If any Repukes use THE LATE Gerry Studds as a talking point tomorrow...

[Greeby]

They deserve to be sent to the hottest point in hell :grr:

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-10-14T185946Z_01_N14271062_RTRUKOC_0_US-STUDDS.xml

BOSTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds, a Massachusetts Democrat who was censured in 1983 for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old congressional intern, died on Saturday at Boston Medical Center, an official said.

Christian Kiriakos, the hospital's central administrator, said Studds, 69, died Saturday morning, but did not provide details on the cause of his death.

Studds was the first member of the U.S. Congress to acknowledge he was gay.

When he was censured by the U.S. House of Representatives in 1983 for his relationship with the male page, Studds stood defiantly on the floor with his back turned to his fellow lawmakers as the charges against him were read.-snip

[VeggieTart]

1. You think his death will stop them?

Come on, they'll be trashing Ted Kennedy and Bill Clinton for years after they die. There's actually a parody of the Republicans trying to impeach Clinton in 50 or so years, long after he's dead, with Newt Gingrich's son "Earl" leading the charge.

[bumblebee1]

6. No. The Repubs are warming up their dancing shoes.

They're getting ready to dance all over Studds' grave.

[Divernan]

2. No, he stood facing the speaker as the censure was read by the speaker.

To do this, he necessarily was not facing the other members.

From Wikipedia/Gerry Studds'bio:
During the course of the House Ethics Committee's investigation, Studds publicly acknowledged his homosexuality, a disclosure that, according to a Washington Post article, "apparently was not news to many of his constituents." Studds stated in an address to the House, "It is not a simple task for any of us to meet adequately the obligations of either public or private life, let alone both, but these challenges are made substantially more complex when one is, as I am, both an elected public official and gay." He acknowledged that it had been inappropriate to engage in a relationship with a subordinate, and said his actions represented "a very serious error in judgment."<2>

The House voted to censure Studds, on July 20, 1983, by a vote of 420-3. While Studds has often been reported as having "turned his back on the House" as the House read its censure motion aloud,<3> contemporary reports made it clear that in contrast to Crane, who faced the House as the motion for his censure was read, Studds faced the Speaker who was actually reading the motion, with his back to the other members.<4> Also in contrast to Crane, who left the chamber after his censure, Studds rejoined the other members of the House after his censure was read.<4> In addition to the censure, the Democratic leadership stripped Studds of his chairmanship of the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee. Studds was later appointed chair of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Studds received two standing ovations from supporters in his home district at his first town meeting following his congressional censure.<5>

[Jane Austin]

3. Well, if they do, he's now in a position to

HAUNT their sorry asses the rest of their lives.

Ha!

[MADem]

4. They'd have a tough time beating up on an unexpected death like this

Former U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds, the first openly gay person elected to Congress, died early Saturday at Boston Medical Center, several days after he collapsed while walking his dog, his husband said. He was 69.

Studds fell unconscious Oct. 3 because of what doctors later determined was a blood clot in his lung, Dean Hara said.

Studds regained consciousness, remained in the hospital, and seemed to be improving. He was scheduled to be transferred to a rehabilitation center, but his condition deteriorated Friday and he died at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Hara said.

Hara, who married Studds shortly after gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004, said Studds was a pioneer who gave courage to gay people everywhere by winning re-election after publicly acknowledging his homosexuality. http://www.mwcsun.com/feeds/apcontent/apstories/apstorysection/D8KOFNEO0.xml.txt/resources_apstoryview

[Erika]

5. Gerry had sex with a "consenting" 17 year old.

He was elected for another 12 terms until he chose to retire.