Here's a better photo of Mark Buse (via Joe.My.God), John McCain's gay chief of staff who Buse describes his jobs over the 17 years he's worked for McCain:
“Started as an intern, worked in the mailroom, answered the phones, legislative correspondent, legislative assistant — anything that he wanted you to do, I did. You know, sort of just plugged away in the trenches for year after year. And that's sort of the way that he runs things. You know, just, if you are willing to work for him and stick around, he believe in that sort Navy mentality of you work your way up in the ranks.”
DailyKos has a thread going on Buse, with 620 comments. They write:
“If John McCain keeps this guy on as his chief of staff, does Sarah Palin still get to be raptured? Honestly. Who is the bigger hypocrite here? Mark Buse, an openly gay man who is spending his life helping John McCain block important gay civil rights issues like marriage and adoption? Or John McCain, who obviously has no problem with gay folks, but has adopted an anti-gay platform out of political expediency and a desire to court people like Sarah Palin, who think that if they just hate enough, they'll be Raptured into the love of Jesus when the End Times come. Ridiculous. Mark Buse is obviously a man of some ability. It ain't nothing to get yourself a position as chief of staff to a powerful senator and presidential candidate. A pity that he is wasting his talents fighting against his gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters. And against everyone else who stands in solidarity for civil rights for all. It's also a pity for us. Because his efforts have contributed to the endless delays, damages and humiliations caused to gay and Lesbian Americans as we wait to achieve a full and equal status as citizens of the U.S.”