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05-10-2012, 03:33 PM | #1 | ||
erika
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: "the high up north"
Posts: 6,127
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Gay-Bashing Bully for Prez 2012!
http://feministing.com/2012/05/10/mi...nti-gay-bully/
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05-10-2012, 03:48 PM | #2 | |
We have to go back, Kate!
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 25,964
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On the one hand I think bullying really should be taken far more seriously, and greater recognition given to the longterm impact...
On the other hand, I do think it needs to be seen in the context of a 1965 school environment. Yes, he caved under pressure from the Xtian right and allowed his spokesperson to step down undefended. But he also hired the guy in the first place which suggests at least an openness to pragmatic acceptance. Don't get me wrong, I think it is quite likely that he still holds some horrible views about gay people. But they may well have softened along with the views of the world around him across several decades. And yes, sometimes being a bully as a young man can be seen as an early indicator of a particularly nasty mindset...but not necessarily. I don't think it's entirely fair to bring in schooldays behaviour from decades prior and apply it to the adult now.
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05-10-2012, 04:02 PM | #3 |
erika
Join Date: Apr 2006
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The fact that he hasn't yet made any public statement other than writing it off as a "prank" speaks volumes, though.
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05-10-2012, 04:04 PM | #4 | |
We have to go back, Kate!
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 25,964
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Oh i agree. As I say, I think he probably does still hold some unpleasant views. Though, I suspect it has more to do with what his base will think and be prepared to support.
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05-10-2012, 04:54 PM | #5 | |
I think this line's mostly filler.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DC
Posts: 13,575
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I can't get past this:
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Due to the multiple sources, and Mitt's non-denial denial and nonpology, I don't have much dought that the story is accurate, but if there's anything that would kindle doubt, it's the sheer over-the-top Hollywood-high-school-movie-bulliness of that line.
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05-10-2012, 06:59 PM | #6 |
Person who doesn't update the user title
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Please don't make me want to move to canada again. It's too cold.
Anyone but the this most fuked up Canidate in 2012 |
05-10-2012, 07:40 PM | #7 |
I hear them call the tide
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Perpetual Chaos
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Not really. Politicians rarely comment on stuff like this one way or the other. Whatever he says is unlikely to improve the situation and will keep the topic alive longer and detract from what he wants to be heard saying, so saying nothing is the way to go.
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05-10-2012, 09:05 PM | #8 |
Trolls hate me
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Mitt says he does not remember doing this, a lot of old people can't remember what they did 47 years ago. He probably does not know what escalade he left his dog strapped to, the one in Nantucket or the one at the Park City ski resort.
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05-10-2012, 09:25 PM | #9 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
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Most likely the only thing that's changed is Mr Romney's desire to keep those sorts of views to himself these days.
He seems to me to be the same sort of person now as he reportedly was then.
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05-11-2012, 07:44 AM | #10 |
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 3,338
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Muckraking at it's finest.
If people held high school behavior against ME now, I would never have a job and probably should just be shot. There are many things to dislike about Romney, but this isn't really one of them.
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05-11-2012, 07:47 AM | #11 | |
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Of course not.
UNTIL YOU LOOK AT IT IN THE CONTEXT of what he purports to stand for today. Certainly not gay rights. From the article, one more time: Quote:
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05-11-2012, 07:48 AM | #12 |
™
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 27,717
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People do really mean stuff sometimes. When I think back to my childhood, I participated in teasing at least a few times. But I wasn't in high school, I was in grade school. And I didn't pin anyone down while they cried and assault them like he did.
The article in the Post today was saying that his campaign is pointing to his fun loving antics in his youth to make him seem less wooden. I'd be willing to take his bullying in the context of a childhood in a different time, except that his own campaign is apparently trying to paint him as a fun loving guy back then. If they open the door to his behaviour back then as some indication of who he is today, then I think it's fair to look at the whole picture from back then. Still, I don't think he is a borderline sociopath the way Bush was. I think he's just a guy who did some messed up stuff when he was younger. |
05-11-2012, 07:55 AM | #13 |
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Oh, no way he's the socio Bush was.
But I think it needs looked at, as you say, and they opened the door. Then again, serial killers often have histories of abusing critters in their youth. We're not all like "I don't think his chopping the legs off the family dog and eating its heart when he was 14 has any relation to the fact that he killed, dismembered, mutilated 27 people. It was just child's play!" Yeah, I know there's a word for that sort of debate tactic but it was just too good to not put to 'paper.' We've all done and said stupid stuff, for sure. I don't have any recollection of pinning anyone down or assaulting anyone though, for funsies...snotty little rich boy throwing his shit around. Such a cliche, right out of the movies, as HM said. THAT speaks volumes to me. He would have benefited from a Captains Courageous experience. Last edited by infinite monkey; 05-11-2012 at 08:01 AM. |
05-11-2012, 09:53 AM | #14 |
Franklin Pierce
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Minnesota
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I don't think you can judge too much of Romney's current character from this. It was absolutely horrible and possibly shows sociopathetic tendencies (he does love firing people) but it also happened 47 years ago when he was in high school. Supposedly this was an isolated event as well.
I really doubt Romney holds the exact same views as he did 47 years ago but is just more controlled. It is more likely he was just a cocky prick as a high schooler.
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05-11-2012, 09:59 AM | #15 |
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Wow.
Really? You all really think ASSAULTING someone is OK because he was just a cocky little teenager? Get real people. Why do people make excuses for this kind of behavior? I guess I can only assume that MOST of us held people down, cut their hair as they struggled and cried. You know, just growin' up stuff. Jebus. OK. Imma go decapitate some cats. Later. |
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