Today on MSNBC’s Hardball, former senator Jim Talent, now an adviser to Mitt Romney, discussed Romney’s record on gays. Talent maintained that Romney has never been inconsistent on gay rights and has “always” wanted to stop the influence of “the militant gays”:
He’s always had the same position as to regards to the gay agenda. Look, he wants to know people to know he values gay people as people, okay? But he doesn’t want the militant gays to be able to change the cultural institutions of the country.
UPDATE: Pam’s House Blend has more.

WTF? “He values gay people as people”… “but doesn’t want the militant gays…”???
“militant gays”???
Uh, would they be the pink pistol packin’ Lesbos that Dild O’Reilly
reported on earlier in the year?
Jes’ askin’…
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:27 pmI think we need to declare a moratorium on the use of the word “militant” for any unarmed group. Seriously.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 pmTweety is right, he has done some amazing flip flops.
Who are the gay militants?
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 pmI am sure that there are some gays in Iraq that wouldn’t mind that at all. We may just have turned a bunch of new ones, too.
What a blithering idiot. Just when we need as many able bodied (and able minded translators) he comes out with this.
UGH! Amurika!
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 pmhahahah….”has never been inconsistent on gay rights”….
let’s see i’ll just take out my orwellian truthspeak dictionary here…and under “consistency” we see the translation into regular english being:
partisan flip flopper
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pmjim talent commenting on “militant gays”?
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 pmthat’s funny…
There is no “cultural institution” in our country - it’s dynamic. Oh, sure, you have your mom, pop, and 2.2 kids, but those are just numbers. In reality, dad is an alcoholic, mom is having an affair with the next door neighbor, and the kids are squirrely (and frequently, at least one of them is gay).
Militant gays? No such critter. Only individuals demanding equality and the right to be as fu(ked-up as they want to be. That’s what we call “freedom”, and ostensibly pride ourselves on as a “cultural institution”.
God, the hypocrisy of it all.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 pmWho are the gay militants?
Well, there’s the 101st Airborne Fairies, the Lesbian Mountain Warfare units (w/ flannel uniforms), and the 1st Armored, known affectionately as “The Big Turgid One”.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 pmThe special forces unit: Gannon’s Cannons.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 pmComment by PeterW — January 2, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
Heh.
Say, wasnt it Larry ‘militant’ Craig that came up with the ‘dont ask dont tell’ thing?
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 pmYes, Larry Craig is attached to the Special Airport Services, a clandestine militant gay unit.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:42 pmHow about we do away with the militant christians?
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 pmOff Topic, but thought some would like to read:
New FOIA Law Does Not “Restore Presumption of Openness”
On December 31 President Bush signed into law the “Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National (OPEN) Government Act of 2007,” which amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
AP account: “The legislation is aimed at reversing an order by former Attorney General John Ashcroft after the 9/11 attacks in which he instructed agencies to lean against releasing information when there was uncertainty about how doing so would affect national security.”
WRONG
Although the original House version of the OPEN Government Act did include a provision that would have repealed the Ashcroft policy and established a “presumption of openness,” that provision was removed from the bill prior to passage.
The Ashcroft memorandum established that the administration would defend agency decisions to withhold records under a FOIA exemption if the decision was supported by a sound legal basis.
The Ashcroft FOIA policy remains the policy of the Bush Administration even after enactment of “The OPEN Government Act.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 pmhttp://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
Mitt Romney is a god damn bigot.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 pmWouldn’t it be great if the militant gay forces could be united with the nebulous but powerful forces at war with Christmas? I’ll bet they could really kick Santa’s ass all under a very colorful banner
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 pmWhen is Jim Talent going to come out of the closet?
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 pmHuckabee responded by saying he likes Mormons as people, but we have to stop the militant Mormons from influencing the nutwing culture.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 pmMilitant gays?!
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:55 pmWhat the hell is wrong with these guys?
Romney is a looney who has takes advice from similar loonies.
Frankly, it is the militant christians who are a problem - people who wear their religion like the red crosses on the tunics of the crusaders.
11, Haha!!!!
