Think Progress

Thompson apologizes for gay remark.

By Nico Pitney on May 4th, 2007 at 10:32 am

Thompson apologizes for gay remark.

Former governor Tommy Thompson (R-WI) apologized this morning for saying last night that private employers should be allowed to fire employees simply because they are gay. Thompson claimed he “misinterpreted” the question — “If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?” Watch it:

[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2007/05/thompsongay328.320.240.flv]

Maybe Thompson’s still under the weather. Last month, he blamed his statement that Jews have a “tradition” of “earning money” on “fatigue and a persistent cold.”

Digg It!




Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date

76 Responses to “Thompson apologizes for gay remark.”

  1. kenoshaMarge Says:

    As Governor of Wisconsin he constantly stuck his foot in his mouth. He also left us hopelessly in debt which our Democratic Governor has been trying to cope with ever since. He was probably drunk, he frequently was.


  2. Arthur C. Says:

    If a homosexual employer finds heterosexuality distasteful, should he be allowed to fire a heterosexual worker?

    I'm just askin'.


  3. Jay Randal Says:

    Forget about this clown, because he will NEVER be elected president!


  4. Raven Says:

    Reading the account of the question, and the answer, it seems blindingly obvious Tommy understood the question perfectly.

    (As a former Michigan resident, I understand completely the situation you face in Wisconsin.... Repub. John Engler gutted the state, left a huge deficit that Dem. Gov. Granholm is still heroically rectifying.)


  5. DM Says:

    #1 - "Stick it to 'em" comes to mind (re: stadium)


  6. stopthecons Says:

    these politicians are all the same - you put them on the spot and their true colors shine.....only to backtrack when they hear how awful they sound.

    right, fire people for being gay tommy. How about we fire people for looking like a troll? You'd never have a job!!

    All these right wingers want to "save marriage" but they don't have a clue. In reality, they just hate people who have lifestyles different than they do.

    The best way to "protect" marriage and gay rights is to keep government out of it altogether.

    An interesting read:

    "Here's How to Defend Marriage"
    http://www.populistamerica.com/here_s_how_to_defend_marriage


  7. Pete Bogs Says:

    but can they fire gay Jews without money?


  8. Publicus Says:

    Sometimes a candidate just gets too tired to lie.


  9. swordsbane Says:

    I wish people would quit blaming the illness fairy and take some friggen responsibility.

    It's real easy. Try something simple like "I was wrong. I'm sorry."

    See how easy that way?


  10. oldtree Says:

    he just hates everyone that doesn't vote for him. you will notice that the cosa nostra cares about only one thing. getting their idiots to vote for them, and making sure that no one else can vote


  11. Jim Says:

    Hillarious, the commenter even tried to give him an out by asking if it was a yes, he sounded kind of shocked.


  12. Gareth G Says:

    Tommy Thompson was probably the most corrupt Wisconsin governor since the early 1900's. He invented a "pay to play" system that has totally infected Wisconsin politics. He used the state retirement fund as a way to funnel investment money to campaign contributors, he gave out high paying state jobs to contributors at $10,000 a pop, including appointments to the university Board of Regents. He kept his mistresses on the state payroll and shipped them off to jobs in outlying parts of the state when he was finished with them. Large Wall Street investment firms gave him huge donations in return for state bonding business. The list goes on and on. The man is totally corrupt and craven.


  13. Zooey Says:

    If a homosexual employer finds heterosexuality distasteful, should he be allowed to fire a heterosexual worker?
    I’m just askin’.
    Comment by Arthur C.

    An excellent question, indeed....


  14. Coalition Of The Drilling Says:

    Beautiful!


  15. Dreary Urbanite Says:

    Do you think he has a drinking problem that he can blame for his remarks?


  16. Jay Randal Says:

    You know in that pic he looks a lot like Ted Haggard, so maybe he is a closeted guy who pays male escorts for sex?


