Calfifornia Gays should support Rep. David Dreier!

Perhaps you'll forgive my suggesting this, me being a straight man, but I only seek to be helpful with my modest proposal.




He loves America like a real man!


Last year, the Republicans made big inroads by attacking the gays in America.  Yet, here we have such a fine example of a great gay American in Representative David Dreier (R-San Dimas CA). Rather than opposing him, in a kneejerk anti-Republican reaction, California gays should show solidarity with this brave man, their Republican brother.  Yes, it is true, he is in the closet now, but he need not stay that way if gays of all persuasions were to support him in his choice of sexual preference.  

Just as the Democrats have great men like Barney Frank representing them in Congress, the Republicans have many fine gay men like Dreier who should not have to skulk and lurch from bathhouse to bathhouse, but stand up proudly and erect as the true gay patriots they are.

Now, this may sound disingenuous, coming from a Democrat, and a straight one at that, but I too used to be a Republican at one time.  And, although I am not gay, I think that shemale porn is kinda hot.  (Of course, that does not make me gay, because really, they look just like chicks.)

What I am suggesting is that California's gays need to start a new Political Action Committee to support Rep. David Dreier in the coming 2006 election.  There should be proud gay men at every Dreier appearance, displaying their open support for this man.  Because it is only by allowing the gay men like Dreier to stand up and be shining examples of the diversity of the Republican Party that we can remove the stigma of homosexuality that the straight Republicans -- whoever they are, we are not sure -- placed upon them in 2004.

As I said, I am not qualified to take up this burden, but I am throwing it out there as a honest, helpful suggestion for any politically active California gays that need a cause.  

They should show up at rallies with festive banners and signs and open expressions of their love for each other and for David Dreier.  Dress with pride and show America who you are, whether that be in a three piece suit or a pair of chartreuse chaps.  You are who you are and David is who he is, and you should all love each other.  I can't wait to see a man with a big Boltonesque moustache kiss Dreier in a nationwide 527 campaign ad.  Gays will flock to Dreier out of love and acceptance.  And maybe, just maybe, the Republican Party will change, for the better, if these things come to pass.

Please, do not take this post as a cynical attempt to suggest some kind of "Gays for McGovern" dirty-trick defamation like Nixon pulled in 1972.  So, please, no humorous snarks.  We need constructive suggestions.  This could really happen.  We could get gay spokespeople on the Sunday talk shows fighting for Dreier's right to be who he really is.  No more closet for the best of the Republican Party!

A natural question that may arise is, why support a gay man, who just happens to be Republican, who has fought against civil rights for gays?  Well, I say baby steps are baby steps.  The people of San Dimas probably wouldn't appreciate it if Dreier tried to jam his gayness down their throats.  No, spreading the homosexual agenda will take a lighter touch.

I'm praying for you gay guys.  Be proud!  Support David Dreier, America's foremost gay Republican, a vanguard of change in the Republican Party.

Repeat: NO SARCASM ALLOWED.  I'm serious!  Don't mock this attempt at spreading tolerance!

•  Tips appreciated.

  And, please, be constructive in your comments.

  by Dumbo on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 05:20:08 PM PDT

•  HIGHLY Recommended!

  You could not get a better picture to go with this diary!

  by TheJohnny on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 05:31:07 PM PDT

•  Dreier is an absolute

  bastard. As chair of the rules committee he has screwed the dems at every turn.

  I used to respect the asshole. But that was before the GOP came to power when he acted like a responsible man. Now he s drunk with power and needs to be dragged out of office.

  Highlights include allowing Sensenbrenner to change dem amendments so that they actually said that dems supported them because they helped pedifiles commit crimes.

  He also attempted to sue a radio show because they did daily shows against him during the election.

  He is a dispicable man.

  by Mike S on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 05:31:11 PM PDT

•  For a straight guy...

  You sure do emphasize that point a lot.

  by RandyMI on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 05:39:17 PM PDT

  •  Not only that

    as a straight guy why isn't he qualified to "take up this burden"?

    As I said, I am not qualified to take up this burden,

    If the only people in this country qualified to support gays are gays, the gay community will never see equal rights and respect they deserve. Thats a big part of the problem.

    by AZnomad on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 06:17:26 PM PDT

•  The Village People

  are they still around?

