Illinois DUers, there is a rumor that Judy has a lot in common with . . .

[undercoverduer]

. . .Big Jim Thompson, and I have heard it from multiple sources. Given that it is only a rumor I will leave it at that and ask that no one speculate beyond that. But for those who know what I'm talking about is it an issue or not? For me it does not matter, however I think it would cost her support from a number of Republicans, which also begs the question, if true how the hell did it not come up during the GOP primary?

[mopinko]

1. repubs don't like thompson?

since when?

[DanCa]

2. What does she have in common with Thompson?

Seriously he's a little before my time.

[billyf65]

3. Well,

if the issue you so cryptically describe is what I think it is (and I've no reason to believe it isn't), the first thing is that I don't know how many people think of it with Thompson.

Oberweis implied it in a statement described by Rich Miller on his blog and in his syndicated column as "Class. Real class."

[wndycty]

4. The only difference is when Thompson was Gov. . .

. . .there was no blogosphere. I wonder if the Thompson rumor would have gotten more play had there been an active internet back then.

[kevsand]

9. Everybody knew the rumor when Thompson was gov,

even without the internet. I was at a Midwest Academy conference in the mid-eighties at the Hyatt-Regency O'Hare when Thompson was gov. The repubs were having their state convention there the same weekend, so we crashed a bunch of their parties, pretending to be repubs from another downstate county. Every repub we talked to knew about the rumor.

I expect that a lot of the spec about Judy comes from her constant support of GLBT issues. I don't really think it will be a factor in the campaign, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Illinois Family Network (or whatever it's called) throws some fuel on the fire. They hate her guts, and are just itching to throw their fundie support behind some uber-conservative third party candidate.

[Inland]

12. I certainly heard that Big Jim played for both teams

and I heard it from someone who was talking about things he heard when he was at Northwestern Law at the time Thompson was doing a visiting professor gig. To the credit of Illinoisans of all stripes, nobody cared enough to discuss it much. But times have changed. Conservatives have bought into the gay fifth column argument. You know, just becoming governor to get closer to your kids.

[terrya]

20. I heard that rumor myself about Thompson.

Personally, I didn't put a lot of credence in it.

And I've heard NOTHING about Judy Baar Topinka in the same context.

Ah, I see...Topinka is good on GLBT issues (and for a Republican, she is), so she must be "one of them". Same old shit...and I'll bet I know where this is coming from (Peter LaBarbera's group, for instance)

[mopinko]

5. oh, come on, spill the beans

save me the trouble of digging this up, will ya? i love gossip. does this have anything to do with the old rumor that big jim is gay, or what?

[turtle_girl72]

6. I think that's the it.

That would be my guess.

[billyf65]

7. Think so

I'm pretty sure that's the one undercover is referring to.

I guess it doesn't really matter to most on the left. Neither is a big idealogue, so, even if true, there isn't the sort of rank hypocrisy that comes when some right-wing nut is outed.

[undercoverduer]

8. I'm not saying however Jim McGreevy might have something to say about it.

:shrug:

[davsand]

11. Mo, I'll spill the beans...

I have heard rumors that not only was "Big Jim" gay, but also that he was into um... that one sexual activity that a state has recently tried to make a death penalty thing..



I'm not stating it is true, I am repeating a rumor.

You KNOW I'd never gossip or anything...

:evilgrin:


Laura

[mopinko]

13. it wouldn't surprise me.

not much does when it comes to powerful men. really, we will be screwed as a culture until we accept 2 things-

1. sex is vital to who and what we are. so important that we evolved out of something as valuable as a fur coat, so that we could have skin to skin contact with each other.

2. equal representation of women in politics is about much, much more than a fair sharing of the beans. it's about maintaining a balance that every corner of the planet suffers without. every closet, every dinner table, every battlefield. everyone, everything.

any cabal of powerful men should be smashed on principle.

