THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW CONTINUED IT'S ASSAULT on Spokane Mayor Jim West in this lengthy piece on Sunday. Interestingly enough, it contains only a vague passing reference to the molestation charges that are really the vehicle for this entire story, but instead focuses almost solely on the "closeted" aspect of his life. It uses the word rumor four times, and other similar references an additional five times.
It never once uses any public quotes from West demonstrating animosity towards gays, or any other evidence that he is personally "anti-gay." The only quote on the subject of gay rights by West refers to his reticence to create a "special class," to which he adds:
“I don’t think you should discriminate against anybody. I have never been outspoken against gays, and I’ve never discriminated against gays.”
Instead the article attacks him on his legislative record, which is characterized as "anti-gay" despite the fact that the legislative issues are highly partisan. In other words, anti-gay is simply shameless editorializing by the paper.
Contributing mightily to the sheer length of this piece is every leftist in Washington State, conveniently there to hammer away at West, and astoundingly, rationalize his vicious outing:
“For a politician to be (privately) gay and to be so anti-gay is an abuse of power,” Reguindin said. “The gay community is going through a lot of persecution now, especially from the Republicans and the Christian right,” he added...
“...It really bothers me,” Ishino said. “I don’t necessarily believe in the outing of closeted individuals. But when they are so vocal against gays and lesbians, I am torn. It’s really hurting a lot of people, especially gay youth, who are struggling with so many issues,” he said, citing the high suicide rate among gay teens.
...The gay community is conflicted over whether someone should be “outed” because of the potentially grave consequences, Lynch said. However, “when a gay individual is in a position of influence and uses that influence to harm other members of the gay community, then outing that person is justified...”
This next is my favorite, as though West's accusers were doing him a favor:
Closeted gay conservatives tend to suffer from self-hatred, Ishino said.
The charge getting West the most ridicule, legislation he supported in 1990 which would have made under-age sex a misdemeanor, has absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality.
Given the length of this piece and the sheer amount of inches given to his record, one can't help but note that West appears to be getting "outed" because of his conservative attitudes to gay rights. Provided that the very sketchy charges of molestation continue to fade from the public scene, that is all it will ever be.
Ironically, author Karen Dorn Steele notes a telling sentence posted by West in his chats.
“Two consenting adults must have the ability to protect their privacy or else the damn sex Nazis will be telling everyone what to do.”
Early in the article, Dorn Steele mischaracterized that quote to mean people who would "regulate private sexual behavior." Again, based on the actual quote used later in the story, she is editorializing.
It's too bad really, if she stopped and thought about it, she might have realized that West was talking about her, and the Spokesman-Review.
1 comment:
Freed,
I'm more of a "to each his own" kind of guy. Don't ask me what goes on in my bedroom and I promise not to ask what goes on in yours.
Besides, making sodomy illegal is one thing. Enforcing it...quite another.
How would you like to be a sodomy cop?
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