So, remember when Bill Maher told Larry King that he would be outing promiment Republicans on his Friday night show (including Ken Mehlman, whose mention later got axed by CNN’s censors)?
Well, it seems Maher got cold feet. Not only did he not follow through, he didn’t even mention the Larry King episode.
Of course, people are all about finding a conspiracy in all of this. Some insist the Republican National Committee – from which Mehlman just announced his retirement – pressured Maher to keep a lid on it. 247 Gay reports:
Whether CNN removed the reference and has gone to battle to eliminate all copies of the uncensored video is a result of pressure from the RNC or simply from fear of being sued for slander is in hot debate – with no statement from CNN being issued in regard to their actions.
…
[Many] fans to wonder if [Maher] too had fallen sway to pressure from the RNC or possibly from higher-ups at HBO not to make good on his word. No statement by Maher about the incident has been forthcoming.
Considering that CNN’s papa, Ted Turner, donated over $300K to the Demmies this year, it seems the Cable News Network simply wasn’t in the mood to get sued for slander. We can’t blame them, though. We almost got sued for slander – it’s a real inconvenience.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
As for Bill Maher – well, he’s never been one to bow to political controversy. Thus, we doubt he held his tongue to please the RNC, nor do we think he ran from a possible lawsuit. His bosses at HBO, however, may be a different story. We’ve been looking for a strong link between HBO officials and the Republican party, but have yet to find any evidence at all. So, we’re assuming it’s a legal issue, rather than some vast political conspiracy.
If any of you kiddies can dig up some dirt, however, we’ll be happy to take a look.
Oh, please, we know you’re not doing anything better at work. We also know that you used to pretend to be Nancy Drew.
Hephaestion
Go to http://www.blogactive.com to see a ton of info on gay Republicans. Michael Rogers of Blogactive has compiled all kinds of info there.
Rogers even passed out a letter recently at a Christian Prayer Vigil outing Ken Mehlman, Senator Larry Craig, Congressman David Dreier (CA), Congressman James McCrery (LA), Republican National Committee heads Dan Gurley, Jay Timmons & Jay Bannon, a bunch of House & Senate senior staffers, Bush staffers Israel Hernandez and Jeff Berkowitz, and others.
If CNN & HBO won’t let this be discussed, it is up to each of us to make sure the subject of hypocrisy amongst GOP leaders is Topic Number One of discussion.
Jordy
I worked for HBO and had contact with several high level executives, I never met or spoke to anyone that I thought was even close to being conservative or a Republican. I can only guess that the GOP came down hard on Time Warner execs who came down hard on HBO.
nuflux
Ted Turner doesn’t own CNN anymore.
Dominic P. Lucarelli
……um, gee, maybe the fact that HBO AND CNN ARE OWNED BY THE SAME CORPORATION MAY HAVE A TEENSY BIT TO DO WITH IT? Time/Warner is one of the most right-leaning entities in this country. Look at the spin CNN tried to give the GOP before the election. Candy Crowley practically gave GWB and the REPUBS BLOWJOBS ON NATIONAL TV because of her biased anti-Democrat reports. If hypocritical gay Republicans are going to be (deservedly) outed, then don’t depend on CNN or HBO to do it; look to the blogs, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
Chris L
I don’t see what’s hypocritical about it unless these specific men said something derogatory about gay men. Even not supporting gay marriage isn’t necessarily hypocrtical. I’m a straight man and I don’t think goverment should be involved in marriage at all.
There are anti-choice Democrats. Are those people hypocritical, or are they looking past single issues to a larger perspective.
If these men have come out against gay people in general, then they should be criticized. Otherwise, I don’t get it.
chgo921
Dick Parsons, Time Warner’s CEO, is an active Republican. In fact, Bush wanted him to be in his cabinet, but was turned down.
Lord Snatch
There is no way South Carolina Senator (and Clinton inquisitor) Lindsey Graham is not a ‘mo. How come he doesn’t make anyone’s list?
Bash Full
Correct, Ted Turner no longer “owns” CNN and has no active role in the management of Time Warner. But since he is the single largest TWX shareholder and the largest land owner in the nation, his opinion likely carries some weight within the company.
Bitsygirl
While Bash Full is technically correct re:Ted Turner & TW stock, no one should confuse that stock ownership with having any say-so over what goes on with any of TW’s media outlets – TV, mags, nada. Also the original reference to Turner, that he gave 300,000 to Dems, is a moot point. Compared to “major donors”, and compared to Turner’s wealth, 300,000 is chump change. I work for an elected official and we get almost that much for state candidate’s campaigns all the time – and from people worth about 1/10th of a Ted Turner. Also, for what it’s worth, my boss told me about David Drier being gay and living with his (male) chief of staff/lover at least 4 years ago, saying it’s common knowledge. I wonder how come the average Evangelical doesn’t seem to know!