Reader John Jensen alerted us to the fact that the Democrats have launched a whispering campaign against Bush-Cheney campaign manager and incoming Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman, alleging that he is a homosexual. Apparently this has been going on for a while, but far off our radar screen. The "evidence" that Mehlman is gay apparently consists of the fact that he is 38 years old and unmarried.

One Bill Berkowitz of "Working for Change" indulges in the usual sleaze:

The chair of Bush's reelection team and newly appointed head of the RNC isn't talking about his sexual orientation, but lots of other folks are

While the GOP's latest wunderkind, Ken Mehlman, is having the time of his life addressing the Republican Governor's conference, sitting down with reporters and editors of several daily newspapers and basking in the afterglow of President Bush's November 2nd victory, the Internet is abuzz with rumors, innuendo, chitchat, and plain old Page-Six-type gossip about his sexual orientation.

While Mehlman has been more than willing -- both before and after the election -- to talk specifically about campaign-related issues, he has made his personal life off limits. By refusing to answer direct questions from reporters about his sexual orientation, he has left open the possibility that he is gay.

Likewise, the New York Blade speculates venomously about Mehlman's personal life:

The sexual orientation of Mehlman, who is 38 and unmarried, has long been the subject of speculation, and he refused to answer earlier this year when asked directly by this publication whether he or other top Bush campaign staffers are gay.

The announcement raises mixed emotions for me. I have known Ken since we were both law students and he worked for me at the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, a libertarian/conservative law review. As young Washington attorneys in the early ‘90s, we even joined with others to create an organization called Square One that advocated limited government.

There are plenty of reasons for Ken’s success. He is über-bright, extremely personable, and as dedicated as he is ambitious. Tapped to head the majority political party before he even turns 40, Ken has obviously mastered the art of politics, learning at the feet of the master, his mentor Karl Rove.

But the real disappointment for me comes at the path Ken has taken to find such success. I have not spoken to Ken in a decade, and I have no personal knowledge about his sexual orientation, but whether or not he is gay, he has ridden to success on the coattails of a candidate who betrayed the core principles that we both stood for as young political activists.

Got that? Mehlman has committed the ultimate sin--he isn't a liberal. So it's fair game to smear him in any way possible. Just when you thought the Democrats couldn't get any lower, they surprise you once again.

Posted by John at 10:37 PM  |    |  

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» Just When I Thought It Was Safe To Come Out Again from ninme
I managed to keep my pure soul untarnished by avoiding Alexander the Great, and finally felt safe enough to venture out of my gay-free home, when I hear that Ken Mehlmann might be gay. So much for being a Republican.... [Read More]

Tracked on November 29, 2004 11:58 PM

» Just When I Thought It Was Safe To Come Out Again from ninme
I managed to keep my pure soul untarnished by avoiding Alexander the Great, and finally felt safe enough to venture out of my gay-free home, when I hear that Ken Mehlmann might be gay. So much for being a Republican.... [Read More]

Tracked on November 29, 2004 11:58 PM

» Democrats Smearing Ken Mehlman from Powerpundit
So now the Democrats are launching a smear campaign against Bush-Cheney campaign manager Ken Mehlman, as Hindrocket over at Powerline alerts us:Reader John Jensen alerted us to the fact that the Democrats have launched a whispering campaign against Bus... [Read More]

Tracked on November 30, 2004 01:26 AM

» I still don't get it... from Kin's Kouch
Speculation has been bouncing around that Ken Mehlman is mmmm a "friend of Dorothy". One would assume that the liberal elites would see this as a good thing. I mean not only women and minorities taking leadership positions in the... [Read More]

Tracked on November 30, 2004 02:50 AM

» Smear campaign? from esoterically.net
The gentleman who writes for Power Line weblog believes that we Democrats are conducting a "smear campaign" against incoming Republican... [Read More]

Tracked on November 30, 2004 05:35 AM

» Smear campaign? from esoterically.net
The gentleman who writes for Power Line weblog believes that we Democrats are conducting a "smear campaign" against incoming Republican... [Read More]

Tracked on November 30, 2004 05:37 AM

» Not that there's anything wrong with that - Vicious and Intolerant Democrats, Part XI from The view from MY right
If there is nothing wrong with being gay, why are the Democrats smearing Ken Mehlman, the incoming RNC Chairman, with such accusations? Is it OK as long as you are a liberal? Is this hate speech? I'm confused. It seems to me that if this shady rumor... [Read More]

Tracked on November 30, 2004 11:57 AM

» Not that there's anything wrong with that - Vicious and Intolerant Democrats, Part XI from The view from MY right
If there is nothing wrong with being gay, why are the Democrats smearing Ken Mehlman, the incoming RNC Chairman, with such accusations? Is it OK as long as you are a liberal? Is this hate speech? I'm confused. It seems to me that if this shady rumor... [Read More]

Tracked on November 30, 2004 11:58 AM

» the guy is gay. let's move on people. from milowent
the guy is gay. let's move on people. [Read More]

Tracked on November 30, 2004 02:10 PM

» Homophobia Among the 'Progressives' from Decision '08
The intolerance of the Radical Left comes into even sharper focus with their smear campaign against new RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman. You see, because, as Hindrocket at Power Line points out, Mehlman is 38, single, and likes to keep his personal life to ... [Read More]

Tracked on November 30, 2004 10:53 PM

» Of Skeeze, Sleeze and Hypocrisy from Knowledge Is Power: SondraK.com
a study in slinging it 'til something sticks Ok -- Evil Someone is trying to start a whisper campaign against Guy. What does he come up with as the bestest, most nastiest rumor to spread? Is Guy really bad at his job? Naah -- everyone can see that he's... [Read More]

Tracked on December 6, 2004 09:00 PM

» Of Skeeze, Sleeze and Hypocrisy from e-Claire
a study in slinging it 'til something sticks Ok -- Evil Someone is trying to start a whisper campaign against Guy. What does he come up with as the bestest, most nastiest rumor to spread? Is Guy really bad at... [Read More]

Tracked on December 6, 2004 09:01 PM

» Ken Mehlman's Textbook Win from Rosenblog
Great profile of new RNC Chairman and Bush campaign general Ken Mehlman in the current issue of The Economist. One thing that jumps out regards tactics and the resulting outcome. Kerry's bunch outsourced their GOTV work, while Bush's A-team, led... [Read More]

Tracked on December 20, 2004 10:29 AM

» Ken Mehlman's Textbook Win from Rosenblog
Great profile of new RNC Chairman and Bush campaign general Ken Mehlman in the current issue of The Economist. One thing that jumps out regards tactics and the resulting outcome. Kerry's bunch outsourced their GOTV work, while Bush's campaign team... [Read More]

Tracked on December 20, 2004 10:33 AM

» Two Parties Going... from Irish Pennants
...In opposite directions. Howard Dean was over the top in his remarks to Massachussetts Democrats: Tom DeLay, ''ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence," he said. Rep. Barney Frank, no right winger he, called... [Read More]

Tracked on May 16, 2005 02:37 PM