Jim West

[NaCl]

WASHINGTON, May 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund President & CEO Chuck Wolfe made the following statement today regarding the tenure of Spokane Mayor Jim West:

"To the non-partisan Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, one of the most troubling aspects of the controversy surrounding Spokane Mayor Jim West concerns his statement that he is "being destroyed because I am a gay man." The Victory Fund, which works to identify, train and support openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender candidates for public office, strongly believes it's time for voters and candidates to move past outdated thinking that sexual orientation is relevant in debating who is qualified to serve in elected and appointed office. In fact, the fair- minded voters of Spokane in the past have elected an openly gay public official to the very City Council that Mayor West still leads. That is why we believe it's best to let these voters ultimately decide, through their reactions to the news stories, what the Mayor's fate should be." (http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=47145)

What's this wait and see drek? A neutral stance toward Jim West?!?! Non-partisan though GLVF may be, they could show a bit of sanity and denounce the hypocritical bastard for offering government positions in the name of furthering his closeted double life. Let the dogs have him.

Speaking of neutral stances... do you think if West's bust was earlier it might have influenced the vote on HB 1515 (http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1515.SBR.htm)?

[GQ-MarkDawg]

I don't know but I think he is very odd

[JakeBrake]

Sorry, but there are no easy answers with this case. On the one hand you have a closeted gay man who promoted discriminatory legislation toward gays and likely abused the power of his office. This makes him a hypocrite, but how does that make him different than virtually every other politician? On the other hand, you have a public official who thus far has succeeded in making an overall positive impact on Spokane, which is an astounding feat - especially considering the city's history of ineffectual, one-term mayors and crippling civic disputes.

And make no mistake about it - even though the Times says "it's not about Jim West being gay," it most certainly is. I lived in Spokane, my wife and in-laws are from Spokane, and I know Spokane well enough to know that West was targeted because he is gay. Collectively, the culture there is dumb enough to sabotage positive political/social change because some aspect of it rubs them the wrong way. Remember, this is the same region that committed the most egregiously stupid political act in recent memory by voting out THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE in favor of a dimwit campaigning on the promise to only serve one term.

[Ken Burch]

"Wild, Wild" West?

[Breadhead]

The way I see it, GLVF is taking advantage of Jim West's implosion. West will get no support from his anti-gay supporters, progressives will enjoy watching him be savaged by his own attack dogs and moderates will stay well clear of this political train wreck. GLVF are free to claim the moral high ground while West's ship burns. Its quite clever.