The Congressional Homophobes... Where Are They Now?

We're coming up on the 5th anniversary of the passage of HR 1592, John Conyers legislation that included the LBGT community in federal Hate Crimes protection. The final vote, on May 3, 2007 was 237-180, 25 Republicans abandoning their hateful, bigoted party and joining 212 Democrats to strike another blow for LGBT equality. Shamefully, 14 so-called Democrats crossed the aisle in the other direction to show the world that they are unrepentant homophobes. Most have them have either been subsequently defeated or forced into retirement in the face of impending defeat. Only 5 are still in Congress. These are the Democratic anti-gay hate-mongers who voted with Eric Cantor (R-VA), John Boehner (R-OH), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Steve King (R-IA), Buck McKeon (R-CA), Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and the GOP self-loathing closet cases like Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Adrian Smith (R-NE), David Dreier (R-CA) and Trent Franks (R-AZ).

Marion Berry (Blue Dog-AR), an alcoholic he retired when polls showed he had virtually no chance to win in 2010.

Dan Boren (Blue Dog-OK), retiring from Congress at the end of this session to become a lobbyist. He has voted more frequently with Republicans than any other Democrat in Congress and is always counted on by Boehner and Cantor when they want to call any piece of insane right-wing legislation "bipartisan." Boren was one of the 15 "Democrats" who voted against repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell in 2010.

Chris Carney (Blue Dog-PA), defeated in 2010 when Democratic voters sat on their hands in NE Pennsylvania; now working for an arms merchant and last seen begging Pennsylvania voters to turn out tomorrow for his corrupt Blue Dog crony Tim Holden.

Bud Cramer (Blue Dog-AL), retired in 2008, a banner year for Democrats when it became apparent that Democrats would no longer support his far right voting record; now working as one of the capital's most notoriously sleazy lobbyists and running a corporately-funded Blue Dog PAC; last seen raising money to smear Democrat Matt Cartwright in the hope of saving the ass of his Blue Dog crony, Tim Holden.

Lincoln Davis (Blue Dog-TN), defeated in a landslide in 2010, losing to teabagger Scott DesJarlais 57.1% to 38.6%-- the third-largest margin of defeat for a Democratic incumbent in the 2010 cycle, and the first time an incumbent had been unseated since the district's creation in 1983. One of his final votes in Congress was against repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Joe Donnelly (Blue Dog-IN), rather than go down to certain defeat running for reelection, he's decided to go down to certain defeat running for a Senate seat this year. One has to wonder how the DSCC can run a bigot like Donnelly-- who is said to already be lining up a lobbing job for next year-- with a clear conscience.

Brad Ellsworth (Blue Dog-IN), realizing he would probably lose his House seat in 2010, he decided to go out in a blaze of Blue Dog glory by running for the retiring Evan Bayh's open Senate seat. He was badly defeated by lobbyist and corporate whore Dan Coats, winning barely 40% of the vote and even losing his own congressional district. He immediately got a job as a gloried lobbyist.

Bart Gordon (Blue Dog-TN), forced into retirement when he saw polls showing he had no chance of being reelected in 2010 and immediately got a job as a sleazy K Street lobbyist.

Mike McIntyre (Blue Dog-NC), still managing to hang on to a congressional seat, although he votes with the GOP on most important issues. The DCCC is wasting inordinate amounts of money to save his seat this year... so he can continue voting with the Republicans. Like Boren, McIntyre was one of the 15 "Democrats" who voted against repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell in 2010.

Charlie Melançon (Blue Dog-LA), defeated in 2010 by David Diapers Vitter, then in the middle of his myriad sex scandals, mostly because Democrats just stayed home rather than voted for the ultra-conservative Melançon. He immediately took a job as a lobbyist.

Colin Peterson (Blue Dog-MN), a paragon of corruption, he's one of the only homophobes left and still in a safe seat, far off in rural, isolated northwest Minnesota. Peterson was one of the 15 "Democrats" who voted against repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell in 2010.

Mike Ross (Blue Dog-AR), another hopelessly corrupt crook headed for K Street as he retires this year after a disgraceful career in Congress. Ross was another one of the 15 "Democrats" who voted against repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell in 2010.

Heath Shuler (Blue Dog-NC), looking at polls, he went from almost declaring a run for governor to realizing he couldn't even win a primary in his own district. K Street-bound, of course.

Gene Taylor (Blue Dog-MS), defeat in 2010 by clueless teabagger Steven Palazzo, Democrats just sitting on their hands and letting him go down to ignominious defeat when it came out that he had not just voted with the GOP on almost everything but that he had also voted for McCain for president in 2008. One of his final votes before leaving Congress was against repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Blue America has a special bipartisan page devoted to replacing homophobes in Congress. Take your pick. Just click the thermometer or the link above. And, remember, there's no such thing as a contribution being too small.