18, First rule of Republicanism: Find an enemy, and unite your sheeple base.
gays=boogeymen
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:01 pmanother story:
Romney takes the low road
[…]
I can appreciate the fact that Romney is in a tough spot right now, but gratuitous references to Clinton scandals in the 1990s only make him look desperate and classless. -steve benen@C&L
exactly…
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:06 pmSomeone should really tell Mitt that most of the ‘militant’ gays are in the Republican party. Lots of them in this administration.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:07 pmWhat the hell does he mean by “militant Gays” - Gays in the military?? If he is affixing this adjective to a group of people who are fighting for their rights under this constitution, then they can hardly be called militant at all. They’re simply “citizens” of this country who are demanding equal rights under the law.
The fact that Romney’s camp brings this nonsense up degrades his integrity at a critical time in this campaign. His reps are making a very serious allegation here and a serious campaign blunder.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:09 pmkaty: It’s clear that Romney’s getting very desperate right now. Romney is not electable and he knows it.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:10 pm(so… if you don’t type spaces around the @ symbol,
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 pmit turns into an email link… huh… i didn’t know that…)
Stop the influence of “militant gays”?
Why not try to stop the influence of something that really matters, like “militant imperialism”, “militant corporatism”, “the militant war on the poor & middle class”, “the militant war on the environment”, and especially “militant fundamentalism”.
Romney can go *bleep* himself. The republican party is the laughing stock of the entire world.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 pmIt is really shameful to hear that the priorities of agendas discussed by these candidates are either gays and lesbians ,or religion and values when:
We have two big devastating wars.
Huge deficit.
Oil prices shooting to the roof.
New records of debt ceiling we are breaking everyday.
The dollar is in sharp decline.
And government spending is out of control.
What these candidates are running for? to be preachers..?!!
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:18 pmholy cow!
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:18 pmdave’s grown a beard!
does romney know that the blogosphere has posted this flier?
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:21 pmhey, sc mom - that deserves to be spelled out!
ABC has obtained one flier Romney doesn’t want you to see. It’s from 2002, with Romney was running for governor with Kerry Healey as his running mate. ‘Mitt and Kerry Wish You a Great Pride Weekend! All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual preference.’ (It’s even pink.)”
rich indeed…
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 pmEveryone should be very AFRAID of gay militants,they hit you with their purses, and spray you in the face with hairspray,then run away!
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:36 pmI hope the militant gays join up with the militant feminists. We’ll be a force to be reckoned with. :-D
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 pmMr. Talent doesn’t like militant gays…when the lights are on.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:06 pmNot to worry. Militant gays only shoot blanks.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 pmComment by tarazan — January 2, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
You are so right, where are the real issues in this? Published almost a year ago by Chris Hedges, The Rise of Christian Fascism and Its Threat to American Democracy is a telling scenario of our future under people like Mitt and Huck, here is a short quote:
Every American should be contacting everyone they know and encouraging them to become active and very vocal, but I fear it is too late.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 pmSo Mitt “values” gay people but he just doesn’t want them to have a say in anything. Now just what kind of value is that? Why does Mitt hate gay people?
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 pmOh no, the militant gays are coming, the militant gays are coming. Run, scurry, flee!
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:25 pmI hope the militant gays join up with the militant feminists. We’ll be a force to be reckoned with. :-D
Comment by Zooey — January 2, 2008 @ 11:02 pm
I don’t think Hendler will like this
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:30 pmComment by dbadass — January 2, 2008 @ 11:30 pm
where is jas?
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:32 pmImagine people wanting to be treated like everybody else. “Militant” behavior?
This reminds me so much of the crapola I heard from bigoted white people in the sixties — “Negroes are OK as long as they know their place. It’s when they get uppity that something needs to be done about them.”
Today — thank heavens — very few people could hear that or read those words without being horrified at the knowledge that it wasn’t too long ago that this mindset was fairly commonplace.
Perhaps in another generation, Mitt Romney’s words about gays and the “cultural institutions of this country” will be just as appalling.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 pmI wonder if Mitt hires male prostitutes, but thinks them OK since they are not desiring marriage like “militant Gays”?
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 pmI don’t think Hendler will like this
Comment by dbadass — January 2, 2008 @ 11:30 pm
Who?
