# What would the Republican Party reaction be if GWB were gay and came out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 9, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803 "2006-10-09T15:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/1 "2006-10-09T15:26:51Z")
They seemed to be pretty quick to distance themself from Foley, but he really wasn’t a well known name to the average American before this, so it was easy to do. What if GWB were revealed to have a gay lover his own age? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/2 "2006-10-09T15:51:40Z")
They distanced themselves from Foley because he was a sexual predator. Not that the GOP is gay-friendly, but there are a number of prominent gay Republicans, including one openly gay Congressman: Kolbe (R-AZ). So, I guess as long as Bush wasn’t shown to be a sexual predator, things would stay pretty much as they are. Laura, OTOH, might not be too happy. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/3 "2006-10-09T16:41:35Z")
Scattered bits of cranial bone, blood, and cerebral tissue over an area roughly three meters in diameter, with a muted “Bang!”. ---
**Author:** ![the\_PC\_apeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac8455/32.png) [@the\_PC\_apeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_PC_apeman)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/4 "2006-10-09T17:03:36Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] … Not that the GOP is gay-friendly, but there are a number of prominent gay Republicans, including one openly gay Congressman: Kolbe (R-AZ). … [/QUOTE] Wasn’t he the the one that got such a warm reception at the '92 Houston Republican convention? I recall delegates walking out or standing up and turning their backs to him as he spoke. FTR, that convention is when I decided to switch my party affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/5 "2006-10-09T17:34:46Z")
What would the reaction be if it were revealed that George Bush was secretly Zorro? What would the reaction be if it were revealed that George Bush was secretly a werewolf? What would the reaction be if it were revealed that George Bush were any damn thing? I don’t understand the purpose of this question. What exactly did you hope to learn? What assertion did you hope to make? That Republicans would abandon George Bush if he were exposed as gay? And so what? What if George Bush had an affair? What if he read Playboy? What if he cruised the BDSM chatrooms on AOL? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/6 "2006-10-09T17:43:44Z")
My question, rhetorical of course and maybe a bit naive, was wondering if, as he is their top guy, they would show compassion and empathy and maybe realize that their previous stances were hasty and wrong, or if they would distance themselves from him as well? Kind of like an adult who hates gays, but then has a change of heart when one of his kids is gay. So yes, my point is would they “all of sudden” change years of ignorant thinking if their chief was found to be gay. Would they suddenly reveal themselves to be the hypocrites they are? Rush Limbaugh calls for jail time for all drug abusers, is then revealed to be a drug abuser. O’Reilly goes off on misogynistic rappers, revealed to be a filthy perv- hypocrite. Foley- against internet predators, turns out to be one. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/7 "2006-10-09T17:46:54Z")
Something of that magnitude could have a major impact on the future of American society- would gay marraige then be approved? Things like that. If so, what would the ramifications be on society? Would other questionable things be legalized as a result- like pot? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/8 "2006-10-09T18:05:11Z")
Yeah…except George Bush isn’t gay, and he isn’t coming out. If science proved the existance of Leprechauns, and the Leprechauns told us they smoked pot every day, how would that affect the legalization debate? Anyway, I’m not sure what you think would be more hypocritical…if they turned against Bush due to homophobia, or if they supported Bush notwithstanding homophobia. And there’s a big difference between coming out of the closet as a single man, and coming out of the closet as a married guy who cheats on his wife with other men. Fact is, Bush isn’t particularly homophobic, as republicans go. He’s one of those closet tolerants. He might be OK with Karl Rove playing the homophobia card if it helps win elections, but he personally doesn’t have a problem with gays. And of course, Cheney’s the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/9 "2006-10-09T18:07:33Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] What would the reaction be if it were revealed that George Bush was secretly Zorro? [/QUOTE] That would explain why, when asked about his plan to balance the budget, he said, “I’ll steal the alcalde’s gold.”, though. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/10 "2006-10-09T18:13:06Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] What would the reaction be if it were revealed that George Bush was secretly Zorro? [/QUOTE] If it was Zorro as played by Antonio Banderas, we’re just rehashing the OP’s question. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/11 "2006-10-09T18:17:28Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] ..Fact is, Bush isn’t particularly homophobic, as republicans go. He’s one of those closet tolerants. He might be OK with Karl Rove playing the homophobia card if it helps win elections, but he personally doesn’t have a problem with gays. And of course, Cheney’s the same way. [/QUOTE] Which is one of the Top Ten Reasons they are swine. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/12 "2006-10-09T18:18:01Z")
