Well, that didn’t take very long. Just a few days after everyone freaked out that the owner of a local Palm Springs theater had been donating to super-anti-gay Republicans, she’s done a complete about-face.
“I have decided that I will no longer contribute to any political entity that does not embrace equal rights for all Americans,” Rozene Supple blogged today.
Okay!
In her post, Supple comes off as a bit of a Dorothy Zbornak: Firm, principled, opinionated, stubborn perhaps to a fault, but always with the best of intentions.
She explains that as the owner of a local media empire, she favors the sort of de-regulation that Republicans tend to espouse. But, she adds, “I am not a fan of either the tea party or the religious right, and that I have been struggling for quite a while with the fact that my efforts to support fiscal responsibility in government have been clouded by these other issues.”
So it’s now safe to go back to your Camelot Theater, gays! Everybody wins! Well, everybody except Michelle Bachman, who’ll be getting a little bit less cash from Palm Springs.
Supple also points out past donations that she and her husband have made: the Desert AIDS Project, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and Equality California. And while that information comes off sounding like “some of my best friends are homosexuals,” she donated that money because she wanted to, not because she was forced to or out of a business calculation.
Also, before we let her off the hook entirely, it’s probably worth pointing out that Michelle Bachman and Allen West are not simply advocates for “small government and less regulation.” They are waaaaaaay out of the mainstream. It’s delightful that Supple is finally turning her back on them, but good grief, why did it take this long? And why wasn’t she supporting one of the many pro-deregulation Democrats?
So, what have we leaned other than the fact that Supple is not the most consistent political thinker around? Once in a while — and we do mean a very long, long while — good dialogue can actually end in everyone feeling better about everything. (Except for the homophobes.)
ncman
It doesn’t ring true to me. Didn’t the first post report that she had donated to the Prop 8 campaign? That has nothing to do with fiscal issues. That is directly anti-gay hate and nothing more.
Alan down in Florida
We learned that she never expected anyone in our community to find out that she was donating large sums of money to our enemies and that she thought she could get away with it without any consequences.
Fitz
We have a huge opportunity to reach out to people who have supported the republicans for their financial stance, and been turned off by their obsession with gays and abortions and brown people, in general. We should pounce on this with open arms, not come off as superior arrogant pricks.
ncman
@Fitz: that would be fine, except her explanation doesn’t match up with her actions. She characterizes her past donations with this:
“I am not a fan of either the tea party or the religious right, and that I have been struggling for quite a while with the fact that my efforts to support fiscal responsibility in government have been clouded by these other issues.”
How does this explain her donation in support of Prop 8?
Sounds more like she is making any excuse she can think of to try to save her business.
frenchjr25
Truthfully I think she has realized that her past donations didn’t reflect her actual beliefs. Having her in the Republican Party is probably in our best interest. The more Republican’s that support LGBT rights the better.
FStratford
One less donor to the likes of Michelle Bachman – a win.
One supporter of Prop 8 converted – a win
Shes in her 80s… people her age are tough to convert… so its not an apolgy – a loss
Overall, I wont blame her too much. Even my 80 year old grandma sometimes does and says the wrong things, until we kids tell her off.
A supporter of gays and a (former) supporter of our nemesis fully backing off – a win.
Whether its sincere or not, this time I think I would give her a second chance. After all, she did “evolve”.
Let’s watch her next steps, because she is on a short leash.
petensfo
She is very well known and highly regarded in Palm Springs. The apology came quickly because she realized it was a big f-up. I’m one of the people still troubled by the Prop 8 donation, which I believe was made so that the donor was disguised initially. That’s a hard one to overcome.
Without question, these folks have done a lot within the community and destroyed their legacy in an instant. Too bad (no sarcasm). They are ridiculously wealthy so it really won’t matter, but I don’t see myself rushing back to the Camelot any time soon.
Cam
“In her post, Supple comes off as a bit of a Dorothy Zbornak: Firm, principled, opinionated, stubborn perhaps to a fault, but always with the best of intentions.
________________________
1. If she had the best intentions, then why did she try to hide her donations.
2. Why did she donate to Prop 8 in Ca? That law wasn’t about business regulations.
tdx3fan
@petensfo: She is incredibly wealthy, so it really will not hurt her if we decide to boycott her business. What it will hurt is the actors and actresses and production staff and anyone else other than her that is tied to the theater. This is the major problem with boycotts, the people you are attempting to send the message to very rarely are affected by the boycott.
Also, its Palm Springs… the city has absolutely no life and is way too overly dominated by gays. There is absolutely nothing interesting about the entire place, and as a tourist destination the only reason one would go there is if they are so insecure with their own sexuality that they need to be surrounded by pro-gay mediocrity in order to feel like they fit in.
AuntieChrist
I love the way people complain about big government and regulations when it helps other people and impacts their pocket book. Then scream bloody murder if the feds aren’t there to bail them out. Chris Christie was all over Obama until the hurricane hit. Supple is just another fat cat wanting more cream. I am so sick of rich republicans and conservative gays whining about poor hard working people who can’t make ends meet even though they have to work two jobs and still need assistance.
petensfo
@tdx3fan: I didn’t advocate a boycott. I simply stated that even with what I believe to be a sincere apology, it would be difficult for me to return to that theatre.
As for your other remarks, well Pete N SFO moved a couple of years ago, to Palm Springs actually… and I, and most people I know, absolutely love it here.
Gurrrl, sounds like you got some issues. 😉
Stefano
@AutieChrist : “Supple is just another fat cat wanting more cream. I am so sick of rich republicans and conservative gays whining about poor hard working people who can’t make ends meet even though they have to work two jobs and still need assistance.” Me too i’m sick of it !