This weekend openly-gay GOP Presidential candidate Fred Karger sent out an e-mail to his followers, the bigwigs at FOX, the Washington Examiner, and the Iowa Republican party basically saying, “Yay! I met the minimum poll requirements to participate in this Friday’s Iowa debate.” But FOX is all like “Hahaha, NO.” Now lawyers are involved. And you thought televised debates were boring.
Up ’til now “Fred Who?” has not only been Karger’s self-effacing intro, but also how the mainstream media and other Republicans seem to respond to any mention of his candidacy. Karger hasn’t been in any televised debates, his positions get no media play, he didn’t even place on a recent list of GOP contenders.
According to Karger’s e-mail, he “garnered at least an average of one percent in five national polls based on most recent polling leading up to the registration day” of the debate, qualifying him to appear onstage next to all the other GOPs who wanna ban gay marriage. But according to the Sirius XM Out Q New Blog, FOX News’s Vice President of News Michael Clemente says that since three of the polls were online surveys, they don’t count. Clemente also says that one of the five polls has Karger receiving less than one-percent, rendering him ineligible.
But Karger is all like, “Those online polls were done by Zogby and Harris Interactive and should totes count.” He hasn’t responded about the “less than one-percent” claim. But he did accuse FOX of making up “subjective” criteria and then threatened to sic a pack of lawyers on their subjective asses.
How about we take this to the next level?
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We totally want Karger in the debate, especially if he did actually qualify. Not only is it the correct thing to do, but we’d love to see him light up his opponents on their abysmal gay rights records. Maybe he can start with Michele Bachmann and then move onto Mitt Romney and the rest of the clowns. We’d stay with a bottle of red and some queer pals to watch that elephant battle.
jcknck
i want him to be at this debate ohsobad.
Ms. Gentle
Karger was the first candidate to officially file as running. He’s got a lot of grassroots support for someone the media has all but completely ignored. Media coverage, or lack thereof, is why we have religious zealots getting coverage as credible candidates because of absurdly biased polling. Good for him fighting back.
Oh Dear (John From England)
Queerty,pres tell how great ar Karger’s voting rights? Say during the Reagan or Bush snr years? Please Queerty, we are waiting for this gay action hero/martyr/freedom fighter…
Sam Wheat
Karger, regardless of his polling status, is an ally of ours, not an enemy for belonging to the GOP. He’s making the effort to bridge the gap, so no matter how far behind he falls, we should be championing his cause.
@Oh Dear (John From England): Hey, other-side-of-the-pond guy: These are American politics we’re speaking of, not European. Your opinion of us is as valuable as that of a homeless drunk. Why taunt us with your uneducated rhetoric? Please—save it for your fellow socialists.
Robert in NYC
As a matter of interest, exactly who are the Log Cabiners and GOProuders supporting and voting for in 2012? By the way, Ron Paul supports DOMA! Although I’d like to see Karger get to debate the rabid gang of right wing psycho-talkers, lets face facts, Karger is going nowhere. I give him credit for trying though.
http://www.advocate.com//News/Daily_News/2011/03/07/Ron_Paul_Supports_DOMA/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+advocate%2FPolitics+%28Advocate.com+Politics%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
tjr101
It’s hard to support someone who stayed in the closet the majority of his life working for the likes of Ronald Reagan and helping to elect anti-gay politicians and pushing hateful right-wing/conservative policies to the detriment of Americans for his own personal gain. All in the name of the almighty $.
Even if by the stroke of several consecutive miracles should he become the nominee, I’ll never vote for someone like that!
Politically Incorrect Thug
@tjr101: Not that it necessarily needs pointing out, but you too wake up every day and go to work doing something you’d rather not be doing, all in the name of the “almighty dollar” that you so disdain. Unless of course you’re on the welfare dole, in which case I can understand your resentment of people who are actually accomplishing something with their lives by making an honest living.
