RNC Chair Candidate Ken Blackwell Believes in Gay 'Cure'
The NYT reports that former Ohio secretary of state Ken Blackwell continues to be a leading contender for the chairman of the Republican National Committee:
"The six candidates are four white men, including two from the South, and two black men: Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, and J. Kenneth Blackwell, the former Ohio secretary of state. Because it is a six-way race in which ballots are cast anonymously, it is impossible to project who might win. But party leaders said Mr. Blackwell and Mr. Steele were viable candidates, particularly Mr. Blackwell, who has strong support from social conservatives."
Michelangelo Signorile reports on an interview he did with Blackwell some time back in which he says "homosexuality is a compulsion that can be contained, repressed or changed."
You may remember Blackwell's recent response to Colin Powell's remarks that it was time for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to go. Blackwell said he was confident the current system works, even though he lacks the military experience of Powell.
Posted Jan. 12,2009 at 2:40 PM EST by Andy Towle in "Ex-Gays", News, Republican Party | Permalink
Here's to hoping the Republicans pick the most irresponsible and homophobic candidate possible. Let's hope they pick the one that will put a nail in that most morally bankrupt and criminal of parties (oh please, oh please, oh please). Hell they should get Fred Phelps in there with maybe Mark Foley, you know they can do it. No party self-destructs quite like the Republican party.
Posted by: christopher | Jan 12, 2009 3:02:28 PM
If this man were not serious, demented and mentally ill, this would be too funny, as funny as him thinking he actually has a chance to be one of the white guys running for the job. I wonder if he will take the cure for self hate, since he must hate being black to go out and beg and pander to the rank and file GOP who has made it clear for years, they have no need nor the desire for the black vote/voter and would follow anything he has to say about as quick as the averge member of the kkk.
Posted by: Sebastian | Jan 12, 2009 3:05:49 PM
Yes, let this fool take the helm of the Republican Party. Poor ol' Abe Lincoln--his grand old party of freedom and justice has turned into a house of nuts and loosers.
Didn't this guy loose the Ohio gubernatorial race by a huge margin? His skin color meant nothing to Black Ohioans--but the Republican National Committee may fall for it, "we'll show the Democrats! We got one too!"
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jan 12, 2009 3:06:12 PM
I think he misspoke - it's stupidity and ignorance that should be contained, repressed or changed.
Posted by: hugo | Jan 12, 2009 3:06:13 PM
Blackwell is no friend to GLBT folks or to any progressives of any persuasion. I live in Ohio and have had to endure his puritanical, repressive, and regressive views for too many years as he wielded a tremendous amount of power when the Republicans controlled state government.
Think 2004 election--Mr. Blackwell was Shrub's campaign manager in Ohio while he held high office in the state.
No to Blackwell!
Posted by: Nick | Jan 12, 2009 3:10:33 PM
The Palin Party doesn't seem to be able to pull itself out of this tailspin. I second the desire for a vile bigot to be the RNC chair. It would further alienate moderates, and leave in their departing wake the residua of the aryan nation/ nascar crowd. However, my reason is that with a weakened republican party, third party candidates will fare much better, and this gives people like us (faggots) leverage in making demands on the democratic party elite, for whom we haven't existed except during election season.
Posted by: TANK | Jan 12, 2009 3:16:44 PM
Ahhh, but you forget, Blackwell fixed the election for Bush in OH. He confused his state-wide/non-partisan role of Sec'y of State with party hack: Katherine Harris without the eyeliner (or maybe...?). The base just loves that.
Posted by: David R. | Jan 12, 2009 3:24:14 PM
Oh YES to Blackwell. He's the perfect RNC chair. Can't wait to hear what the Log Cabinettes will say if he gets the job.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Jan 12, 2009 3:24:37 PM
Not only did he lose his bid to be the governor, but he printed out campaign literature that made it seem like he was a Democrat. This was a pathetic tactic, especially since he was well known in the state, and his antics during the 2000 Presedential election were well known.
Posted by: Cadence | Jan 12, 2009 3:27:19 PM
And it's even more likely in light of the "chip" saltsman's faux pas, giving an unguarded glimpse at the real republican party. But its flagrance would be the height of tackiness, and no self respecting--oh, Kenny Blackwell doesn't have any self respect!
Posted by: TANK | Jan 12, 2009 3:33:32 PM
Yes,because we know praying away the gay has worked so successfully in the past. What a moron.
Posted by: CB | Jan 12, 2009 3:34:41 PM
Just another conservative Republican asshole.... and he is bigoted and dumb too... What can you say about conservative Republicans that has not already been said about Hemmaroids?
Posted by: CK | Jan 12, 2009 4:27:52 PM
Yes to Blackwell! I'd love the RNC to put this guy into the top party leadership position. They'll be able to kiss goodbye to all those "good ole boys" in the deep south that will never vote for a "damn nappy headed negra", no matter what party he's in.
