To North Carolina Republicans, "Traditional Family Values" Means Bigotry, Hatred And Hypocrisy-- Check Out Miss McHenry Here!

Earlier today we looked at how Amendment One is roiling the Democratic congressional primary in North Carolina's 11th congressional district, which pits Cecil Bothwell, a pro-equality progressive, against a virulent right-wing homophobe, Hayden Rogers. Meanwhile, over in GOP-hell, in the western North Carolina district next door, the Republican primary is getting really ugly-- and uncomfortably honest. Respected GOP challenger, newspaper publisher Ken Fortenberry, is going after hypocritical little closet case Patrick McHenry hard... very hard.

The lifestyle of one of the most conservative members of Congress is being questioned by his Republican opponent in the May 8 North Carolina primary.

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, who has made traditional family values a cornerstone of his political career, is the subject of a YouTube video and email campaign that will be launched Monday by Ken H. Fortenberry, a North Carolina newspaper publisher who says that McHenry is “not who he appears to be.”

“From voter fraud and a sham real estate company, to a senior aide convicted of drunk driving and the congressman’s possible connection to a gay murder-suicide in Florida, it’s time for him to come out and tell us the truth,” said Fortenberry.

“As North Carolina voters go to the polls and vote on a Constitutional amendment that would legally define marriage as one man and one woman, I think it’s time for Congressman McHenry to honestly answer the questions about his lifestyle and relationships that have swirled around him since he first ran for public office,” said Fortenberry.

“He has built his entire career on claims of supporting traditional families and conservative moral issues, but many of the people he associates with personally and professionally raise serious questions about his commitment to those values,” said Fortenberry. “Congressman McHenry should quit dodging the issue of his personal lifestyle and finally tell the citizens who he really is,” said Fortenberry. “I don’t think he is who he appears to be.”

Nearly two years ago, the Republicans For Family Values publicly asked McHenry to answer the question: Are (or were you) a practicing homosexual?

“In an era of ubiquitous pro-gay messages and pop culture celebration of homosexuality, it’s ridiculous that constituents should be left guessing as to whether a judicial nominee or politician has a special, personal interest in homosexuality,” founder Peter LaBarbera stated in an April 30, 2010 news release about McHenry’s lifestyle.

“McHenry is getting married in June, but that does not settle the question, as there is a history of “closeted” homosexuals entering into sham marriages to cover up their illicit lifestyle, according to LaBarbera.

Two years later, McHenry still dodges the question.

Among those featured in the slideshow [above]:

• Dan Gurley-- Former Field Director for the Republican National Committee, Gurley once said that liberals would ban the Bible and allow gay marriage. Gurley, who has since admitted that he is gay, now publicly advocates for gay and lesbian issues in North Carolina. The newspaper-- NC Conservative-- once reported that McHenry “owes his seat” to Gurley, a former political adviser and campaign contributor.

• Aaron Lay-- Former housemate and campaign field organizer who took a deferred prosecution plea deal when he was indicted for voter fraud-- fraud committed while Lay lived with McHenry in 2004. He was among a number of young men who lived with McHenry during his first run for Congress.

“For me, this is an issue about the congressman’s integrity. All he needs to do is call a press conference and openly and honestly answer questions about his lifestyle and his relationships,” said Fortenberry.

"Everyone" in Washington knows McHenry is gay-- the same way they all knew hypocritical conservatives Larry Craig (R-ID), Mark Foley (R-FL), and Ed Schrock (R-VA) before they were outed and disgraced and the same way "everyone" knows GOP hypocrites David Dreier (R-CA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are cowering, mentally-ill, closeted homosexuals. Everyone, that is, except for their own church-going Republican constituents. They're always the last to know.