Ohio pastor wants Dem candidate to ‘prove’ he’s not gay

August 1, 2006

The smears in Ohio’s gubernatorial race have been coming fast and furious lately, and it was only a matter of time before they officially became silly. I think it’s safe to say we reached that point over the weekend.

It started last week when Gary Lankford, hired by the Ohio GOP in July as its “social conservative coordinator,” sent an email to an undisclosed group of GOP supporters — with instructions to forward it to others — accusing Dem candidate Ted Strickland and his wife of being gay. Lankford was eventually fired and the state GOP distanced itself from the email.

Now, however, Lankford’s old boss, the Rev. Russell Johnson, is following up with some innuendo of his own. (via TPM Café)

…Johnson perpetuated the rumor by suggesting that the Stricklands file a lawsuit and go to court to prove they are heterosexuals. If Lankford’s claim is untrue, Johnson said, “It’s slanderous and they’ve got a case. I’m withholding judgment until the facts are in.” (emphasis added)

I’m not quite sure what Rev. Johnson has in mind, but how, exactly, would the Stricklands prove their sexual orientation to Johnson’s satisfaction?

Let the mudslinging begin! Here is a link to some ammunition…

http://citizenpain.blogspot.com/

  • I think Johnson should go to court to prove he’s not a pedophile
    All snark aside, this is beyond silly. This is batshit crazy.

  • Sure let’s expect them to take the always difficult position proving a negative.

    Rev. Johnson, have you ever had a congregation?
    Isn’t it true you had extensive contact with the youth of said congregation?Rev. Johnson are you a pedophile?
    Rev. Johnson would you care to go to court and try to prove that negative?

  • Reading this story, I’m reminded of an old Seinfeld episode, in which a female reporter mistakingly assumes that Jerry and George are a gay couple. George tries to prove that he isn’t gay by offering to sleep with her. I wouldn’t suggest that Ted Strickland’s wife make the same offer to Rev. Johnson, but it would be amusing.

  • I love this story. It proves once and for all that Indiana is NOT the all-time winner in the “Political Nitwit Derby.” Most of the time, maybe, but not all-time.

  • I wouldn’t suggest that Ted Strickland’s wife make the same offer to Rev. Johnson, but it would be amusing.

    I came in here with a similar thought — that Ted Strickland seduce Mrs. Johnson.

    This somehow reminds me of the following erudite conversation:
    Redneck: With that long hair, are you a man or a woman?
    Male hippie: Why don’t you suck my dick and find out?

  • There is only one question to ask:

    Is Strickland involved in community theater?

    😉

    Seriously, though, politics in this country have really, really become pathetic. I realize it’s been that way in one form or another since … well, forever, but it’s really gotten to the point of absurdity.

    The sad part is that most Americans don’t seem to care a whole lot. They just figure that’s the way things are and do nothing to stop it.

    But will the time ever come when we do? What will it take?

  • I think Strickland should hold a press conference and say the following:

    “If Gary Lankford wants to know if I am gay all he has to do is ask his Momma and his sister.”

    Oh, snap!

  • The smears in Ohio’s gubernatorial race. . .

    The unfortunate thing about this situation is that calling someone a homosexual is only a smear from the perspective of small-minded people who perceive it as being a smear. For example, back when I was in college, my roommate was accused by a tough guy of being gay, for something he’d said. My roommate’s response: “What if I am?” I realize our current social and political climate doesn’t make such deflections very effective, but I think they’re the only really appropriate response. Should I have to go to court to prove that I’m not left-handed?

  • How do you prove you’re a heterosexual? Put them in a room with a Playboy magazine and a Playgirl magazine, and see which one they take to the bathroom?

  • Some good background reading about the governor’s race in Ohio is to be had in the July 31, 2006 issue of the New Yorker, ‘Holy Toledo, Ohio presents a test for the religious right’, p. 26, by Frances FitzGerald

  • A suggestion for dealing with the wee-minded Herr Johnson, who views allegations of homosexuality as a political tool. (My profound apologies, in advance, to that portion of the human race which does not include the likes of Lankford and Johnson…which, the last time I checked, was pretty much the vast majority of all life-forms above the level of roadkill….)

    ### A possible Rumor has it, you might know, that Gary Lankford and his old boss, the Rev. Russell Johnson, have maybe been seen dancing with each other in highly provacative and sexually suggestive ways in various nightclubs allegedly known to be possibly frequented by homosexuals who, in the light of day, pretend to be heterosexual—and by homosexuals who do not pretend to be heterosexual at all. Gary, according to the scuttlebutt, was a rather straight-n-righteous dude until he was seduced by the Rev. Johnson—known by some in the greater Akron/Clevelend/Youngstown metropolitan region as “Rough-n-Ready Rusty” (You really do not want to know what his nicknames are in Columbus, Toledo, Dayton, Mansfield, Cincy, Wauseon, or Zanesville—it’s really just too yucky to talk about—and my kids are in the next room). The possible word on the street could be that both men have been simultaneously banned from numerous Boy Scout camps, several public gymnasiums, and a great many public parks, elementary schools, playgrounds, childcare centers, and the children’s wards of most of Ohio’s hospitals.###

    Or is that just “too much over the top?”

  • Dave, there’s no need to bother with the court case. I suspect that Reverend Johnson is a pedophile. I have absolutely no evidence for this, but I suspect it anyway. You may now correctly refer to him as “the suspected pedophile Reverend Johnson”.

