01/11/2008
Ross Bleckner to Dish It with NC Senate Candidate Jim Neal
Gay North Carolina Democrat Jim Neal, who is gunning for Elizabeth Dole's Senate seat, is headed to New York for a fundraiser at the end of the month being thrown by artist Ross Bleckner.
Neal told Page Six: "I am gay and the most viable gay person to ever challenge an incumbent US senator in what many consider a 'red state' — it's anything but. I am going to win this damned race and shatter another glass ceiling."
Neal told voters last October that he's gay, and he's determined: "I'm not running this race to lose. I'm not running to make some social statement. I'm running to lead in the Senate for the voters in NC-- something Senator Dole has not done. When people meet me, they'll see beyond the labels and into my character."
When told by one voter that the right wing would be after him for his sexuality, Neal responded: "I'm a big boy. I can take it and I can dish it."
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Jim Neal, Challenger to Elizabeth Dole in NC, Says He is Gay [tr]
Posted 10:37 AM EST by Andy in Art & Design, New York, News, North Carolina, Ross Bleckner | Permalink
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Cool.. I really love Bleckner's paintings, btw.
Posted by: Arundel | Jan 11, 2008 11:00:22 AM
Boyish good looks, a Senatorial candidate...hmm...is he single? Go, Jimbo.
Posted by: josh raso | Jan 11, 2008 11:00:31 AM
Terrific guy. I actually sent him money and I don't even live in NC.
Posted by: sam | Jan 11, 2008 11:03:08 AM
Good for him! I can't say I'd vote for him, but what he's doing takes guts and he has the right attitude for it.
Posted by: another matt | Jan 11, 2008 11:07:14 AM
He needs to lay out some talking points before people start supporting him. Just throwing out "I'm gay" ain't gonna cut it.
time will tell
Posted by: Ray | Jan 11, 2008 11:12:57 AM
Send him some encouragement.
http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18500
Posted by: chandler in lasvegas | Jan 11, 2008 1:16:16 PM
An openly gay candidate from Chapel Hill (by far the most liberal city in the state with the exception of Carrboro which is right next door) with no prior experience in holding public office (that he was on the board of the New School is as close as he gets) has almost no chance of winning this election. There's a reason he's the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination--no other more established Democrat wants to run against Liddy Dole. It'll be historic if he gets the nomination, but I'm afraid the general election is going to be a blow out.
Posted by: Jeff | Jan 11, 2008 5:13:05 PM
Well good luck Mr. Neal I hope you win. It's interesting but I think this is the first thing I have heard about her since she won so I guess he is right on the dot that she has not done anything.
Posted by: Jay | Jan 12, 2008 8:08:57 PM
"He needs to lay out some talking points before people start supporting him. Just throwing out "I'm gay" ain't gonna cut it."
Um, whatever makes you think that's all (or even much) of what he has to say?
http://jimnealforsenate.com/
Check it out.
Posted by: David | Jan 14, 2008 8:38:10 PM
Chandler in Las Vegas:
"An openly gay candidate from Chapel Hill (by far the most liberal city in the state with the exception of Carrboro which is right next door) with no prior experience in holding public office (that he was on the board of the New School is as close as he gets) has almost no chance of winning this election."
2 things:
1. The gay-self-loathing has got to stop. We're way past that.
2. Do you happen to recall the last Democratic Senator from NC? John Edwards - who also had no previous experience in holding public office. Now, he's running for President.
Do your research next time, and have some faith - it's about time we got Jim elected - as one of the last symbolic milestones in the fight for LGBT acceptance and for the future of our nation.
Phil
Posted by: Phil | Jan 17, 2008 10:02:02 AM