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 pmJust noticed the pic and I feel sorry for the baby. Someday that child will grow up and realize a creepy man kissed his forehead > lol.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:47 pmOr her forehead > not sure if baby is male or female.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:49 pmI must have missed something. Militant gays? Do they have armed bunkers along Castro Street in San Francisco? Do they have the equivalent of Blackwater mercenaries spreading Gayism over the land? I better lock my wife up to protect our marriage, because I live in Washington state and I’m certain they’ve spread this far by now.
How do so many insignificant, fear-mongering people become so elevated in our society? They desperately need knee replacements and a year’s supply of Depends. How many more days until January 20, 2009?
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 pmFunny, the only “militant gays” I can think of are Republicans.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 pmFrom the update at Pam’s House Blend:
Homosexual Agenda #1
6:00 am Gym
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am Hair appointment
10:00 am Shopping
12:00 PM Brunch
2:00 PM (Here’s the really important part)
1) Assume complete control of the US Federal, State and local Governments as well as all other national governments
2) Recruit all straight youngsters to our debauched lifestyle
3) Destroy all healthy heterosexual marriages
4) Replace all school counselors in grades K-12 with agents of Colombian and Jamaican drug cartels
5) Establish planetary chain of “homo breeding gulags” where over -medicated imprisoned straight women are turned into artificially impregnated baby factories to produce prepubescent love slaves for our devotedly pederastic gay leadership
6) Bulldoze all houses of worship
7) Secure total control of the INTERNET and all mass media for the exclusive use of child pornographers.
2:30 PM Get Forty Winks of Beauty Rest to prevent facial wrinkles from stress of world conquest
4:00 PM Cocktails
6:00 PM Light Dinner
8:00 PM Theater
11:00 PM Bed
Those are some organized militant gays alright. :-D
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 pmThose are some organized militant gays alright. :-D
Comment by Zooey — January 2, 2008 @ 11:51 pm
Hilarious.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 amWayne,
Notice the time frame for implementing the “agenda.”
2:00-2:30
:-D
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:02 amMilitant gays>? Both of them?
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:03 amHmm. Aside from Perez Hilton, and not sure he qualifies as militant . . . just who are these “militant gays”? I’d love to see the list
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:05 amWould Army Farsi interpreters be militant gays?
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:12 amPerhaps he’s referring to a Monty Python sketch? Many of their “military” characters were “a bit suspect”.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:17 amwtf, is jas?!
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:17 amMilitant Homosexuals=Al Gaydar
-GSD
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:20 amSounds like Talent and Romney are homophobic.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:25 amSounds like Talent and Romney are homophobic.
Comment by IronMan — January 3, 2008 @ 12:25 am
Ya think?
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:33 amNotice the time frame for implementing the “agenda.â€
Comment by Zooey — January 3, 2008 @ 12:02 am
Yeah, they really needed that nap after, lmao
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:34 amThe “Homosexual Agenda” has given me the idea to write out a “Liberal Agenda.”
Is it possible to organize a committee of dirty hippies to write such a document? :D
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:40 amI hope the militant gays join up with the militant feminists. We’ll be a force to be reckoned with. :-D
Comment by Zooey — January 2, 2008 @ 11:02 pm
I’ll second that one, Zooey. Happy New Year!
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:19 amThe “Homosexual Agenda†has given me the idea to write out a “Liberal Agenda.â€
Is it possible to organize a committee of dirty hippies to write such a document? :D
Comment by Zooey — January 3, 2008 @ 12:40 am
I haven’t met a real hippie in many years. Perhaps I can help?
Agenda item number 1: No tax dollars will be spent killing people who aren’t trying to kill us. I would rather not spend any tax dollars for defense but there are lots of bad people in the world.
2. Each tax dollar spent killing people (who ARE trying to kill us) must be matched by a tax dollar spent helping people.
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:23 amMany another famously defeated ,homophobic GOPer Congressperson ought to get on the Mitten/Talentless bandwagon. Remember Robert Dornan, whose many controversial statements included “Every lesbian spear chucker in this country is hoping I get defeated.” ?
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 am.
I’m a …
M I L I T A N T !!!
.
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:44 am.
But watch out…
We know how the Govt. of the (formerly) Good(?) Old U.S.A. acts toward…
M I L I T A N T S !!!
.
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 amwhat will romney do about the militant religious folk (aka the american taliban)?
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:16 amI’ll second that one, Zooey. Happy New Year!
