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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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Why do politicians not realise that an "3 year affair" (alleged by the News of the World) with a male prostitute will tend to go against them in a party leadership bid?
And how do you have an affair with a prostitute? I thought you paid money in a good honest transaction.
Come to that, why is it so important that the prostitute was male?
And why do affairs actually matter when you are a politician?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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It does get funny, though. He was the Liberal Democrats' spokesman about...... Prostitution!
At least he had the inside track!
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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... if he wanted a gay affair, he should have kept his head below the political parapet. But - perhaps because he was close to the issue! - his expressed views on prostitution were eminently sensible.
I guess I'll never really understand why so many people attach so much more importance to a persons sexual proclivities than to his ability to do his job - and in all the moral jabbering no-one has alleged that he was anything other than an excellent representative of the interests of his constituency.
Btw, this is not a sexist post - 'he' and 'his' should where the context permits be regarded as including 'she' and 'her'!
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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I know next to nothing about this affair (double entendre intended) but that is not going to prevent me from adding my two pennyworth anyway  ). Are there not here shades of Jeremy Thorpe? But that was in the 60's. Today whatever this politician did or did not do should be a matter between him and his wife. Alone. (I thought exactly the same about the Clinton affair as well.)
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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cossie wrote:
> I guess I'll never really understand why so many people attach so much more importance to a persons sexual proclivities than to his ability to do his job - and in all the moral jabbering no-one has alleged that he was anything other than an excellent representative of the interests of his constituency.
The answer is banal, I'm afraid. "They just do"
He may or may not be a superb MP. The thing is he has done dick dabbling when he ought not to have, and the "moral majority" (often known as "The Daily Mail") does not approve. He shoudl have had the wit to realise that it would get out, thus he is probably unsuitable for the job.
He is not left wing enough to be allowed an indiscretion. We will, yet again "Be buggered if we vote Liberal"
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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It actually strikes me as odd that now two "Liberal" parties, one here andone in Australia, see sexuality as important.
The degree is different. One is anti gay, it seems, the other is anti.. well anti anyone it does not want as leader!
But how "liberal" both appear to be
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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I think it's a bit naughty to try to make a political point here; in recent years MPs of all parties have come under fire for sexual indiscretions, and in several cases those involved had a refreshingly pragmatic political position. Maybe the tendency to be both sexually indiscreet and politically pragmatic makes them simply too human to survive in public life?
I'm not sure that JFR is justified in drawing too close a parallel between Mark Oaten and Jeremy Thorpe, though they were both Liberals with gay leanings. There's no suggestion that Mark Oaten has tried to have anyone shot: he seems to have been quite happy with what he had!
As Timmy says, the United Kingdom has a real problem with the 'moral majority' - though in this case represented by the 'News of the World' rather than the 'Daily Mail'. I may be dim, but I completely fail to understand why it should be 'in the public interest' to dig up dirt about those who appear to be doing a damn' good job of protecting the public interest (yes, JFR, this includes Bill Clinton!). I accept entirely the argument that those who accept financial inducement in return for political favours are unfit to be in government, but identifying the correlation between a predeliction for a particular form of consensual sex between adults and fitness for public office is a conundrum which defeats me.
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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Cossie, where does Mrs Oaten fit in your (our) view? And what about the Oaten children? Is someone who "cheats" on his wife to be trusted politically? If he were single, even divorced, or if he had his wife's consent and understanding I would wholehaeartedly agree with you; but a public figure with a wife and children? Discretion is the better part of politics, is it not? I do not think that Mr Oaten behaved in a manner which brings credit (or is a role model) for people like you and me who are both gay and married. Having said that, I repeat that I do not think that all this was anyone's business but the Oatens. My comments are comments that derive from the fact that the matter was made public, and is not a judgement on whether it should have been made public. I am pleased to claim that never in my life have I read the News of the World.
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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... but that's between him and her. I may be monogamous, but then I've never been tempted to be otherwise. I can, however, conceive the possibility of being unable to admit my feelings. I don't necessarily condone it, but I guess it happens. My point is simply thet it doesn't impinge upon Mark's ability to do the job he was elected to do.
Incidentally, what are you doing up at this hour of the morning!!!!
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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cossie wrote:
Incidentally, what are you doing up at this hour of the morning!!!!
Hmm. I'm usually up at this hour. It's almost 9.40 in the morning here! )
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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It may have been political but it was not party political. The point is that any aspiring leader of any political party has to recognise that his or her dirty laundry becomes public property.
They really should have the common sense to realise this. Lack of such realisation means they must be unfit for the post becaue their judgement is flawed.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Where is 'here', JFR?
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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... JFR has surprised me on two points
Firstly, I had no idea it was so late here!
Secondly, although I assume from past postings that JFR is in Israel or thereabouts, I hadn't realised that Israel (or indeed any other outpost of civilisation) was situated to the East of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Believe me, I've been down the River Tyne, and I certainly saw nothing resembling civilisation!
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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"Here" is where it is 9.40 am regularly once, and only once, every 24 hours  .
BTW - Cossie is right. ;-D
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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