  17. have skunk Says:

    He also said "thousands" have been hurt in Iraq.
    Try 25,000, duh.


  18. Dumb_Fox Says:

    Would explain why kicked Gannon out the White House.


  19. AnswerMan Says:

    He's my new favorite GOP nominee. I used to promote Brownback but now I'm going to vote for Thompson in all the on line polls. Plus he sounds like he's a train in a children's book.


  20. OxyCon Says:

    What's worse, not being able to understand a simple, direct question, or being a bigot?


  21. Daryll Says:

    Govenor Tommy Thompson handled himself correctly regarding his comment. You can't fire an individual because of their sexual preference. Let God judge the individual during the White Throne of Judgement.


  22. Topper Harley Says:

    Daryll is gay. And so is Tommy Thompson. That's why he drinks.


  23. Daryll Says:

    That was an infantile statement. I'll continue to pray for you and your soul.


  24. Ed Says:

    What a 'tard.

    Why is it when wingnut politicians say what they really think in public they always feel obliged to issue a retraction in the morning? Is it simply a ruse to double the coverage for a fringe candidate and get the wingnut voters attention (& approval)?


  25. Crump's Brother Says:

    I think God might go both ways... what do you think Daryll. I'm guessing since he/she 'loves' us all, that maybe he/she REALLY 'loves' us all. MMmmmmmm Omnipotent sexual activity!!


  26. Daryll Says:

    I think God might go both ways… what do you think Daryll. I’m guessing since he/she ‘loves’ us all, that maybe he/she REALLY ‘loves’ us all. MMmmmmmm Omnipotent sexual activity!!

    Comment by Crump's Brother — May 4, 2007 @ 11:38 am

    Jesus isn't a male nor female. Your comment about our lord and saviour, Jesus Christ, is blasphemous. Please repent.


  27. Zooey Says:

    Let God judge the individual during the White Throne of Judgement.
    Comment by Daryll

    Too much tequila last night, Daryll?


  28. Zooey Says:

    Crump's Brother,

    Congratulations!

    You've been called a blasphemer by Daryll. True, it wasn't in all caps, with three exclamation points, but it's valid all the same. :-D


  29. Crump's Brother Says:

    Daryll,

    I have no reason repent. I convinced that God/Jesus/Holy Spirit/Virgin Mary worship is mostly crap. Keep your beliefs to yourself and quit trying to turn my country into a Christo-Facist Theocracy.

    You should be repenteing for judging me don't you think?


  30. Republicans are the Fear and Smear Party Says:

    That was an infantile statement.
    Comment by Daryll — May 4, 2007 @ 11:33 am

    I agree that Tommy Thompson's statement was infantile.


  31. Crump's Brother Says:

    Zooey,

    Daryll is too easy. Like shooting fish in a barrell. Although that doesn't stop it from being fun. :)


  32. Daryll Says:

    Daryll,

    I have no reason repent. I convinced that God/Jesus/Holy Spirit/Virgin Mary worship is mostly crap. Keep your beliefs to yourself and quit trying to turn my country into a Christo-Facist Theocracy.

    You should be repenteing for judging me don’t you think?

    Comment by Crump's Brother — May 4, 2007 @ 11:57 am

    I'm not judging, I'm giving you guidelines to save your soul so you can be accepted into heaven. Also, I don't worship Mary. Mary was only a vessel used by God. One more thing, this country was founded on biblical beliefs. It was your satanic party that altered society.


  33. Daryll Says:

    Zooey,

    Daryll is too easy. Like shooting fish in a barrell. Although that doesn’t stop it from being fun. :)

    Comment by Crump's Brother — May 4, 2007 @ 11:59 am

    Revelations is not fun, it should scare you. Let me guess, you're another individual that believes in abortion, homosexuality, illegal immigration and over-taxing the wealthy.


