# Are homophobic ads OK if they're run by Democrats? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 10, 2002, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719 "2002-10-10T19:26:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/41 "2002-10-11T01:53:09Z")
December: > [@](#): > > Scylla doesn’t criticize the ad but has a problem with gay man being upset by it. (Would Scylla say that MLK whined too much?) That is not what I said, you liar, and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone sink so low as to falsely imply racism. Truly despicable. ---
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/42 "2002-10-11T01:55:56Z")
Now that Taylor is out, the Democrats can set their sights on the Libertarian candidate, and if you think they had the goods on Taylor, this guy is really a [sitting duck](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/bluecandidate_021003.html) ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/43 "2002-10-11T02:22:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > Based on the furors over Willie Horton and the supposed “Barney Fag,” . . . “Supposed”?!? Armey’s comment was on tape! And he fucking lied about it until the tape showed up! Google it your own damn self. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/44 "2002-10-11T03:01:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*“Supposed”?!? Armey’s comment was on tape! And he fucking lied about it until the tape showed up! \*\* Armey never admitted to having intentionally using the term “fag.” He [wrote](http://www.linguistlist.org/issues/6/6-277.html) to the New York Times, > [@](#): > > In saying that I did not want to “listen to Barney Frank haranguing me”, I blended the two words (Frank and harangue, which I pronounce with a hard “g”) in a way that made it sound as if I was using a slur. I immediately corrected myself and moved on with my comments. The tape doesn’t show whether he was setting out to make a mean-spirited, homophobic joke, nor whether his mis-pronounciation was “fag” or simply something that happened to sound like it. I’ve heard the recording and it sounds like “fag” to me. However, his combination of age and Texas accent conceivably could account for it. The guy talks funny. I’m not excusing Armey. He may well have intended to say Barney Fag. But, in my book a single word is less of a sin than an ad using gay stereotypes to destroy a (presumably) gay candidate. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/45 "2002-10-11T03:11:38Z")
Bullshit. Intentional or not, he said “Barney Fag.” And taunted Frank for his sexuality since then, notably at the Republican National Convention in 2000, where [this exchange](http://www.datalounge.com/datalounge/news/record.html?record=9187) took place: > [@](#): > > According to Mike Luckovich, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the following exchange occurred: Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry approached the House Leader and asked, “Are you really Dick Armey?” To which Armey replied: “Yes, I am Dick Armey. And if there is a dick army, Barney Frank would want to join up.” But Armey’s a Republican, so he’s only joking, right? Disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/46 "2002-10-11T03:15:11Z")
Oh, and do I need to bring up Armey’s recent comments about how so many Jews are so damn ignorant? ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/47 "2002-10-11T03:23:25Z")
Umm, the only people this ad “destroyed” his campaign for would be raging homophobe bigots who judge people on their appearance(in a photo which is clearly labeled as having been taken in the 80s when dress styles were different) and have stupid stereotypes which assert “male hairdressers = faggots”. If he’s more than 20% behind in the polls because so many of the people of his district fit that description, then he’s got bigger problems than the Democrats who critized his financial integrity. If the voters in his district are such people, as you assert a good number of them are(remember, you can’t be “destroyed” by an ad if it doesn’t strike a chord with a good number of voters) then he should have his head examined for wanting to be their representative. I’d pack my bags and get the hell out of dodge instead of trying to represent such people. Quit making mountains out of molehills. While you’re at it, quit hijacking your own thread, start another thread if you want to talk about Willie Horton. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/48 "2002-10-11T03:23:54Z")
Some idiot Republican (how redundant) decides to star in a homophobic skit and mock gay hairdressers on videotape and then when an opponent shows it twenty years later accuses the democrat of being homophobic? Yes, I can see how it is a no-win for the Republican. If we caught a Republican candidate on videotape doing a minstral show, and his opponent ran it, would december accuse democrats of being racist? ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/49 "2002-10-11T03:26:40Z")
I watched the ad, and I didn’t see anything even remotely suggestive of homosexuality in it. However, I’m a partisan, and I was looking for references to sexuality, so I showed it to my husband (much more moderate than I) who thought it was one of the best/funniest political ad he’s seen (as he told me after he quit laughing). So there you have it. The Strand family doesn’t see it. I really do admire your hypocrisy though, december. I think it’s a really neat trick how you can condemn covert homophobia, but condone overt homophobia. My neck hurts just watching you flip-flop. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/50 "2002-10-11T03:32:54Z")
Sparticus read the article cited. Taylor used to own several salons, and did spots on television. They weren’t mocking anything, he actually was that much of a dork. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/51 "2002-10-11T03:44:54Z")
OK, I"ll bite. What the heck is a plate of TSA? ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/52 "2002-10-11T03:48:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by light strand \* > \*\*admire your hypocrisy though, december. I think it’s a really neat trick how you can condemn covert homophobia, but condone overt homophobia. \*\* I meant to condemn both. If I wasn’t clear, I do condemn both. However, the words “covert” and “overt” aren’t quite precise. Neither event was secret or hidden. Armey presumably used a homophobic word. The Montana Democratic Party presumably used homophobic pictures in their ad. Both are wrong. ---
**Author:** ![CLedet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@CLedet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CLedet)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/53 "2002-10-11T03:51:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I am Sparticus \* > \*\*Some idiot Republican (how redundant) decides to star in a homophobic skit and mock gay hairdressers on videotape (snip)… \*\* Some idiot poster decides to jump in the middle of a conversation just to bash Republicans… ---
**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/54 "2002-10-11T03:55:02Z")
Presumably? Did or didn’t it use homophobic pictures? And its not like the Democrats (unless I’m reading it wrong) made the film up, the fool it was used against did. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/55 "2002-10-11T03:56:12Z")
**december** said > [@](#): > > But, in my book a single word is less of a sin than an ad using gay stereotypes to destroy a (presumably) gay candidate. YMMV. Wow! I thought if I quit reading your posts for a month, you might go away. But you suckered me back in. You have yet to demonstrate that the ad was using gay stereotypes. Saying don’t make it so. What’s wrong? The Israelis aren’t killing enough Palestinians this week to keep you occupied opening other threads? ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/56 "2002-10-11T04:11:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \*You have yet to demonstrate that the ad was using gay stereotypes. Saying don’t make it so. It’s a matter of interpretation, as are the Willie Horton ad and the Armey alleged accidental combination of two words. You’re entitled to see it your way. > [@](#): > > What’s wrong? The Israelis aren’t killing enough Palestinians this week to keep you occupied opening other threads? At least you didn’t call me a “One trick pony.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/57 "2002-10-11T04:23:25Z")
How about “two-trick horses ass?” You’ve gone way beyond the pony stage. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/58 "2002-10-11T04:58:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*Not quite, **Mtgman**. “Meltdown.” \*\* Whilst TMI didn’t really “meltdown”, _per se_, I guess you could say it released a sizeable amount of dangerous gas into the community… 😉 Am I the only one that noticed **DDG** ’s quoted article that mentioned “mounting” and “topping” so prominently? 😛 Damn, on second thought, I’m sorry I even noticed. Why do I suddenly feel like I’m sitting on a couch in front of MTV? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/59 "2002-10-11T05:02:34Z")
Breath easy, folks. IANAM, but I made [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=139009) so if you want to spew the insults and the like… Heheheh, “mounting”…ehehehehe… ---
**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-homophobic-ads-ok-if-theyre-run-by-democrats/131719/60 "2002-10-11T05:59:30Z")
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