[Rich Hunt]

17. well, I'll tell you what I heard

Since I lived in Lake View for a long time. The rumor was that he'd been seen around Boys Town. Not that it means anything. I mean, if he was trying to hide something, he didn't do a good job of it.

As for Judy being like Big Jim, I think that would be more a ref to his politics (moderate Republican) than anything else. I like her, but it's not gonna convince me to change my support for the governor, of course.

[Xeric]

10. Is Topinka too pink-a for the repukes?

The freaks at the Illinois Family Institute are not supporting Judy:

"A Letter from the Executive Director:
It would be awfully hard for me to cast a ballot for Judy Baar Topinka--even if she wins the Republican nomination for governor. There are many conservatives in Illinois like me. I know. I've talked to a bunch of pro-family friends who are in the same quandary.For me it comes down to this: life is too short to support a Republican who will ensure the liberal domination of Illinois' oddball, un-Reaganesque GOP for years to come; who is not pro-life; and who goes out of her way to celebrate perversion every year. That's what Topinka does by happily joining the annual sin ritual known as the Chicago "Gay Pride" parade."


Of course, this is written by Pete LaBarbera, the guy who spends a lot of time "researching" male homosexuality (but not lesbians so much) by heading down to the Pride Parade every year and has a strange fascination with s&m.


Is Judy a Daughter of Sapho? I don't know. Somehow I doubt it, but she wouldn't be the first closet case in the republican party. Just how many Jim Wests are out there? Who knows.
I'd still rather vote for the present gov. who pushed through the adding of sexual orientation to the Illinois Human RIghts Act and an order demanding that pharmacists provide contraception than a wishy washy repub beholden to a party that uses gay rights as a wedge issue every chance they get in order to cover up their corruption and lies.

[Rich Hunt]

18. a big 'NO' on that one

No, there's no way in hell she's a lesbian, she's just supportive of the LGBT community, big deal - these are Illinois Republicans we're talking about. I don't know why this is suddenly an issue again - the conservative Republicans have been squawking about the Illinois moderates since the days of Big Jim.

Topinka a lesbian - that's so immature. As if only gays and lesbians would support GLBT rights.

If you know anything about 'closet case' Republicans, you know that they tend to be the ones who 'flame' from the right the most and make a big production about how conservative and Christian they are. I mean, the right assumes that anyone who is gay-friendly must be gay, and I don't think anyone knows this better than Republican moderates.

[mopinko]

14. for the record

i have never known, nor even heard of, any woman who "distinguishes herself from a doormat" who didn't get whispered about in this way. back in the day, i remember having to walk squeamish new feminists through the drill- if you don't stick up for lesbians, they will always be able to call you one, and sink you. the correct response it, yeah, and what if i am?
after they heard it themselves a few times, they got it. unfortunately, divide and conquer is still the best game in town, sigh.

[TedsGarage]

15. Straight Problem

I think her straight problem is bigger than any scurrilously suggested "gay problem." Remember, she put her boyfriend on the payroll when she was a state senator.

[undercoverduer]

16. Can you say relationship of convenience. . .

. . .the story that I'm hearing is that he was not really her boyfriend he was just pretending to be.

[orleans]

19. it's funny you brought this up. i saw her on the local news recently

and wasn't listening--tv was just on. and i glanced up and watched for a couple seconds and thought: "i bet she's ..." you know.

never occurred to me before--never thought about it. until i saw her the other day. i don't remember what she was doing--it was a clip of her talking to people somewhere (not a speech--more of a social thing) and i don't know what made me think that--but i did. funny...

and jim? i remember friends talking about this in the 70's--they saw him at the bars a couple times--it seemed to be common knowledge for some of the boys i knew.

on edit: and, for the record, my impression did not come about because she supports the LGBT community--i didn't realize she did until i was reading this thread

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

21. Even if true, I doubt it will lose her any votes not already lost to her

"liberal" reputation.

It's what Judy shares in common with another former GOP governor that's going to make trouble for her.