  34. Republicans are the Fear and Smear Party Says:

    If you go onto other progressive blog sites, such as "crooks and liars", you don't see any trolls. Here we have Daryll, Patrick1, Jake, Exley, ct, valiant venus, michael, Captain Kirk, and a few others. Why do so many trolls hang around here? Why can't they go to other web sites who don't have any?


  35. katy Says:

    why would anyone even have to think
    about saying "NO"?


  36. powkat Says:

    How about 'idiocy and persistent bigotry"


  37. Crump's Brother Says:

    Daryll,

    How can someone who doesn't believe in God, believe in Satan? Are you that incapable of stringing to together coherent ideas?

    The religious views of the Founders are of great interest to you propagandists of today’s American right wing, anxious to push your version of history. Contrary to you view Daryll, the fact that the U.S. was not founded as a Christian nation was early stated in the terms of a treaty with Tripoli, drafted in 1796 under then President Washington and signed by John Adams in 1797 when he was President:

    “As the Government of the United States of America is not, IN ANY SENSE, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”


  38. Zooey Says:

    I’m not judging, I’m giving you guidelines to save your soul so you can be accepted into heaven. Also, I don’t worship Mary. Mary was only a vessel used by God. One more thing, this country was founded on biblical beliefs. It was your satanic party that altered society.
    Comment by Daryll

    No baby, you're judging. Who are you to give anyone guidelines?

    Oh, and your god using Mary as a "vessel?" That's f*cking sick.


  39. PaulB Says:

    "If you go onto other progressive blog sites ... you don't see any trolls"

    It depends on the site, its prominence, and its editing policies. Atrios is certainly troll-ridden, as is Washington Monthly, although that one's getting a bit better now that Chuckles, the clown (aka Jake, here) moved here. TAPPED used to have a persistent troll, although he finally got discouraged and gave up. John Cole's Ballon Juice site gets trolled routinely. DailyKos gets trolls, but their ratings system usually keeps them in line.


  40. Daryll Says:

    Daryll,

    How can someone who doesn’t believe in God, believe in Satan? Are you that incapable of stringing to together coherent ideas?

    The religious views of the Founders are of great interest to you propagandists of today’s American right wing, anxious to push your version of history. Contrary to you view Daryll, the fact that the U.S. was not founded as a Christian nation was early stated in the terms of a treaty with Tripoli, drafted in 1796 under then President Washington and signed by John Adams in 1797 when he was President:

    “As the Government of the United States of America is not, IN ANY SENSE, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”

    Comment by Crump's Brother — May 4, 2007 @ 12:12 pm

    Wow, so I wonder why "In God we Trust" is listed on the dollar (sarcasm off).


  41. Zooey Says:

    Revelations is not fun, it should scare you. Let me guess, you’re another individual that believes in abortion, homosexuality, illegal immigration and over-taxing the wealthy.
    Comment by Daryll

    Revelations isn't real, Daryll. It's a scary storybook.

    Generally, you seem like an intelligent guy, Daryll. Why are you so frightened? What has caused you to commit intellectual suicide?


  42. Daryll Says:

    I’m not judging, I’m giving you guidelines to save your soul so you can be accepted into heaven. Also, I don’t worship Mary. Mary was only a vessel used by God. One more thing, this country was founded on biblical beliefs. It was your satanic party that altered society.
    Comment by Daryll

    No baby, you’re judging. Who are you to give anyone guidelines?

    Oh, and your god using Mary as a “vessel?” That’s f*cking sick.

    Comment by Zooey — May 4, 2007 @ 12:20 pm

    It's not sick, I'm a vessel being used by God. Also, I'm just stating what the bible says.


  43. Zooey Says:

    Wow, so I wonder why “In God we Trust” is listed on the dollar (sarcasm off).
    Comment by Daryll

    I'm glad you have the ability to be sarcastic. That means you know it wasn't actually god who put those words there. Whew!