First of all, we don’t know if Bush is gay or not- he probably isn’t, thus the “What if” in the OP. It has nothing to do with George Bush. I could have very well used Chaney, C. Rice, etc. or any Republican in high standing. Let’s say the next unknown Republican preisdent if that works better- anyone who is major enough to where they would have to deal with it- how would they? Rallies comdemning him? Call for his ousting? Prayer meetings that God change him to straight? Or a change in their archiac ways of thinking? How about if it was the Pope? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/13 "2006-10-09T18:23:55Z")
You can bet that Bill Clinton would somehow be responsible. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/14 "2006-10-09T18:25:09Z")
There aren’t any good cites that I would dignify with citing that allege any homosexuality in Bush, but if you google Bush and Victor Ashe you quickly find unsubstantiated rumors. True or not, I really don’t know. It isn’t any of my business and his effectiveness would be the same in either case. IF true and IF he came out, it would be the end of the honeymoon between the Republicans and the Religious Right. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/15 "2006-10-09T18:29:01Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] What would the reaction be if it were revealed that George Bush was secretly Zorro? [/quote] The Gay Blade? I would lay down my sabre forever. > [@](#): > > What would the reaction be if it were revealed that George Bush was secretly a werewolf? I’d stock up on wolfsbane and belladonna. > [@](#): > > What would the reaction be if it were revealed that George Bush were any damn thing? Holy water FTW! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/16 "2006-10-09T18:29:08Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] Let’s say the next unknown Republican preisdent if that works better- anyone who is major enough to where they would have to deal with it- how would they? [/QUOTE] Well, Fox News would say he was a Democrat… The far right crowd would go nuts, for starters. They’d be furious that the party would nominate and fail to recognize a gay man, and then they’d start asking “who knew about this and didn’t talk?” (This is one of the reasons it would be hard for a guy to be outed after he was elected President, by the way.) The President would probably be forced to pass some ‘anti-gay’ legislation in order to prove he wasn’t part of the gay lobby in some way. Kolbe, by the way, may yet find himself in trouble over Foley. He says he confronted Foley about some inappropriate behavior related to pages in 2000, and if Kolbe didn’t go and inform his superiors about what he’d seen or heard, he may pay a price for it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/17 "2006-10-09T18:44:52Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Which is one of the Top Ten Reasons they are swine. [/QUOTE] What would the Republican Party reaction be if GWV were a pig? Now, that’s an interesting question! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/18 "2006-10-09T18:57:28Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] My question, rhetorical of course and maybe a bit naive, was wondering if, as he is their **top guy** [/quote] Interesting choice of words (bolded by me). > [@](#): > > all of sudden" change years of ignorant thinking if their chief was found to be gay. Would they suddenly reveal themselves to be the hypocrites they are? Rush Limbaugh calls for jail time for all drug abusers, is then revealed to be a drug abuser. O’Reilly goes off on misogynistic rappers, revealed to be a filthy perv- hypocrite. Foley- against internet predators, turns out to be one. Rush and O’Reilly still have thriving careers, although they aren’t elected officials. Hypocrisy doesn’t always ruin you. Foley is done, but there are a number of reasons for it - mostly the huge “ick” factor for his supporters. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/19 "2006-10-09T19:21:25Z")
[QUOTE=ThePCapeman] Wasn’t he the the one that got such a warm reception at the '92 Houston Republican convention? I recall delegates walking out or standing up and turning their backs to him as he spoke. FTR, that convention is when I decided to switch my party affiliation. [/QUOTE] That was the 2000 convention. The 1992 convention is when Pat Buchanan declared a religious and cultural war. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803/20 "2006-10-09T19:24:14Z")
[QUOTE=Jackknifed Juggernaut] You can bet that Bill Clinton would somehow be responsible. [/QUOTE] \*\*Chris Wallace: \*\* Why didn’t you do more to keep George W. Bush from getting teh gay? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-republican-party-reaction-be-if-gwb-were-gay-and-came-out/375803.md?page=2)