Jonas Wisser
If you want a Republican candidate with a decent stance on marriage rights, check out ex-Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson. He argues that government should get out of the marriage business entirely (leaving that up to churches) and that any two consenting adults (regardless of gender and sexual identity and orientation) should be able to get the same civil union from the government.
You can see his other stances (which, aside from certain fiscal issues, are pretty damned solid) at http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/.
Sam Wheat
@Jonas Wisser: Right on, bro. Johnson needs more exposure, for sure.
tjr101
@Politically Incorrect Thug: “Not that it necessarily needs pointing out, but you too wake up every day and go to work doing something you’d rather not be doing, all in the name of the “almighty dollar” that you so disdain.”
This coming from a right-wing/Republican shill like yourself, too funny!
“Unless of course you’re on the welfare dole, in which case I can understand your resentment of people who are actually accomplishing something with their lives by making an honest living.”
Honest living? Who, Fred Karger? Funny!
For your ignorant information, my job doesn’t involve working for any organization that implements discriminatory policies on tax paying Americans that deserve equal rights. And I am open, out and proud at what I do, I help people and make good money at doing it. So no, I don’t have disdain for my job and just do it in the name of the almighty dollar. Stop projecting.
BTW, I know when I’m not wanted/liked and tend to avoid organizations such as these, a perception apparently you gay conservatives lack.
jon
He has my money now let him debate!!!! I like him and his views not just the gay stuff.
Jack E. Jett
Fred Karger did some amzing work uncovering the bigoted evil that exist among members and leaders of the Mormons. The more you read about this cult..the more fucked up you realize they are.
Luke
It might be fun to watch the other be made uncomfortable, but Kager getting blackballed from the Republican debate is a good reminder for voting gays. Ultimately, it’s better for Democrats that he be politically shunned. And that is the equivalent of being better for gay people–not to mention black people, latino/as, immigrants, workers, unions, seniors, the unemployed, and our economy/deficit.
Luke
“Karger, regardless of his polling status, is an ally of ours, not an enemy for belonging to the GOP.”
No he’s not. He’s not an ally if he supports gay peoples rights, but sells out the social safety nets they use to deal with discrimination in favor of a corporate agenda. People who face discrimination, who know people who were kicked out of their homes as teenagers, who know people who have been fired for being gay, who have less in retirement savings because they have faced unfair tax burdens, additional medical fees, additional legal fees, etc…these people should know the value of public education, federal student loan assistance, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, unemployment benefits. Gay Republicans are not gay allies, and I’m not wasting to much time worrying about whether Fred Kager is being treated fairly in a club he’s got no moral justification for belonging too. This isn’t DADT all over again, and he’s not some poor gay kid who need the military to get out of Alabama. That homo is on his own!
Riker
when was the last time a gay candidate of either party polled 1% or better in a Presidential race? Any gay Democrats ever do well in the polls? I think not. Karger isn’t a particularly strong contender, but he is making history just by being in the race and having the support of at least 1% of Iowa caucus-goers. If Palin doesn’t run, or Johnson drops out or something, Karger would easily end up with 5% or more. No openly gay man has ever had a significant showing in a Presidential primary, and it is telling that the first to do so is a Republican.
jeff4justice
If you like you some gay Republicans, check out this interview from SF Pride:
Why Some Gays Vote Republican
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4Tq4PpAU4s
If you’re over the 2 party system like I am and want to read a gay man’s perspective on leaving the 2 party system, check out:
Why do Americans keep voting for Republicans and Democrats no matter how bad the country gets?
http://www.progressive-independence.org/diary/906/why-do-americans-keep-voting-for-republicans-and-democrats-no-matter-how-bad-the-country-gets
Queer Supremacist
@Luke: So your rights are secondary to your Mussolini-lite agenda. Stay classy, girlfriend.
The only way Karger’s losing my vote is if he dies.
@tjr101: For your ignorant information, my job doesn’t involve working for any organization that implements discriminatory policies on tax paying Americans that deserve equal rights.
Burger King is pro-gay? Since when?