Gerry Studds Dies at 69; First Openly Gay Congressman

Gerry Studds Dies at 69; First Openly Gay Congressman

Gerry E. Studds, the first openly gay member of Congress and a demanding advocate for New England fishermen and for gay rights, died early Saturday at Boston University Medical Center, his husband said. . . .

Once outed, however, Mr. Studds refused to buckle to conservative pressure to resign.

“All members of Congress are in need of humbling experiences from time to time,” Mr. Studds said at the time. But he never apologized. He defended the relationship as consensual and condemned the investigation, saying it had invaded his privacy.

He went on to win re-election in 1984, surprising both supporters and opponents. . . .

Though his name had barely been mentioned in Washington since he retired, the resignation late last month of Representative Mark Foley, a Florida Republican, revived interest in Mr. Studds’s own dalliance with a teenage page in 1983.

Across the country, several Republican candidates sought to deflect criticism aimed at their own party by reminding voters about Mr. Studds. The National Republican Congressional Committee chastised Democrats in this year’s race for taking contributions from party leaders who had served with Mr. Studds. . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/us/15studds.html

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How coincidental is this? Studds dying right after the Foley incident occurred? Personally, I found the article very interesting. "[D]eflect criticism"--ain't that the truth.

aps said:

How coincidental is this? Studds dying right after the Foley incident occurred? Personally, I found the article very interesting. "[D]eflect criticism"--ain't that the truth.

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Can't we just say that we're sorry the man passed without resorting to either blaming the Reps for political maneuvering or somehow making the abstract claim that there was foul play?

RightatNYU said:

Can't we just say that we're sorry the man passed without resorting to either blaming the Reps for political maneuvering or somehow making the abstract claim that there was foul play?

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Why don't you do a search on the name "Studds" on this message board and tell me how much political maneuvering you find on him. It is a matter of fact that the repubs were using his name to deflect the acts of someone in their own party--like somehow that lessened what Foley did. It was appalling.

There were quite a few comparison/contrasts made.
I did not personally see anyone deflecting anything.
Foley did rightly resign. Gerry not so rightly did not.

Foleys party required his resignation when his depradations came to light.
Gerrys party publicly applauded his actions for years.

It was a relatively easy C/C to consider.
RIP
:yawn:

Can't Republicans step up and accept responsibility WITHOUT pointing a finger at someone else. :shrug:

akyron said:

Foleys party required his resignation

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Wrong, his party did nothing of the sort.

BWG said:

Can't Republicans step up and accept responsibility WITHOUT pointing a finger at someone else. :shrug:

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No, they are incapable of accepting responsibility. It's pathetic.

aps said:

Why don't you do a search on the name "Studds" on this message board and tell me how much political maneuvering you find on him. It is a matter of fact that the repubs were using his name to deflect the acts of someone in their own party--like somehow that lessened what Foley did. It was appalling.

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The claims made by others were before Studds had died. They were comparing the Foley situation to the Studds situation and drawing parallels between the cases, which while being rather pointless, is a legitimate comparison.

You're taking the news of his death and using it as an opportunity to put forth platitudes about the implied involvement of the Republican party in the convenience of his death. More than than, you're using his passing to attack the Republicans as a whole for the actions of a few in drawing the Foley parallels. By doing that, you're perpetrating the same connections that you claim to be so appalled by. If you were really so disgusted by this all and wanted instead to simply note the passing of a former Member of Congress, you could have just left it at that.

RightatNYU said:

The claims made by others were before Studds had died. They were comparing the Foley situation to the Studds situation and drawing parallels between the cases, which while being rather pointless, is a legitimate comparison.

You're taking the news of his death and using it as an opportunity to put forth platitudes about the implied involvement of the Republican party in the convenience of his death.

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No I am not. I merely pointed out a portion of the article in the New York Times that noted why his name had been recently discussed in the news. I didn't pull that issue out of nowhere.

