Let's be clear here: Compared to Bush, Obama is a conservative.—Gay writer and blogger Andrew Sullivan ( pictured ) .
'No conservative who has not gone nuclear at the Bush administration's Medicare bill, or its doubling of federal education spending, or its adding $32 trillion to unfunded liabilities, or its long record of nanny-state initiatives, or its trampling of states rights in education, drug laws, marriage laws, and on and on ... has much of a leg to stand on when complaining—now—about big government liberalism. In many ways, it's much worse coming from the Republicans, because Bush and his cronies have legitimized left-liberalism in ways that even Clinton could not ( and did not ) . [ L ] et's be clear here: Compared to Bush, Obama is a conservative. He is promising nothing like the expansion of government or debt that Bush pushed through in eight years. Nothing like. That doesn't mean I like the idea of even bigger government. It does mean that a little historical context helps.' — Gay writer Andrew Sullivan on his blog, Jan. 29.
'Mitt Romney's decision to withdraw from the presidential race was a smart one. After Super Tuesday, it became clear that Mitt Romney had no chance to win the GOP nomination. Governor Romney ran an aggressive campaign, spending tens of millions of dollars to hide his record and to distort the record of his opponents. In the end, voters did not find this version of Mitt Romney to be credible. Too many voters learned the truth about his record, and that record didn't match his new found conservative rhetoric.' — Patrick Sammon, president of the national gay group Log Cabin Republicans, in a Feb. 7 statement.
'It's a great day when we can look at a field of [ Democratic presidential ] candidates and determine that we are comfortable with all of them on gay rights and move on to other issues.' — Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese to The New York Times, Jan. 28.
'Among those people who use the politics of fear, there's typically an element of American society that's put forward as a wedge issue, and in this election it's illegal immigrants. It doesn't seem to be us [ gays ] .' — Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese to the Associated Press, Jan. 25.
'You would need a magnifying glass to see any real or substantive differences between the three candidates [ on gay issues ] .' — Alan Van Capelle, executive director of New York's Empire State Pride Agenda, discussing Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards with a New York Times reporter, Jan. 28. Edwards later dropped out of the race.
'Well, I hope you said how open-minded I am.' — President George W. Bush to gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., after Bush's Jan. 28 State of the Union address. Bush had walked by Frank before the address and told Frank to say hello to whomever Frank was talking to on his cell phone. After the address, Frank informed Bush that Frank had been talking to his boyfriend, and Bush responded with the comment, the Boston Globe reported.
' [ Sen. Larry ] Craig's peculiar hand and foot movements while in a bathroom stall don't constitute a crime. Even if he intended a silent sexual proposition, no law exists nor should one that criminalizes a request for noncommercial sex between adults. So the cops relied on a disorderly conduct charge, which outlaws any conduct that could 'arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others.' I've probably written columns that violate that law. I know I've gotten e-mail that does.' — Columnist Ann Woolner, Bloomberg.com, Jan. 25.
'Most of my friends are gay. I love them. They're fun. We go out all the time. Gay men have the best taste. The best makeup—and they're hot.' — Paris Hilton when asked by the gay newspaper Dallas Voice on Jan. 25, 'Do you identify with the gay community—as a member of it?'
'I've been in a relationship for the last six years and I'm happy. Her name is Jamie Price.' — Singer k.d. lang to the Chicago gay newspaper Windy City Times, Jan. 23.
' [ T ] he worst thing [ about being famous ] is that I can't meet guys on Manhunt anymore. Well, I guess I can. No. The worst thing I guess is there's a certain preciousness to privacy, and just having that anonymity to go to the grocery store and look a mess, and just go get your paper on a Sunday morning. But that's a small price to pay for all the great things, and that's what my job is now. With every job there are pros and cons, but I'm happy to take them. I usually get a better table at a restaurant.' — Queer Eye's Carson Kressley to AfterElton.com, Jan. 30.
—Assistance: Bill Kelley