    (Then if a dozen or so people would refer to this, even if only to call me an idiot, that should suffice for tomorrow’s newspapers to carry an article headlined, “SCANDAL? – Widepread internet discussion about Reverend Johnson’s sexual proclivities.” Why leave all the fun to the Republicans?)

  • You know, we keep hearing about the “heartland.” It’s up there in the clouds on sacred pedestal of virtue and us coast huggers are some sort of godless deviants. Well, there are some decent folks in middle America and there are some flamming A’s. Sorta like here. But with the ignorant, idiotic crap going on in Kansas and Ohio and elsewhere, let’s stop pretending it’s some modern-day Eden. It isn’t. End of rant.

  • beep,

    With all the meth addicts and pregnant teeens here, I laugh everytime I hear about the “heartland”.

  • beep52–
    As a KC resident (which includes both KS and MO), let me just say that your post is 100% correct.

    Although, the cost of living is a lot better … 🙂

  • Speak for yourself, Manchu, I’m not addicted. I can quit anytime.

    beep-none of our “A’s” are flaming, you can’t get decent TexMex here, and you gotta order 11 on a scale of 1-10 at the India Palace to get a decent burn…

    Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.

  • How does one prove in court that they’re not gay? Does Rev. Johnson expect the Stricklands to have sex in public or something?

    Yes, this is silly. But when your candidate is 20 points down in the race and your whole state party is headed for a drubbing at the polls thanks to the sitting governor’s wholescale corruption and other scandals, silly innuendoes like this are all you have left.

  • As a lifelong Ohioan, there’s one thing I’ve come to learn about politics here in the Buckeye state: When the Republicans smell their own fear, the first thing they do is go to the well and pull out what used to be polarizing issues.
    This whole thing smacks of so much desperation that it’s just downright comical. There is absolutely no chance that any Republican (save for maybe Betty Montgomery) will take home a win in November. And so, like a cornered cat trying to climb a brick wall, they resort to the hope that their uber-religious base will go against Strickland if he’s “one of them gays.”
    But there’s more to it with Strickland, when looking at Ohio Republicans’ fears. It’s the fact that he’s a solid candidate and a good Democrat, PLUS the fact that his background as a minister is a viable threat to Republicans claim of being “the party of religion.” GOP leaders see the preacher’s collar slowly re-forming around the donkeys’ neck, and I know it scares the hell out of them that people may realize you can — GASP! — be a Democrat AND religious, all at the same time.

  • Guys, they’re doing it again. Of course Strickland “should” beat Blackwell, given the issues, given the corruption, given Blackwell’s scariness. On the other hand, Kerry ‘should’ have beaten Bush, easily.

    But the Republicans have mastered a trick, and the Democrats fall for it every time. They know they will lose on the issues — America simply doesn’t agree with them on most of their positions. They know they will lose if the decision is made on the grounds of ‘which candidate do you like and trust and believe in more.’ So they manage to turn the election into a referendum on the Democrat, make him look bad, and keep every one of their speeches focused on ‘why you shouldn’t vote for the Democrat.

    Hopefully Strickland will anticipate this and defuse it. “No, despite the rumors, I’m not gay. If I were, I’d admit it because its nothing to be ashamed of, but as it happens, I’m not. If you want to vote on that basis, go ahead, and don’t waste your time listening to what my opponent and I have to say about the issues, about Ohio, and our thoughts about the future of the state. Because that’ds what I will be discussing from here on, and I only want to talk to the people who think that’s what the choice for Governor is about.”

    Because this is more important than most of the races, because he is running against Ken Blackwell, and Blackwell is a very scary person.

    Its too late and too hot to go into it now. But read Blackwell’s “Uncommon Sense”
    http://www.yuricareport.com/Strategies_Propaganda/UncommonSenseParallelColumns.html

    Read #7:
    “7. ACCOUNTABILITY: High-character people scrutinize themselves and welcome the scrutiny of others. They acknowledge that human nature compels us toward independence. Our preference for independence results in isolation from one another. Isolation breeds temptation to unethical conduct. High character people resist this chain reaction by adopting transparent life- and work-styles that invite inspection. They place themselves in relationships that motivate self-examination and encourage constructive critique from others, particularly those they serve. ” Read it VERY carefully, and then read # 14

    “14. HONORING AUTHORITY: All people are imperfect, requiring boundaries for behavior. High-character people willingly yield to the authority of those who are charged with upholding those boundaries. They help shape and then abide by the legitimate laws, rules and boundaries established by legitimate authorities and strive to live within those boundaries for the betterment of all people. When those given authority violate conscience-convicting character ethics, high-character people take wise action to justly hold them accountable.”

    I won’t copy the others, but check out #12 next, then read the others. The words sound great, but think about what they MEAN. And realize this ‘clerical Maoism’ was posted on the official website of the Ohop Secretary of State.

    Blackwell is VERY scary.

  • Strickland should hold a press conference stating that not only is he not gay, but he screwed Rev Johnson’s wife, sister and cousin while the Rev video taped the whole thing.

    I am a registered Republican but the e-mail mentioned above is one of the many reasons I refuse to support my party this year. This race isn’t a porn audition. I don’t care who any of them have sex with- (as long as its of consenual and of legal age).

    Why is a good christian man like Rev Johnson spending so much time pondering Stickland’s love life? Sound’s like Rev Johnson is the deviant.

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