BUSH AIDE KEN MEHLMAN'S LIFE IN THE CLOSET - IF IT WAS AN OPEN SECRET WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR HIM TO COME OUT?

How Ken Mehlman's 'open secret' stayed hidden (The Upshot)
Ken Mehlman says he only recently concluded that he's Gay. The media seems to have reached that conclusion years ago. The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz is one of several Journalists to quickly follow up on Mehlman's announcement Wednesday by saying it's been an "open secret" in Washington for years. "This is no longer really a media climate that tolerates open secrets ," wrote Politico's Ben Smith shortly after the News broke. But just because everyone "knows" something doesn't mean they...

Ken Mehlman's Other Closet
Ken's Other Closet (photo: nolaclutterbusters) In his coming out interview , Ken Mehlman says he spent 43 years “getting comfortable with this part of his life.” That’s something that everyone does — Gay, straight, or anywhere in between — and for most people, it’s full of confusion, delight, doubt, bewilderment, fear and joy. On a personal level, Mehlman will no doubt live with less fear and more joy now that he’s come out — but the...

WaPo's Capehart Lauds Ken Mehlman By Comparing Him to a Recovered Segregationist
Former Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman's declaration that he is Homosexual caused Gay-left Washington Post editorialist Jonathan Capehart to embrace Mehlman...and compare him to the most hardline segregationist. Once again, in Sunday's newspaper, Racism and opposition to the sin of Homosexuality were shamelessly equated on Mehlman's "road to redemption" -- but the Sunday edit left out Capehart's praise for ex-conservative David Brock: Story Continues Below Ad...

Mehlman's announcement was no big deal -- and that's a big deal
The reaction to former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlmans announcement that he is Gay has been resoundingly muted. Most Republicans and Conservatives seem neither surprised nor scandalized. The few criticisms that have emerged seem half-hearted and strained. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council sees confirmation that the Republican establishment is ambivalent on conservative Social Issues, which contributed to the GOPs electoral failures in 2006 and 2008. Anyone who believes...

Why Mehlman Matters, Ctd
by Chris Bodenner Dan Savage pulls no punches : Mehlman would like us to believe that he didn't know he was gay back then. And, I'm sorry, but that doesn't pass the smell-my-finger test. Mehlman rose quickly through the ranks of the GOP, wound up on top, cashed the checks, made the contacts, did real and lasting harm to other gays and Lesbians, and Mehlman knew damn well what he was and what he was doing. However, he agrees with John Aravosis : Ken Mehlman now wants to use...

Ken Mehlman's journey
Give Ken Mehlman a break! There, I said it. Many Gays and Lesbians are flipped out enraged over the former Republican National Committee chairmans coming out of the closet. And I totally understand why. As the 2004 Reelection Campaign Manager for President George W. Bush, Mehlman was a key part of a machine that denigrated the families and relationships of Gay men and Lesbians across the country. He was there when the GOP used the Same-Sex Marriage issue to whip up the Conservative Base and...

Ken Mehlman gay? Online conservatives don't seem to care much
Ken Mehlman is gay? Most right-leaning political junkies probably responded by asking, ‘Who is Ken Mehlman?’ or ‘Yeah, but who cares?’ Conservative Bloggers either ignored the topic or pointed out that Conservatives aren’t necessarily surprised or outraged by the news. “I had absolutely no idea Ken Mehlman was gay, or existed,” wrote the Daily Caller’s Jim Treacher in response to the New York Times piece that marveled at the “muted...

In Covering Ken Mehlman Story, MSNBC Anchor Acknowledges He Is Gay (Updated)
Former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman’s coming out provided the media with an opportunity to review the GOP’s record on Gay Rights and explore the Mehlman’s role in crafting President Bush’s 2004 re-election strategy. On MSNBC, Mehlman’s revelation engendered an even more honest discussion when, during a segment with GOProud chairman Christopher Barron , daytime anchor Thomas Roberts — who is an Openly Gay anchor — discussed his orientation on air: ...

When Sexuality and the Job Clash
If former RNC chair Ken Mehlman's being gay was an "open secret" in Washington, then why did it take so long to come out? Howard Selekman on his own story of spending his life in the closet—and why.

How we should be treating Ken Mehlman
official to eventually come out as gay, plain and simple. Top GOP officials have invited him into their lives, made emotional connections with him, and generally built a solid network with a guy who at one point was the linchpin of the Rove-run GOP strategy. Like him or not, he is an incredible asset for LGBTQ rights, and he's ready to step up and do his part to undo the mess he created in the 2000-2008 Bush era. Even with all the bad blood I think we can agree that Mehlman has unique...

Weekly Reader: North Korea, Ken Mehlman, & the Bearded Lady
Like what you read? Subscribe to The Bilerico Project by Email. Want others to read it too? Use the buttons and links here to share this entry with others. ( Move your cursor over a button or link to learn more about it. ) Leave a comment

Ken Mehlman is no hero
Former Republican National CommitteeChairman, Ken Mehlman , has come out of the closet. He announced he's Gay. These announcements are, by now, becoming mundane, especially when it concerns someone who appeared a bit feminine anyway. Call it gaydar, but this guy coming out, to me, is no surprise.The additional fact that he presided over a political party which was especially Anti-gay rightsmakes him pretty much a coward. This announcement would've carried more weight if he made his claim at...