  44. Daryll Says:

    Revelations is not fun, it should scare you. Let me guess, you’re another individual that believes in abortion, homosexuality, illegal immigration and over-taxing the wealthy.
    Comment by Daryll

    Revelations isn’t real, Daryll. It’s a scary storybook.

    Generally, you seem like an intelligent guy, Daryll. Why are you so frightened? What has caused you to commit intellectual suicide?

    Comment by Zooey — May 4, 2007 @ 12:24 pm

    You're right, I fear God. I haven't committed intellectual suicide. Me, as a living and breathing human being, proves that he is real.


  45. Crump's Brother Says:

    Daryll,

    The term God is fairly amorphis. In what God do we trust Daryll? Zeus? Odin? Mephisto? Allah?

    Many founders, (Specifically Thomas Jefferson) were deists, and saw 'God' only in the splendor of nature, yet they did not believe in a Supreme Bieng pulling all the puppet strings.


  46. Crump's Brother Says:

    Here's some good news

    "House approves funding for Head Start, rejects religion amendment"

    http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/05/02/head.start.ap/index.html

    TP should report this stuff!!!


  47. Zooey Says:

    You’re right, I fear God. I haven’t committed intellectual suicide. Me, as a living and breathing human being, proves that he is real.
    Comment by Daryll

    It proves nothing, except that you were born.

    You are the living embodiment of intellectual suicide.
    I feel sorry for you.


  48. Republicans are the Fear and Smear Party Says:

    Daryll, why don't you get together with friends and talk about your fear of god together? Why do you come here and bother people? Don't you have any friends? Or have you turned everyone off with your proselytizing?


  49. Zooey Says:

    Or have you turned everyone off with your proselytizing?
    Comment by Republicans are the Fear and Smear Party

    I have a feeling that the only people who will agree to be around Daryll are "the choir."


  50. Sean Says:

    When me and my friend were watching the debate, we burst into laughter from his delayed response. It looked like the question just BLEW HIS MIND. Lol. We didn't actually get to hear the response. That's even better :-).

    ~Sean


  51. SKdeA Says:

    #37, shades of a question of mine 2 weeks ago - and I also asked it on C&L, where I was reassured that their site monitors delete them before they bother us more often than not.
    Sadly, TP seems to delete our honest questioning of certain false flag events long before they bother to take out a troll, even when the troll has been multiply reported and is a real bother (Jake/Michael comes to mind).


  52. Zooey Says:

    Hmmmm.....

    It must have gotten hotter than hell in here for Daryll....


  53. neil Says:

    I believe that Durwood, umm Darryl, is either totally joking and trying to create controversey and that he is a very frightened and conflicted individual. I am a homosexual American. I don't believe that Thompson even believe what he said. He was just trying to cater to the likes of Darry. In these days of Ann Coulter, Ted Haggart, and Petr Pace, he was trying to be politically expedient. His handlers, however, know better. Bashing gay people is finally becoming out of fashion. Even Hillary Clinton had to back track to promise us she doesn't think that homosexual activity is immoral. Please! What is immoral is to encourage people to believe fairy tales that condemn people for immutable 'god given, if you will" traits.


  54. SKdeA Says:

    # Me, as a living and breathing human being, proves that he is real.
    Comment by Daryll — May 4, 2007 @ 12:28 pm

    I thought the whole point of faith is that it can't be proved?
    Or did you require proof to become a Christian?

    And please, try not to refer to Mary as if she were a Dixie cup, it's disgusting. She was a human being.


  55. david Says:

    David & Jonathan were the first gay lovers in the Bible.


  56. nige Says:

    I wish the follow up question was" should a non Christian private employer be able to fire a Christian if he finds Christian bigotry immoral?"


  57. Me Says:

    If an employee finds homosexuality to be offensive due to his religion, can he be fired? Shouldn't he have his religious beliefs protected?

    This argument works both ways. Employers should be allowed to fire anyone for any reason, just as employee's can choose not to work for anyone for any reason.


