What, pray tell, is Rep. Mark Foley's (R-FL)
"dirty little secret"? To hear his Democratic challenger Tim Mahoney tell it, it's the fact that Foley is a Republican who campaigns to the left of his caucus to confuse people into thinking he's a Democrat. But that's not what Mahoney's language, specifically using the phrase "dirty little secret," is meant to evoke. Indeed, Mahoney is using coded language that's only barely code for anyone who's been living in South Florida for the last 12 years of Foley's tenure.
Foley is gay, despite having never acknowledged as much publicly, and Mahoney's despicable gay-baiting ought to be denounced up and down this community, if not by the Democratic caucus itself.
It would be one thing if Foley were hypocritical on this issue, but his 'yes' vote on the DOMA notwithstanding (people, please remember Clinton signed that trash into law), he's the most pro-gay member of the GOP caucus, maintains a strict non-discrimination policy, voted against the gay marriage ban, and has been a sensible voice in the GOP caucus on the issue of fighting AIDS. His contribution to the GOP majority is abhorrent, but he does NOT deserve to be the target of coded hate speech.
I'm not writing this with Sista Soulja-esque intentions. I'm writing this because Foley is a decent man despite his party affiliation; because his sexuality should not make any difference; and because campaign tactics like this demean Democrats and threaten progressivism nationally. What difference is there between 'Macaca' Allen and gay-baiting Mahoney when each is playing on the xenophobic fears on the Republican electorate to either increase or depress GOP turnout? This is the same thing a primary opponent of Foley's tried to pull back in 1994--proof enough that Mahoney's tactic is reprehensible--to his own detriment even among GOP voters.
If you're so inclined, and Mahoney's behavior disturbs you as much as it should, give the guy a call and voice your concerns: 561-214-8050. This bullshit deserves no more place in Democratic politics than would a smear on a black Republican or a female Republican.