Posted by: Bob R | Jan 12, 2009 4:34:14 PM
Blackwell is the epitome of why many African-Americans can't see most black Republicans as sell-outs. In Blackwell's bid for the Ohio governor's office, he received little African-American support but much derision because of his despicable actions in trying to suppress the vote in the 2004 presidential election. Additionally, Blackwell sought and won the support of known white supremacists.
He's scum. In Nazi Germany, there were Jewish prisoners in the death camp who aided the Nazis. Many were forced to assist; other did so just to improve their lot. That's Blackwell. He's an opportunist.
The GOP is desperate for a new leader but not so much as to choose Blackwell. He gives them nothing. The reality is that much of the GOP base is just as racist as it is homophobic. One just has to remember the bigots at Palin's rallies screaming the n-word.
Posted by: noah | Jan 12, 2009 6:07:49 PM
I believe people who vigorusly assert that homosexuality can be repressed are, in fact, vigorously repressing their own homosexuality and speaking from personal experience.
Anyone who says that shit is a closet case in my book.
Posted by: paul c | Jan 12, 2009 6:22:44 PM
SON of a bitch! Godwin's law.
Posted by: TANK | Jan 12, 2009 6:31:05 PM
Noah: Likening Blackwell to a Jew in a concentration camp, well that's just REALLY unfair to any Jew that actually was in a concentration camp.
Posted by: Brandon | Jan 12, 2009 6:38:00 PM
There is a good chance a man of color or other ethnic background will be placed in the position of leadership. The Republican party now believes they will find their saving grace in blacks, hispanics, and other minorities that have particularly religious belief systems.
Unfortunately, just like the white right wing christian base before them, they will be used when convenient and strung along as necessary.
Posted by: paul | Jan 12, 2009 6:40:32 PM
Ken Blackwell served as a city councilman and then as mayor of Cincinnti, Ohio in the 1970s. During that time, some gay rights activists tried to get a gay rights ordinance on the books in Cincy. Blackwell crushed the effort with such over-the-top viciousness that it had a chilling effect. The activists didn't try again until the 1990s.
Blackwell ran for governor of Ohio in 2006 and lost by 25%(!) points. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving person.
Posted by: elg | Jan 12, 2009 7:28:59 PM
Ken Blackwell was a city councilman and then mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio in the 1970s. During that time, some gay activists in Cincy tried to get a gay rights ordinance on the books. Blackwell crushed the effort with such over-the-top homophobic viciousness that it had a chilling effect. The gay activists didn't try again until the 1990s and that's a story in itself.
Blackwell ran for governor of Ohio in 2006 and lost by 25 about points. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving person.
Posted by: elg | Jan 12, 2009 7:40:46 PM
I don't think it's the RNC chair that we need to be concerning ourselves with. We need to be concerned about the anti-gay, anti marriage, anti civil unions, anti choice chair of the DNC, Kaine.
Does anyone really think that Kaine is going to lead the Democratic Party forward in a progressive way? Does anyone think that Kaine will move the Democratic Party forward on gay rights when Dean, who was pro gay and pro gay marriage didn't? Does ANYONE think that Kaine is going to give the GLBT community a seat at the adult table when Democratic policies and platforms are decided?
I sure as hell don't.
I'm much more concerned about what's going on at the highest levels of the Democratic Party than I am with what's going on in the Republican Party.
Posted by: Joe | Jan 12, 2009 7:44:41 PM
Oh, so THIS is what Blackwell's been up to since getting slammed out by Strickland in the gubernatorial race! We haven't heard much of him, here in Ohio, since the election...I'd pretty much forgotten about him and an really surprised to see him resurface in this fray. It's honestly chilling to think that he could be at the helm of the RNC, he's a devious bastard, completely unworthy of trust...unless you happen to be a repugnican.
Posted by: Jim | Jan 12, 2009 8:27:01 PM
JOE - I agree with you.
I actually spoke to Lt Gov Steele in Denver and put him on the spot about gays and the Republican party in a quick interview for my blog.
He told me with a smile, " a change is gonna come, trust me."
I think he meant it.
I think he was wrong.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Jan 12, 2009 9:22:23 PM
Does he believe in the Black "cure", too? Probably not.
Posted by: brendan | Jan 13, 2009 12:21:45 AM
With the Democrats in power on Capitol Hill and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kaine won't have much of a role to play. The party chair only matters when you're in opposition.
Which is why we should care a lot more about the GOP contest. It would certainly help if a moderate got the job. Though I won't hold my breath.
What I don't like is how the Democrats treat Howard Dean as persona non-grata. Although he's not the easiest person to get along with, he should get a lot more credit than he has been given. When he inherited the Democratic Party, it was in total disarray. Not only did they lose to Bush (again), they were the minority party in Congress, the state legislatures, and the governors' conference. Dean's 50 state strategy worked brilliantly. And Obama successfully pursued such a strategy in both the primary against Hillary (who actually won most of the big states) and in the general election against McCain.
Posted by: John in CA | Jan 13, 2009 1:45:45 AM