Are we going to get our first out gay Senator?

[dsc]

In Wisconsin, Herb Kohl has decided to retire from the Senate leaving an open seat. In the Democratic Primary, if Feingold runs he leads 70 to 12 over Baldwin who is his next nearest competition. But Feingold may well not want to run. If he doesn't. Tammy Baldwin, an out lesbian House member, is in the lead 30 to 17. Baldwin is far less known than Feingold is so it is sensible that she would lose big to him but her lead is over two other Congressmen. I would love to see Feingold redeemed, but if doesn't wish to run, it would be great to see a lesbian in the Senate.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/27/979944/-WI-Sen:-Feingold,-Thompson-lead-primaries?via=blog_1

[Alexander]

1. Feingold may run for Governor against Scott Walker.

It would be nice to see both Baldwin and Feingold in statewide office, whether they serve as Senator and Governor or Governor and Senator, respectively.

[robinlynne]

4. That would rock!!! I love feingold and Walker needs to go home. BUT I

do not trust elections in Wisconsin right about now.....

[rurallib]

2. Had a chance to meet her about a month ago

She was appearing with our congress critter, Dave Loebsack.
Hey, she is good!

[Bluebear]

3. Too soon!!!1

:sarcasm:

:)

[dsc]

5. honestly I would be a little worried

but when Neal ran here the polling was accurate even as it was depressing. If hers is accurate it would be great.

[Chan790]

6. Oh c'mon...

if you go and sit and wait and act like a good boy, the Democratic Party will get around to it no sooner then possible. Maybe 2100.

(If "fringe" constituencies waited patiently for Democrats to represent them, Republicans would do it first.)

I'm tired of the cowardice masquerading as pragmatism that is the modus operandi of the Democratic leadership. If the primary voters hadn't made the front-running pair in 2008 a woman and a black man very very early-on, the leadership would have pushed for another middle-aged white man as the nominee out of "pragmatism".

[notesdev]

7. and here I thought this was going to be a Lindsey Graham thread

[AllyCat]

8. Love them both. I've had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Baldwin and she is a great woman

I'd really like to see Feingold run for Governor, but if he thinks the Senate is best, so be it.

[Recursion]

9. I'd respect Lindsey Graham a lot more if he just came out...

...and I already respect him about as much as I can respect a Republican.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Why do you beleive that he is gay?

[Recursion]

14. Because there have been rumors about it on the hill for more than a decade

Yes, I know it gets said about all single male politicians, and yes it's probably fed by his affect, but there are specific claims of his cruising specific places.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. Has anyone actually come forward to substantiate these claims?

[Recursion]

21. No, hence the "rumor" status

People say they saw him going to cruising spots. A blogger says he has pictures of a "houseguest" leaving the next morning. Juvenile crap like that.

[FLAprogressive]

15. Not only the rumors, but have you heard the man talk?

Maybe being gay I have a better gaydar than everyone else but I can tell one when I hear one.

[Recursion]

16. Eh... some of that affect is just tidewater SC

Though as they say, "Charleston has very big closets"

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Yes, because gay men all talk that way. Congrats on perpetuating a stereotype

[Recursion]

20. Well, the relevant point is that not all men who talk like that are gay

There was an interesting study at U Toronto a few years ago. After listening to men speak, listeners were able to guess their sexual orientation correctly 70% of the time, but leaned towards type II errors significantly (ie, many more gay men "talked straight" than straight men "talked gay"). So, no, not all gay men talk like that, nor are all men who talk like that gay, but speech patterns are not uncorrelated with sexual orientation.

[TheMightyFavog]

10. Baldwin would do well in Dane County and other college towns....

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but the very sad truth is that she would get creamed out here in the rural areas. I know, it sounds ass-backwards, but it's the way a LOT of people are out here.

[Jane Austin]

11. I thought you were talking about Texas! n/t

[Scuba]

12. Many have wondered about Herb. Tammy would be great....

Or maybe this....

Russ Feingold takes Herb's seat...

Jon Erpenbach is elected Governor...

Tammy stays in the House...

Rob Zerban replaces Paul Ryan...

[undeterred]

18. I thought Herb was out.