Fox News Covered Coming Out Of Former RNC Chair Ken Mehlman (Just Barely)
Earlier this week, former RNC chair Ken Mehlman made a bit of News when he acknowledged being Gay . This was covered rather extensively by the Cable News outlets, save one notable exception - Fox News only covered the story once, during the end of Bret Baier ’s show Friday evening. However, this contradicts reports in Think Progress and Politico , that incorrectly claimed that Fox News has completely ignored the story. Writing for Think Progress’ “Wonk...

Ken Mehlman, Do Something Useful: Speak Truth to Power.
( - promoted by Pam Spaulding ) I'm not privy to what Ken Mehlman did or did not do secretly while working for the Republican Party and the White House.  Nor am I privy to his soul.  And I'm not privy to hearts of those he caused agony, suffering, depression and anxiety to, or to those were were fired or beaten up partly as a result of the Campaigns he waged.  And I have no idea what, if anything, he could possibly do for those hearts to forgive him. Still, Mr. Mehlman ...

NOPE: Ken Mehlman gay? Online conservatives don't seem to care much....
NOPE: Ken Mehlman gay? Online Conservatives dont seem to care much.

I had absolutely no idea Ken Mehlman was gay, or existed
And neither did most other people, as the New York Times ‘ Kate Zernike (of “Jason Mattera’s Brooklyn accent makes him a Racist” infamy ) has discovered : …when Ken Mehlman, who ran President George W. Bushs re-election campaign in 2004 and then became the partys chairman, said in an interview in The Atlantic this week that he is Gay and is working to support a campaign for Same-Sex Marriage, it was met with little controversy. Even the commentary accusing...

Video: Maher “outs” Ken Mehlman on Larry King
True to classy form , the sage of Wilshire Boulevard regales Larry with a bit of impromptu slander and a promise of more to come on his show this Friday. Why? Because of the hypocrisy, of course. And because it’s his job to make sure you know about it. Newsbusters notes that this bit was conveniently edited out of the midnight rerun.

Jill Lawrence on MSNBC: Tuesday Primaries, John Boehner, Ken Mehlman
Politics Daily Senior Correspondent Jill Lawrence appeared on MSNBC's "Daily Rundown" with host Chuck Todd and Dan Balz of The Washington Post to discuss this week's primaries, John Boehner's audition for House Speaker, and Ken Mehlman's decision to announce he is gay. Click play below to watch the video:

Ken Mehlman: Out
That Mehlman was Gay, though he says he "arrived at this conclusion about his identity fairly recently," was long an open secret, as he served as a high-ranking official for the institutionally Anti-gay Republican Party, during the years when the party and its executive in the White House supported and pursued a Constitutional Amendment to ban Same-Sex Marriage. Mehlman says he regrets not coming out sooner. He agreed to answer a reporter's questions, he said, because, now in private life, he...

Bill Maher Tells Larry King That RNC Chair Ken Mehlman is Gay
As NewsBuster Brad Wilmouth reported , comedian Bill Maher was on with CNNs Larry King Wednesday night saying some rather outrageous things. Beyond his derogatory comments about President Bush, Maher told King: A lot of the chiefs of staff, the people who really run the underpinnings of the Republican Party, are gay. When King pressed Maher for names, Maher said, Ken Mehlman ( video here ). King then questioned Mahers sincerity: I never heard that. I'm walking around...

Declining Ken Mehlman’s Coming Out Party
For Anti-gay Republicans , this represents a huge ruh-roh. Brian Brown, president of a National Organization for Marriage, told a Advocate that Mehlman was abdicating core Republican beliefs in his support for AFERs legal effort in challenging Prop. 8. But its never been about a leaders. Its always been about a people, based on an overwhelming majority of Republican voters — 85, 86 percent — who support marriage as a union between a man & a woman, he said....

Conservative Bloggers Blasé About Mehlman's Coming Out?
Via Glenn , I chance upon Charlie Spiering’s great round-up of Conservative reaction to Ken Mehlman’s coming out : Ken Mehlman is gay? Most right-leaning political junkies probably responded by asking, Who is Ken Mehlman? or Yeah, but who cares? Conservative Bloggers either ignored the topic or pointed out that Conservatives arent necessarily surprised or outraged by the news. I had absolutely no idea Ken Mehlman was gay, or existed, wrote the Daily...

Lawyerly Lairs: Ken Mehlman Moves to Chelsea
Akin Gump partner Ken Mehlman — a 1991 graduate of Harvard Law School, just like Obama, but more known for his work in politics, also like Obama — has purchased a fabulous new Manhattan apartment. Mehlman, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, is settling in Chelsea, which has raised some

In Covering Ken Mehlman Story, MSNBC Anchor Acknowledges He Is Gay (Updated)
Former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman’s coming out provided the media with an opportunity to review the GOP’s record on Gay Rights and explore the Mehlman’s role in crafting President Bush’s 2004 re-election strategy. On MSNBC, Mehlman’s revelation engendered an even more honest discussion when, during a segment with GOProud chairman Christopher Barron , daytime anchor Thomas Roberts — who is an Openly Gay anchor — discussed his orientation on air: ...

Ken Mehlman Gay Revelation: GOP Shift on Same Sex Marriage?
Six years ago Ken Mehlman was running the re-election campaign of a president who sought a Constitutional Amendment to ban Same-Sex Marriage. '); } Now he's the nation's most prominent Openly Gay Republican and the latest member of the George W. Bush Administration to support extending Marriage Rights to Gays and Lesbians. Mehlman has been working as a Fundraiser and Strategist for the American Foundation for Equal Rights -- a group that supports Same-Sex Marriage and is suing to...