  58. impeachcheneythenbush Says:

    Revelations is not fun, it should scare you. Let me guess, you’re another individual that believes in abortion, homosexuality, illegal immigration and over-taxing the wealthy.

    Comment by Daryll — May 4, 2007 @ 12:03 pm

    Daryll...since you evidently believe so strongly in the Book of Revelations (which even biblical scholars disagree on it's interpretation); nevertheless. I will ask you to give us at least one verse each of the words of Jesus Christ about abortion, homosexuality, and especially the last two: illegal immigration and over-taxing the wealthy.


  59. Juan C Says:

    Thompson apologizes for gay remark

    Thompson: My apologies to all fags.


  60. impeachcheneythenbush Says:

    Wow, so I wonder why “In God we Trust” is listed on the dollar (sarcasm off).

    Comment by Daryll — May 4, 2007 @ 12:23 pm

    That phrase first appeared on the 2-cent coin in 1864. Hardly a result of the "Founding Fathers." In addition...please note that it does NOT say "In (a Christian) God We Trust.

    http://www.ustreas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml

    Here's an article that perhaps you could read to educate yourself about the utilization of the word "God" and it's history as well.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God#Names_of_God


  61. out of the mainstream Says:

    Wow, so I wonder why “In God we Trust” is listed on the dollar (sarcasm off).

    Comment by Daryll

    Actually, Daryll, "In God We Trust" was added to U.S. currency during the Civil War, because of pressure on the administration by Christian fanatics who were certain that the conflict was due to "Godlessness" of then-current American culture.

    Sound familiar?

    In a similar way, "Under God" was added to the PLedge of Allegiance during the McCarthy era, to combat the "Godless" communists. It was thought by the extreme right-wingers that force-feeding the concept of God to kids would make them less likely to be interested in socialism.

    Try learning some history Daryll...it might at least make your arguments coherent, if not logical.


  62. Democrat Soldier Says:

    #32 - "It was your satanic party that altered society." Comment by Daryll — May 4, 2007 @ 12:01 pm

    See! Even Daryll understands that the Republican party is run by Satan!

    By the way, Daryll, when will you support polygamy as the Bible supports it?


  63. Willy Says:

    “If a private employer finds government corruption immoral, should he be allowed to fire a Republican worker?”


  64. Wayne Says:

    Wow, so I wonder why “In God we Trust” is listed on the dollar (sarcasm off).

    Comment by Daryll

    "In God We Trust" was added to money in 1864, in a bill passed by a Republican Congress ( supprise, supprise)

    You Cristo-Fascists have been trying to force Christianity, illegally as the National Religion since the inception of the Republican Party.

    And before you comment on it, ending slavery was an added component, to gain support of the abolisionists. The major reasons for the civil war was were different economies, state’s rights to vote on laws, and the election of Abraham Lincoln as president.
    Thus the compromise with the christian right at the time, declaring blacks only 3/5ths of a person whenthey were freed.
    Now why did they resist giving full personhood and why did it take a Democratic Majority to finally pass a Civil Rights Act?


  65. ForTruth Says:

    They refuse to fire Jeff Gannon? He's still hangin around the whitehouse, prolly gettin' paid.

    Sorry, the Jeff Gannon thing needs to be beat to death (no pun intended) when these assfaces start with the gay bashing.


  66. DRxJ Says:

    Huh. Another thread that indirectly deals with man love butt sex, and St.Daryll's here.
    Whodathunk???


  67. Wayne Says:

    Comment by impeachcheneythenbush

    I was going to post thatlink, but couldn't get back on TP for a while Heh. =)

    Site go down?


  68. Zooey Says:

    Site go down?
    Comment by Wayne

    TP been acting weird. I couldn't get on yesterday afternoon or evening, and for a little time this morning. **sniff**


  69. Wayne Says:

    Huh. Another thread that indirectly deals with man love butt sex, and St.Daryll’s here.
    Whodathunk???

