the web? Kirchick has done more to bring this issue forth than anyone else. Thanks James!

Mark Foley, Mark Buse and the Politics of Truth-Telling

James Kirchick, an assistant editor at The New Republic, recently wrote a commentary piece on Advocate.com, taking on activists and journalists who exposed the truth about Congressman Mark Foley. He also criticized me for my piece about Mark Buse, John McCain's chief of staff (and a registered lobbyist), who is gay.

Kirchick, whom I interviewed on the show (video clips below), is following in the footsteps of Andrew Sullivan in many ways, rising up through The New Republic at a young age as an openly gay writer, sometimes attempting to make a name for himself by taking on the imagined bogeymen (and women) he calls "the intellectual Torquemadas of the gay left." It's an easy way to get some attention, and Sullivan proved that early on -- even though Sullivan, on his blog these days, is pretty much in alignment with the gay liberal-activist perspective. (Yes, even including on the issue of "outing" -- for which he vilified me and others years ago -- though he would be loathe to admit it.)

Kirchick is smart, engaging and has done some good work, and I hope he doesn't take that enticing and easy route, one that I think is perhaps encouraged at places like The New Republic: vilifying gay activists and the "gay left" as a way to bring attention to himself. But only time will tell.

I invited Kirchick on the show last week to talk about his Advocate piece and his beliefs about Mark Foley, Mark Buse, John McCain, journalism and gay activism. We had a good, spirited discussion. Two clips from that interview are below.

On Today's Show

At 3:30 ET, Zach Roth of TPM Muckraker will discuss the Republican outrage over Acorn and the overblown controversy about the community organization and voter registration in several states.

At 4:30 ET, James Kirchick, assistant editor at The New Republic and a contributor to the Advocate, will join me to talk about his Advocate commentary which criticizes gay liberals and gay journalists -- including me -- for reporting on Mark Foley and other closeted gay Republicans.

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