LeftOut
by Daryl Moore
Bush
says he’s a “better person” after meeting
with gays—better than what?
Last
fall on Meet the Press, George W. Bush said he would
probably not meet with the Log Cabin Republicans because
it would create a “huge political nightmare.”
Or, as Dubya’s daddy might have said: “Wouldn’t
be prudent at this juncture....” The juncture being,
of course, the need to shore up the support of religious
conservatives necessary to win the Republican primary.
Later, in the midst of an unexpected battle with John
McCain for the Republican nomination, Bush was asked
in a radio interview whether he would appoint an openly
gay person. Bush responded, “An openly known homosexual
is somebody who probably wouldn’t share my philosophy.”
His philosophy, of course, being his opposition to repealing
Texas’ antigay sodomy statute, his opposition to
gays or lesbians adopting children, his opposition to
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and his
opposition to including sexual orientation in any hate-crimes
legislation.
After catching significant flak for refusing to meet
with gay Republicans, and after several displays of
decidedly uncompassionate conservatism toward gays and
lesbians, Bush was finally compelled to justify his
refusal even to meet with gay Republicans.
In short, he explained that he had refused to meet with
the Log Cabins because they had decided to support McCain
in the primary. The problem with Bush’s reasoning
is that the Log Cabins began supporting McCain only
after Bush refused to meet with them. The significance
of this chronology was apparently lost on Bush.
Now, after pandering to religious conservatives to sew
up the Republican nomination, Bush has some serious
making up to do to gay and lesbian voters. So, even
though he said it would be a “huge political nightmare,”
Bush scheduled a meeting with a small group of gay men.
He finally agreed to meet with a dozen gay Republicans
hand-picked by Charles Francis, a gay public-relations
consultant who is the brother of James Francis Jr.,
the chairman of the Texas Department of Public Safety
and a Bush fundraiser. After the meeting, which lasted
just over an hour, Bush emerged to announce that the
meeting had “made him a better person.” He
also said that homosexuals “are people from our
neighborhoods, people with whom all of us went to school.”
And, contradicting his earlier statement, he said that
sexual orientation “is not a factor” when
considering someone for a job.
What is conspicuously absent from Bush’s comments,
however, is an explanation of how the meeting made him
a better person. Was the fact that Bush grew up with
gays and lesbians and went to school with them an epiphany?
Did he realize for the first time during that 60-minute
meeting that sexual orientation should not be included
on an employment application? Hardly.
Bush’s meeting with 12 gay men was all about perception
and nothing about substance. It was all about Bush herding
his Trojan elephant back to the middle of the road before
November, after taking a sharp detour to the right during
the Republican primary. And, it was all about shoring
up the moderates that turned out to support John McCain,
but who promised to stay home if Bush got the Republican
nomination.
In 49 other states, gays and lesbians might actually
wonder whether Bush really is a better man—a different
kind of Republican. After all, just four years ago Bob
Dole would not even accept financial contributions from
Log Cabins, but returned them.
Here in Texas, though, we don’t have to wonder
whether Bush is a better man on gay and lesbian issues.
All we have to do is ask how many openly gay and lesbian
people Bush has appointed in his 5 1/2 years as Texas
governor. All we have to do is remember that Bush endorsed
legislation banning adoptions by gays and lesbians.
All we have to do is recall that Bush killed the James
Byrd Hate Crimes Act because it included the term “sexual
orientation.”
Maybe Bush really is a better person after a single
60-minute meeting with 12 gay men. He says he is.
I say actions speak louder than words. I say that Bush
isn’t any different than Dole was on our issues,
Bush is just more politically expedient.
Maybe I’m wrong and those gay Republicans who are
swooning over Bush are right. They can take his word
for it when he promises that after meeting with them
he really is a better man.
I think he’s just a better politician.
Writing from the liberal end of the spectrum, Houston
attorney Daryl Moore has a general practice and is board
certified in civil appellate law. He can be reached
at DarylMoore@outsmartmagazine.com.
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