And, yes, while I agree that it was a legitmate comparison, I thought it was rather pathetic that the repubs were far more obsessed with that issue than the current one going on right now.

aps said:

No, they are incapable of accepting responsibility. It's pathetic.

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I am SO sick of this hypocritcal BS from left wing extremists!

To prove you are wrong, I will remind you of 1 thing, which is all that needs to be brought up. That one thing is a self-imposed rule by the GOP that its members are required to resign if they should ever become INDICTED - not convicted, only indicted! This is the same rule by which the hypocritical Dems got rid of DeLay! It took filing BS Indictments 13 Times before finding a liberal judge who would sign off on it to complete the HIT on DeLay, but they got their man! (Remember the result of that Indictment?!) But the GOP does take responsibility for its actions. For a liberal to make such a statement, attempting to take some sort of BS 'high road' is UNBELIEVABLE! Especially in THIS thread (taking into consideration who this is and the history)!

6 years after Clinton's 8-year crime spree, we are all still plaqued by his scandals (Berger's investigation) and results of treason (a nuclear-armed NK and China now capable of reaching the U.S. with its nuclear weapons) and the Libs still can not bring themselves to admit that Clinton was Impeached for more than just adultery in the White House, and they sure as HE!! haven't gotten to a point where they can admit he did anything else wrong!

Pelosi tries to snare DeLay on going on a lobbyist-funded trip ONLY to get exposed as having taken more than any other Congressman or Senators on the Hill...then cooks the books, pays the money back, and re-files paperwork so she doesn't get in trouble - in other words, she bought and schmoozed her way out of the crime/violation! NOW Dirty Harry Reid gets busted violating rules/regs through his land deal! What does he demand he be allowed to do last Friday? The SAME thing Pelosi got to do - while declaring his innocence, he demands to be able to re-file the paperwok AFTER the fact without any punishment for the violation he has already committed!

The MORONIC BS CLAIM [No, they (the GOP) are incapable of accepting responsibility. It's pathetic.] ranks right up there with the STUPID, HYPOCRITICAL, BS POLITICAL :spin: comment made by another Lib nutjob: The GOP has a culture of corruption! :shock:

Well, sweetheart, when the GOP catches up to the number of Impeachments (3 - the ONLY 3 in U.S. History) of which the Democrats can boast, THEN you can spew that cr@p!

When the Democrats adopt a rule that THEY will resign if ever indicted, then you can spew that cr@p! (This will NEVER happen!! At least the GOP is trying to police itself!)

When a GOP President gets hauled into court for being a Sexual Predator, commits perjury and witness tampering, & attempts to strip a U.S. citizen of her constitutional right to a fAir trial, THEN you can spew that cr@p!

When the NEXT Lib child molesting freak (who actually had sex with a minor) actually steps down instead of keeping his job while his buddies finally condemn him for it, THEN you can spew that cr@p!

When the NEXT Lib leaves a woman to die in an overturned car in a water-filled ditch and tries to hide it and the Democratic Party not only becomes outraged but demands an inquiry and does something about it, THEN you can spew that CR@P!

Until then, spare us all the hypocritical BS party-line :spin: about how the Democratic party is any better let alone any different than the GOP!


I intended to come in and agree with RightatNYU by saying the man died and NO politics should be introduced/spun at a time like this. Once upon a time there was integrity, morality, and respect - at least during a funeral/time of mourning. Funny how Aps has no problem taking the opportunity to launch a salvo at the GOP!

This thread is about a man passing away, though. I have heard some GOP declare shock at libs saying good things about the man in the wake of his passing. THAT is what is called for in these situatuions - it is respectfull and should come as a shock to no one! It is the type of respect that both sides of the aisle once upon a time! Shame on the GOP - AND LIBS - who are taking this his death as an opportunity to launch political attacks against their adversaries!

First of all, easy, take it easy.

It would be one thing if I posted his death without any article. However, the article I posted discussed how his name had been recently brought up in Congress and why. Thus, my commentary was relevant to the article.

