GOP debate audience boos gay soldier

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 8:10am

Not to be outdone by previous GOP debate audiences, last night's audience booed a video of a gay soldier asking how/if the candidates would reverse the repeal of DADT. The audience then wildly cheered Rick Santorum's nonsensical response.

Mr. Savage? Paging Mr. Savage.

Santorum

Updated On: 9/23/11 at 08:10 AM

[Q]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 9:00am

I'd be happy for those that booed and/or cheered to take the place of the soldier serving in Iraq.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 9:11am

Between this and the 14-year-old committing suicide, my faith in humanity, if I had any left to start with, is hanging by a very tenuous thread.

People have a right to their opinions, but to express that hatred so vocally and publicly is nauseating.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 9:45am

So are we getting closer to garden-variety, private-citizen Republicans admitting that they're just what we've thought they were all along?

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 9:53am

To be fair, which goes against my nature, I'm not sure I'm ready to classify GOP debate audiences as garden-variety Republicans. This was a Fox 'News' sponsored debate, moderated by the always fair & balanced Megyn Kelly.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 9:58am

Is anyone surprised by this and other GOP debate audience behaviors?

Appalled, yes, but surprised? Alas, no.

[tazber]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 9:58am

There are so many things wrong with his response I have to wonder if he even understands what the purpose of DADT was and why it was reversed.

Also, he might want to be a little more current in his information. Like for example being aware of the reports that were issued this week concluding that thus far the repeal has had no negative impact whatsoever.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 10:21am

Fair enough, Madbrian. My point was just that this wasn't a Tea party rally, and the booers weren't crackpot candidates trying to stir up trouble.

I do think it's time for garden-variety Republicans who aren't bigots to get louder than those who are.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 10:24am

What an insane, ridiculous show this has all been. I wish it'd have the decency to close.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 11:15am

"I do think it's time for garden-variety Republicans who aren't bigots to get louder than those who are."

Alas, that's rather like hoping that garden-variety Klan members who aren't racists will get louder than those who are.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 11:19am

^ Where's the "like" button when you want it?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 11:29am

I love this notion that before gays could serve openly, all members of the military were sexless human beings.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 11:53am

Exactly. I've read several comments this morning saying "it's a private matter." If only. I'm happy to closet myself and not "broadcast" my sexuality as soon as the world's heterosexual populace takes the lead.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 12:10pm

I hate when people accidentally blurt out their fantasies. "Gay people having sex all the time everywhere and they're in uniform! I mean, that's bad!"

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 12:16pm

Phyl, you keep forgetting that being straight--just like being white--is neutral.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 12:23pm

Not to mention that, collectively, the group on stage called to get rid of:
All income taxes (Bachmann)
The EPA (Cain)
All public unions (Santorum)
Unemployment benefits (Gingrich)
The Department of Education (Johnson)

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 12:24pm

The GOP's best and brightest, America!

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 1:36pm

It wasn't just the audience who were deplorable. Did any of the candidates ask them to show some respect for a man serving his country, or thank him?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 1:42pm

Well since he's just a faggot, there was no need.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 1:44pm

I feel bad for Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum. There are some powerful gays who are abusing him for no reason. And the liberal Google company won't do anything about it. It must be awful to be so helpless. No wonder he lashes out against those mean, mean gays.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 1:49pm

Seriously, a day of reckoning is coming for this GOP. I have already had the conversation with two Republican friends: "This is YOUR party. Do you stand with them, or do you stand against them? They can't write it off as a "fringe element" anymore- one of these nutjobs is going to be your standard bearer in a year and what the hell are you going to do?

And yes, when Rick Santorum equates homosexuality with bestiality he's talking about me and Dan and you DAMN well better stand up and speak out against that or you are no longer welcome in my life."

[tazber]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 1:56pm

Amen!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 3:16pm

Santorum now says that he'd have commented on those boos, but he didn't hear them...


Boos? What Boos?

[Kad]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 3:24pm

It's funny how they don't hear things.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 3:33pm

It's also funny how GOP bloggers etc. are saying "it wasn't the whole crowd, just a few people"--and yet not denouncing it.






Updated On: 9/23/11 at 03:33 PM