    Comment by DRxJ

    Yeah Daryll must have a bot searching for mentions of the word gay and homosexual constantly. He never misses one here at TP LOL
    Now that's obsession.


  70. Wayne Says:

    TP been acting weird. I couldn’t get on yesterday afternoon or evening, and for a little time this morning. **sniff**

    Comment by Zooey

    I tried to post and got a site not found error, had to retype after the site came back LOL
    That's always irritating

    I really doubt Darryll will try to answer the question I posed. He always seems to skip out on the ones that are tough to answer.


  71. swampgas Says:

    Oh, I figured it out. Daryll is like an Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. I always ask myself if this is all theater, and nobdy can be that insane and/or bigoted. It is a sort of "Hyper-Fantasy".

    Maybe Limbaugh, Coulter, and Daryll are actually progressives that are showing the shear hysteria of these people that are approximately 30% of the population.

    My friends and I always did that. We would go into a crowd, and start talking like stupid rednecks, and saying all of the catch phrases like Hate Gays, Woman Belong in the Kitchen, God Damn Environmentalist-Wackos, Hippy Dippys, Hey Boy-Love it or Leave It, Anti-War Traitors, God, Guns, Guts, and so on. Usually the bright people would catch on, and start laughing, and the rednecks would think we were one of them.


  72. Proud Dem Says:

    Mary was only a vessel used by God. Comment by Daryll

    And later you say that you are a vessel used by God. The key word here is USED. No one, not even the all-knowing Super Being (depending on your chosen religion) USES me for anything. I am my own person and no mortal or immortal is going to use me.

    SULOGA, Darryl. No one appreciates your holier-than-thou, bible thumping drivel.


  73. xenon Says:

    I suppose, then, that we've been "misinterpreting" the Republicans for the past six years...


  74. Jeremy Says:

    Comment by Daryll:

    Revelations is not fun, it should scare you. Let me guess, you’re another individual that believes in abortion, homosexuality, illegal immigration and over-taxing the wealthy.

    My response:

    ... abortion....homosexuality....illegal immigration....AND OVERTAXING THE WEALTHY?! Godly Concerns?

    *Beat*

    BWWWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA*deep gasping breath*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

    What bible are you reading from, Daryll? The Neo-Con Bush-Brown-Noser annotated Cliff Note edition? BWAHAHAHAHA.

    Having your nose so far up Bush's crack has addled your brain, Daryll! God is concerned that people are _Overtaxing the Rich_?! Dude, you crack me up. What section in the Bible says 'Thou shalt not overtax the rich?' Come on, dude, I gotta see this. And while you're at it, lemme see the directive that says 'Thou shalt oppress thine neighbors to the south and drive them at the rod back to their homelands'. This I gotta see.

    Daryll's in need of some serious head-shrinking. Maybe if I type in the name of a person whose name is pronounced the same as the star 'Betelgeuse' three times, I can get him to get his buddy who shrunk his head at the end of the movie to do the same to Daryll. :-D Somehow I don't think psychiatry will solve Daryll's problems. ;)

    I mean, I've heard the whole thing about abortion and homosexuality, but overtaxing the rich and stopping illegal immigration? That reads like a forced juxtaposition to me....


  75. Eldritch Tree Says:

    How did this hate-monger get elected in Wisconsin?


  76. MNW Says:

    Tommy Thompson was on Real Time with Bill Maher tonight. Bill asked him about his response to firing someone because they're gay. Tommy blamed it on his hearing aid...that he didn't hear the question.



Jump to Top

About Think Progress | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy (off-site) | RSS | Donate
© 2005-2009 Center for American Progress Action Fund
View Most Popular

Advertisement

What We're About

Featured

image
Subscribe to the Progress Report



imageTopic Cloud


Visit Our Affiliated Sites

image image
Reports


Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.

Name:
Email:
Tip:
(required)


imageArchives


imageBlog Roll