  Get them to do an ad saying "We support David Dreier"

  I can see many possibilities here to help David.

  by Maine Atticus on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 05:42:00 PM PDT

•  The best wqy to help the people in California

  is get Dreier out of office.

  When he can be honest about himself -- I might believe that it is possible for him to be honest about other matters too.

  In the meantime -- I've had it with lying, dishonest Republicans.

  by sara seattle on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 05:46:27 PM PDT

•  Help, the snark is all bottled up in my ...

  ... nether regions.

  I still think you're kidding, but if you're not, I'm here to tell you that it ain't gonna happen.

  by Joe Bua on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 05:54:13 PM PDT

  •  unbottle your snark

    let it pour

    like fine wine

    into a tin cup.

    by Maine Atticus on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 06:03:44 PM PDT

•  Regardless of whether he's gay

  or not, what has he ever done to win gay support? Has he stood up for gay rights or hate crimes legislation? Has he opposed anti-gay marriage amendements? Has he taken a stance against the bigotry and fundamentalism in his own party? Has he promoted tolerance himself?

  No. He has remain silent.

  He deserves to go down in a crushing, fiery, demeaning defeat.

  by AZnomad on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 06:00:46 PM PDT

  •  That doesn't seem to be the diarist's point

    He doesn't really want us to support Dreier. He seems to want gays to go around and say Dreier is gay because then Republicans will go "eww!! He's gay!!" and that will amuse the diarist. Oh, and then Dreier will be replaced in the primary by someone who is even more anti-gay than Dreier, but hey, the diarist gets to laugh at gays and their wacky plans, so I guess it's worth it.

    Dreier voted against the FMA last year because of pressure over his sexual orientation. He may do the same next year, although if he faces an ugly primary, he may not. Either way, unless that district gets an amazing Dem candidate, he's probably the best we can expect.

    by JamesB3 on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 06:27:40 PM PDT

    •  I disagree..

      Dreier is very powerful as Rules Committee chair and because he is clever (remaining closeted for a lifetime requires this) he is all the more insidious.  It is he that was ultimately responsible for the Rules change obliterating the Ethics Committee, it is he that routinely disallows Democratic amendments on all subjects thus avoiding true debate on the Floor, it was his crucial initial support that allowed Sensenbrenner to doctor the committee reports (requiring successive extraordinary privleged resolutions) and it is he that sets the ridiculously constraining time limits which halts whatever debate that does occur on the Floor quickly.  A wing-nut with no power is less of a threat; Dreier should be strongly challenged because he is at the epicenter of the Culture of Corruption and Abuse of Power.

      Regarding the diarist's theory, my preferred theory is that he fully recognizes that the typical reaction (by gays) to Dreier's rather obvious gayness is "Eww!  He's Gay!" and he finds that funny.  Perhaps he can watch Log Cabin's treatment of this race for his jollies.  

      by Viceroy on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 07:10:41 PM PDT

      •  I'm not saying Dreier shouldn't be challenged.

        I'm saying that running based on his being gay doesn't do much good. People aren't going to vote for a Democrat based on that - they will vote for whichever lunatic runs against him in the primary.

        At least Dreier may be a vote against the FMA. That's better than we can expect out of his opponent. It's not like they are going to replace him with Chris Shays if he's taken out of Congress. Whoever replaces him as Rules Committee Chair will be just the same.

        My basic point is - should Democrats fight like hell for that seat? Yes. Should we run a gay-baiting campaign? No.

        by JamesB3 on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 07:51:54 PM PDT

        •  I never suggested a DEMOCRAT gay-bating

          campaign.  What I was suggesting was more bi=partisan, a reacharound across the aisle, so to speak.  A Democratic gay-bating campaign wouldn't make any sense.

          If the Hackett campaign has taught us anything, it's that formerly safe Republican extremists are not going to be very safe in 2006.  And Dreier sticks out in this regard.  He's in a red part of California, but a bit less so than the other Republican seats in southern California.  It makes sense, from a Democratic strategy point of view, to challenge Dreier aggressively.  

