05/04/2007
Tommy Thompson Says Fire the Gays, Then Retracts
In last night's debate of contenders for the Republican nomination for President, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson said employees should have the right to fire workers if they are gay.
MR. HARRIS: Governor Thompson, same theme. If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?
MR. THOMPSON: I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have to got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.
MR. VANDEHEI: Okay. So the answer’s yes.
MR. THOMPSON: Yes.
MR. VANDEHEI: Okay.
AmericaBlog has video of Thompson's answer, but also notes that Thompson's campaign has apparently retracted the statement, saying that Thompson "misheard the question" and is opposed to discrimination.
UPDATE — Thompson later clarified to CNN: "I made a mistake. I misinterpreted the question. I thought that I answered it yes when I should have answered it no. I didn't hear, I didn't hear the question properly and I apologize. It's not my position. There should be no discrimination in the workplace and I have never believed that. And, in fact, Wisconsin has one of the first laws, which I supported....So, I just made a mistake and that's all I can say. I'm sorry and I misinterpreted the question and I answered yes, when it should have been no...All I was thinking was that it was a question that came up and I did not hear it, I should have asked to have it repeated. I didn't and I answered it and I answered it wrong. It's not my position, it never has been. I have always been against discrimination and prejudice. In fact if you would have listened to the debate, they asked me a question about racism and I said that the president of the United States, whoever he is, has to take the point and has to be the person that does not allow discrimination or racism in any degree, whatsoever."
Posted 9:45 AM EST by Andy Towle in Discrimination, News, Republican Party, Tommy Thompson | Permalink
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LOL peter
I haven't forgotten that on the rag comment from the idol thread, but LOL ^5 :-)
Posted by: pacificoceanboy | May 4, 2007 5:14:27 PM
Pacificoceanboy pretty much said it. Real social change requires a bit of militancy.
However I would hardly label anything I said here as "militant". Maybe in Chris's mind speaking out against a politician who says businesses have a right to discriminate based on sexual orientation is "militant" but to me it's just moral decency and part of having any self-respect as a gay man.
Also comparing me to Evangelical demonizing us is just silly. Evangelicals want to enact laws to discriminate us and treat us like second-class citizens. I, however, just want to laugh at ludicrous Libertarians sprouting nonsense to defend bigots.
Posted by: Adam | May 4, 2007 5:55:51 PM
It makes me wonder.....what question about gays did Tommy Thompson think he was answering? Maybe someone should ask him that.
Posted by: talcboy | May 4, 2007 8:25:09 PM
Real Time with Bill maher live tonight friday = tommy thompson
He admited that it is against federal law to fire based on sexual orientation and that his hearing aid wasn't working properly. LOL!!!!!!!!! Yeah right
Posted by: pacificoceanboy | May 4, 2007 11:13:09 PM
Is that what he said?? He's wrong then. Right now there are no Federal protections for gay employees. However, several states have protections.
Posted by: anon | May 5, 2007 12:40:52 AM
He was an idiot when he ran Wisconsin and he is still an idiot.
Posted by: oldguy | May 5, 2007 8:38:23 AM
Ok, he's hard of hearing and too stupid to use a hearing aide, what happens if he were president???
He first said he was misunderstood about his comments about Jews, then it was because he wasn't feeling well, that's a good qualification for president, imagine what he could do as president when ill!!
As Governor, he helped create a future budget deficit, Wisconsin is a Tax hell, and he's the longest serving Governor of this state so not a good track record for a potential president.
When the legislature was debating a sales tax hike for Milwaukee county to finance a new stadium, his comments were "Stick it to them", well, Mr. Thompson, F**K you, my only wish is that if you were elected someone would pull a John Wilkes Booth to help save the country! This country can't afford you, and you prejudices!
Misquoted, not feeling well, didn't hear the question, typical Republican make excuses not take responsibility for your actions.
We don't need another dry drunk president!!!
Posted by: Tommy Victim | May 5, 2007 4:06:29 PM
Oh the irony of a Republican debate that barely mentioned anything about the Iraq war, and yet everyone was stumbling over themselves to defend the "right to life." Morons.
Good to see Giuliani make an ass of himself, but I still think he's our next president, unfortunately.
Posted by: Steverino | May 5, 2007 8:39:53 PM
In response to Scientitian | May 4, 2007 11:02:14 AM: As a former member of Libertarian Party of California, I can tell you that the hardcore center of the Libertarian Party opposes *ALL* anti-discrimination laws. They even oppose anti-discrimination in privately-owned companies based on race, arguing that the company is a privately owned asset, and control of a privately-owned asset should reside solely with the owner(s) without government intrusion.
It's why I no longer consider myself a Libertarian --- or at least, a pure Libertarian. I believe that society as a whole has a right to establish anti-discrimination laws in order to create an open economy where all are supported in their effort to compete fairly and make their own contributions to the economy.
Posted by: AJL | May 6, 2007 1:26:00 PM
Right on AJL.
The mark of a civilized society is its ability to protect the minority from the majority.
"Pure" liberty / democracy is nothing more than mob rule and thuggery. America, you are losing ground fast. To paraphrase Jon Stewart vis. gay marriage,
"When SOUTH AFRICA becomes more progressive than you you're in trouble!"
Posted by: strepsi | May 6, 2007 2:32:43 PM
Tommy Thompson is not a libertarian. And he is not against anti-discrimination laws, generally.
At the debate, he thought the right answer to be the Republican nominee for President was to oppose gay rights. Then he realized that in the past he had supported anti-discrimination laws protecting gays. He somehow thought it was better to say that he had misheard the question, rather than appearing like a flip-flopper without a moral compass (like Mitt Romney).
Posted by: Dan | May 12, 2007 9:40:05 PM