When I was addressing responsibility, I was talking about how everytime the repubs discussed the Foley situation, they would bring up Studds. So say I steal money from my employer. You come 10 years later and steal money from your (my former) employer. Instead of saying how embarrassed you are about what you have done, all you can say is, "aps stole from my employer too and blah blah blah blah." To me, that says you refuse to accept responsbility. That's what I meant in my post.

I don't know why you have gotten so out of shape over this. Relax and take a chill pill.

aps said:

So say I steal money from my employer. You come 10 years later and steal money from your (my former) employer. Instead of saying how embarrassed you are about what you have done, all you can say is, "aps stole from my employer too and blah blah blah blah." To me, that says you refuse to accept responsbility. That's what I meant in my post..

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You missed the part where the second guy left the company immediately in contrast to you staying on for another decade and continuing on to collect retirement and parties from your coworkers.

aps said:

When I was addressing responsibility, I was talking about how everytime the repubs discussed the Foley situation, they would bring up Studds. So say I steal money from my employer. You come 10 years later and steal money from your (my former) employer. Instead of saying how embarrassed you are about what you have done, all you can say is, "aps stole from my employer too and blah blah blah blah." To me, that says you refuse to accept responsbility. That's what I meant in my post.

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I agree with you wholeheartedly there, Aps! It is disgusting how ANYONE, irregardless of party, can point to someone else when faced with violations/problems in their own ranks! but I believe part of their response is because they are so SICK of the hypocritical BS from their rivals who do the same thing!

SOMEBODY has to step forward and swallow the bitter pill (criticism of the actions of one of their members) and do what is right! The moment something like the rumor of Foley's actions came up, especially considering the things that have gone on with both parties in the past regarding the page program, someone should have looked into it immediately! Instead, they ignored it. Once it came to light, everyone is acting shocked and calling for heads or either protecting their own butts!


Sorry I jumped both feet into your thread as I did. i am just SO sick of people klike Pelosi and Reid, for (latest) example, declaring the GOP are the only ones who are doing anything wrong only to get exposed as dirty then demanding they be llowed to clean up their mess quietly without getting them into trouble, allowing them later to declare to the world that they have NEVER been found guilty of/been punished for any wrong-doing!

Everyone needs to stop the BS, clean out their own parties, and let this guy die in peace without dragging in politics like this!

I can see his eulogy

"Gerry's one a$$hole we are sure gonna miss":mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I note the timing is ironic-I am surprised the tinfoil hat legions haven't made something of it:roll:

easyt65 said:

I agree with you wholeheartedly there, Aps! It is disgusting how ANYONE, irregardless of party, can point to someone else when faced with violations/problems in their own ranks! but I believe part of their response is because they are so SICK of the hypocritical BS from their rivals who do the same thing!

SOMEBODY has to step forward and swallow the bitter pill (criticism of the actions of one of their members) and do what is right! The moment something like the rumor of Foley's actions came up, especially considering the things that have gone on with both parties in the past regarding the page program, someone should have looked into it immediately! Instead, they ignored it. Once it came to light, everyone is acting shocked and calling for heads or either protecting their own butts!


Sorry I jumped both feet into your thread as I did. i am just SO sick of people klike Pelosi and Reid, for (latest) example, declaring the GOP are the only ones who are doing anything wrong only to get exposed as dirty then demanding they be llowed to clean up their mess quietly without getting them into trouble, allowing them later to declare to the world that they have NEVER been found guilty of/been punished for any wrong-doing!

Everyone needs to stop the BS, clean out their own parties, and let this guy die in peace without dragging in politics like this!

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No worries, my passionate friend. Reid and Pelosi both need to lose their positions. They are an embarrassment to democrats.

TurtleDude said:

I can see his eulogy

"Gerry's one a$$hole we are sure gonna miss"

I note the timing is ironic-I am surprised the tinfoil hat legions haven't made something of it:roll:

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:rofl

You're on a California roll Turtle Dude!

Captain America said:

:rofl

You're on a California roll Turtle Dude!