Comment by Lora — January 3, 2008 @ 1:19 am
Happy New year, Lora! Stop by the Zoo sometime. :-)
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:17 amComment by Impolitics — January 3, 2008 @ 1:23 am
Great ideas, Impolitics.
No bathing, smoking pot, and not having a job should fit in there somewhere. :-)
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 amWhat cultural institutions? Art Museums? Symphony orchestras?
Sorry, we’ve already taken over!
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:04 amWhere can I join up with the militants? They sound really butch, and I am kinda into that.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:05 amBut he doesn’t want the militant gays to be able to change the *cultural institutions* of the country.
Yeah, we wouldn’t want them gays running the movies, broadway, music and the other arts. Gotta keep all of them 100% straight.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:11 amMilitant gays?
…
Militant gays?
…
WTF is this guy talking about? In all my life I have never heard the words “militant” and “gay” in the same sentence, but then again maybe I wasn’t watching when the militant gay movement came to town…
Must be all those hordes of roaming AK-47 fitted, combat boot wearing homosexuals that Jim Talent is referring to. I see them everywhere, well dressed men, armed to the teeth, talking about how they are going to take America back for the gays…
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:33 am“Militant gays” sounds like a definition of today’s Republican Party.
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 am#71 - ““Militant gays†sounds like a definition of today’s Republican Party.” Comment by Perry logan — January 3, 2008 @ 8:41 am
Actually, it’s “closeted gays” which defines today’s Republican Party. Tap, tap, tap! ;-)
Since I’m an Army veteran, does that make me a militant gay? I’d better get my membership card updated with that info! ;-)
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:49 amAh yes… those goose-stepping gays. Why, their meetings with their white hoods and burning crosses are just out of control!
Oh wait, I’m getting them confused with another real hate group. Silly me, I get so confused about who I should fear and hate… Thank god for the Mitt Romney and the Republican party… Now the only thing I have to fear is the lack of fear itself.
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 amHow come people associated with the republican are so out of touch. Militant Gays??????????
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:55 amIt’s all part of Bill O’Reilly’s War On Lesbian Gangs with Pink Pistols.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:19 amBeware the pink berets?
Eish, these Republicans are nuts.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:21 ami would like to salute the “militant gays” and gay people in general - i have yet to see another group of people that can strike so much fear into the hearts (and minds) of conservative evangelical wingnuts without making a threat,pointing a gun or taking a life - just being yourself is enough to put these guys on the back foot…..priceless
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:13 amWhy would anyone take advice from a man like Talent–an ousted politician who was soooo out of touch he was just FIRED by his constituents in Missouri?
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 amJesus H. Christ.
What an assh*le.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 amWhat are Militant Gays? Power TOPS? Was one to rough on Romneys Magic Underwear Ass? Poor Dear….
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 amThe Militant Gays only had one good album anyway…
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 pmYet under Romney’s watch Massachusetts was the first state to legalize gay marriage. He’s a waffler, no doubt about it.
And he doesn’t know militant. I’m a militant that testifies at hearings in my home state. Last year I shredded the religious arguments, this year I plan to go after the legislative leadership for their cowardly loyalty to the Catholic Diocese.
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:34 pmThis is what Romney and Talent see in their dreams:
http://www.slate.com/id/2086490/
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:49 pmAs a “militant gay” I thought I would post what I believe the Republican agenda to be.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm5am - begin recruitment efforts for teenagers to join Republican party by blogging about homosexual agenda
6am - rub hands together in anticipation of stock market open
7am - Remind self to blame the Clintons
8am - give tax breaks to oil companies
9am - stock market opens, move even more stocks to oil companies
10am - interview with Bill O’Reilly and promote corporate control of media - and of course, blame the Clintons for whatever else comes up
11am - Call Congress to get another tax break for millionaires
12pm - Blame the Clintons
1pm - interview with local rightwing church nut, assuring him/her that all is well in the Republican party
2pm - Blame the Clintons
3pm - hide Mark Foley and wide stance Larry Craig in closet
4pm - Check in with Dick Cheney for any further orders
5pm - Give more contracts to Blackwater and Halliburton
6pm - Have slave, oops, I mean “perfectly legal” immigrant serve dinner
7pm - Blame the Clintons
8pm - Read George W. a bedtime story
9pm - Have gay sex with prostitute in closet
10pm - Sleep