Thompson offers another apology
Tommy Thompson, former governor of WI and Republican presidential hopeful, has yet again used discrimatory language and offended a minority group. First it was Jewish people when he claimed that making money was part of an "old jewish tradition." Three weeks later he announced in a Republican debate that it should be up to employers to decide if they want to fire someone for being gay. The first insult he blamed on not thinking clearly and the second he blamed on his hearing. While Thompson is partially deaf in one ear when I read the transcript and how the question was worded I had a hard time believing that hearing caused the problem. I don't think Thompson was a forerunner for the nomination anyway but these remarks are definetely not going to help his campaign.
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I agree. Personally I am very disappointing at how Tommy is representing Wisconsin. I did not think any of his answers in the debate were anything extraordinary or even unique. He was good for WI and although I do not believe he has a chance in you know where to get the nomination, I would still like him to try to do a little better of a job representing WI during this election.
I have been fired for geing gay! In 2000 I was fired from running an orphanage dairy farm in SC (never mind my impeccable work record) when they found out. I never did anything except be me, but I guess that is too much for some people in this world.
It seems to me that Thompson voted against the Fair Employment Law of 1982 primarily to save face with conservative constituents. Because the 1980s were a time of far more overt hostility towards the LGBT community than what exists today, Thompson chose to be a closet Republican supporter by merely not putting up a lobbying battle against it. After the median preference of state conservatives shifted towards greater tolerance of LGBT people as Thompson was governor, he felt safe enough to sign into law bills prohibiting discrimination in areas besides employment such as education and criminal acts. An additional shield he had as governor against conservative criticisms of his support for LGBTs was that to veto such bills would essentially be a waste of time given the broad support by the state legislature. If Thompson were in the state assembly now, he probably would not feel the need to disguise his support.
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