          Since you seem to feel that Dreier's seat is safe no matter what, the idea of being creative and aggressive couldn't hurt.  

          Of course, it doesn't help that we are discussing all this so publicly.  If we were Republicans, the dirty tricks guys would be right on it.  As it is, I guess we must wage our campaigns in the squeaky clean "no kicking, biteing, or below the waist," style.

          by Dumbo on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 09:36:53 PM PDT

          •  The wingers haven't been too secretive on this

            They ran a very ugly campaign against him last year on immigration to try to defeat him. They have said they will run a primary challenger against him. If the best that Democrats can come up with is "hey, let's have gay men follow him everywhere because ha ha, he's gay!" than we will be playing into their hands.

            That seemed to be the idea of this diary. It won't do us much good to work across the aisle as long as the other side feel they can beat him in a primary. Maybe Democrats can make a deal that they can get wingnuts to support the Dem if Dreier wins the primary, but I don't know if that would happen.

            Dreier is disgusting but I know whoever beats him in a primary would be even worse.

            Maybe Dems can win the district, it depends on the candidate and how much money they have to spend. I just know this "gay gay gay" stuff isn't a great idea.

            by JamesB3 on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 10:40:38 PM PDT

          •  By the way, to clarify

            I'm sorry if I sounded overly rude. I was just speaking about all the "let's call Republicans gay, that will punish them" type of stuff I've seen around here the past few months. At least there is some grounds with Dreier, I'll admit.

            by JamesB3 on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 11:29:45 PM PDT

•  Equality California

  I don't know how many gays in California follow politics, but those who do have a little more to worry about these days than stalking David Dreier.

  Anti-gay groups are pushing heavily for amendments that will repeal the state's domestic partnership law and ban most legal contracts for gay couples. It may also ban co-parent adoption.

  by JamesB3 on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 06:32:04 PM PDT

•  "Jam his gayness down their throats"

  Isn't that what he does with his boyfriends? ;-)

  by inside 4ll on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 06:39:43 PM PDT

•  don't think so

  i'll never support a Republican, gay or not.  The Log Cabin Republicans don't do me any good and I wouldn't support any of them either.

  The LCR's have their wealth so they can cozy up to the Republican party all they want.  Just don't plan to get any respect from me.

  by blue drop on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 07:02:45 PM PDT

•  Where did you get the photo?

  I've been looking for a phot of Dreier.  Where did you get that photo and is there a high res version of it?

  by Geronimo on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 07:33:46 PM PDT

  •  Photo...

    came from Wonkette.  Just do a google image search for "gay dreier."

    by Dumbo on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 09:38:15 PM PDT

•  DON'T FEED THE TROLLS

  by NorCalJim on Fri Aug 05, 2005 at 07:37:39 PM PDT

•  Confused

  I've read this diary three times and still can't figure out what you are saying.  Is it a joke?  Do you want Dreier to win?  Judging from the comments, it seems that the diary has been interpreted a couple of different ways.  

  Does Clarence Thomas do anything for African Americans?  How is Elizibeth Dole on women's issues?  There is no benefit whatsoever to gays and lesbians by having this guy in office.  The idea of a Gay Republican -- a party that engages in significant amount of gay-baiting and supports legislation that hurts gay rights -- is so inherently messed up that there is simply no benefit to it.  

  If your point is just to embarass Dreier, then the diary borders on offensive.   Get out the big mustache, chaps wearing gay brigade to kiss the guy in public?  You don't know a lot of gay people, do you.    

  by lando on Sat Aug 06, 2005 at 12:00:32 AM PDT

  •  Well, I intended it as a joke.

    (The phrase "modest proposal" at the top was a hint.  As were the comments about shemale porn...)

    However, I don't think it is a bad idea to give somebody like Dreier a little "help."  He would be my pick for the California congressman to unseat in 2006.

    by Dumbo on Sat Aug 06, 2005 at 02:10:07 AM PDT

    •  To clarify further...

      It's not a well-kept secret that Dreier is an in-the-closet gay, and that he also supports anti-gay legistlation.  Most people around here already know that.

      You can read more about it on wikipedia:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Dreier
      

      by Dumbo on Sat Aug 06, 2005 at 02:15:51 AM PDT