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Yeah, that post reminded me of this....

Top Ten Chapter Titles In Jim McGreevey's Book from David Letterman

10. "The Day I Got Caught Governing Myself"
9. "How To Pretend To Like Girls For 47 Years"
8. "From Schwarzenegger To Pataki: Governors I'd Like To Oil Up"
7. "Another Confession -- I Can't Resist Entenmann's Pound Cake"
6. "At First I Just Thought I Was Bipartisan"
5. "The New Jersey Budget Crisis -- What Would Judy Garland Do?"
4. "A Look At The Governor's Balls"
3. "Politicians Who Left A Bad Taste In My Mouth"
2. "How To Push Through A Bill -- Or A Steve Or A Larry..."
1. "Why I Don't Like Bush"

Cut it out! I just blew soda all over the keyboard for laughing so hard! :rofl

That was one of letterman's better lists

Did you ever see the police "museum" scene in one of the "Naked Gun" films

FOr wyatt earp they had a vest and a pair of sixshooters
for Elliot ness-a fedora and a snub nose revolver
For J Edgar, a bustier and a pistol

TurtleDude said:

That was one of letterman's better lists

Did you ever see the police "museum" scene in one of the "Naked Gun" films

FOr wyatt earp they had a vest and a pair of sixshooters
for Elliot ness-a fedora and a snub nose revolver
For J Edgar, a bustier and a pistol

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I often wondered if the Hoover vacuum cleaner was named after J. Edgar.....nevermind.:3oops:

Aps said, “It is a matter of fact that the repubs were using his name to deflect the acts of someone in their own party--like somehow that lessened what Foley did. It was appalling.”

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They didn’t do anything new that the Democrats haven’t in the past done themselves.

“No, they are incapable of accepting responsibility. It's pathetic.’

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And what did the Democrats do when Clinton was in hot water? Hell Democrats to this day, maintain that Clinton did nothing wrong.

Leiberman was the only Democrat who was critical of Clinton.

doughgirl said:

They didn’t do anything new that the Democrats haven’t in the past done themselves.

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Oh, so it's okay to do something as long as the other party did it first. That clears everything up for me. :roll:

And what did the Democrats do when Clinton was in hot water? Hell Democrats to this day, maintain that Clinton did nothing wrong.

Leiberman was the only Democrat who was critical of Clinton.

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As usual, let's bring up what the other party did to somehow lessen what the repubs did.

aps said:

As usual, let's bring up what the other party did to somehow lessen what the repubs did.

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Not to lessen it, but to compare it. No one is apologizing for what a republican did. Rather, it shows how the behavior exists on both sides. The comparison is valid.

“As usual, let's bring up what the other party did to somehow lessen what the repubs did.”

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It is wrong for both parties to hide stuff…but they do. Don’t you agree however that democrats do not as a group as in Clintons case……speak up and call it what it is.

Did Clinton do wrong? :rofl

And as CurrentAffairs said, “Not to lessen it, but to compare it. No one is apologizing for what a republican did. Rather, it shows how the behavior exists on both sides. The comparison is valid.”

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doughgirl said:

It is wrong for both parties to hide stuff…but they do. Don’t you agree however that democrats do not as a group as in Clintons case……speak up and call it what it is.

Did Clinton do wrong? :rofl

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Yes he did wrong. Both parties don't like to speak up and call someone within their own party what he/she is. Sometimes, it's called "loyalty." Maybe you don't know anything about that.

Your obsession with Clinton is rather pathetic. Get over it, and get into the current century.

akyron said:

There were quite a few comparison/contrasts made.
I did not personally see anyone deflecting anything.
Foley did rightly resign. Gerry not so rightly did not.

Foleys party required his resignation when his depradations came to light.
Gerrys party publicly applauded his actions for years.

It was a relatively easy C/C to consider.
RIP
:yawn:

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Applauded his actions??? They censured him. Considering he broke no laws, it was the strongest action that could be taken against him.