Comments on: Right Wing Hypocrisy, or Why Sex Guilt Fucks Things Up For Everyone

by: A Tale of Two Scandals: The Obligatory Eliot Spitzer and “American Idol” Stripper Column | Blowfish Blog

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:27:30 +0000

[…] Here’s the thing I keep thinking about Governor Eliot Spitzer. Yes, the hypocrisy. Yes, the irony of a law- and- order, anti- prostitution governor being caught with a hooker. Yes, the fascinating pattern of public figures in politics and religion indulging in the exact same tabooed sex acts they preach against most vehemently. Yes, the increasingly repugnant spectacle of the wronged wife having to stand by her man at his podium of shame. Lots of people have said this already, better than I. […]

by: Tom

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:50 +0000

FYI - - in psychology, the phenomenon identified above (rallying against the very thing you are obsessed with and feel guilty about) is called “reaction formation.”

by: Banzai

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:59:54 +0000

There’s a definite logical progression to this type of denial, public posturing, and private excess. Let me outline how I think it goes:

1. Being (insert sexual orientation/practice here; for convenience, I’ll use “gay”) is wrong.
2. I find myself attracted to men.
3. Most other people are probably feeling the same way.
4. These people are morally objectionable.
5. Decent people need to be protected from them with harsher laws and penalties.
6. I’ll be the one to champion those penalties.
7. Now that I’m doing so much good for people, and since I’m under so much stress, I can afford to cut loose a little and have my own needs met.
8. This doesn’t make me gay–just look at all the good work I’m doing. I’m a good person.
9. In fact, I can afford to take a few risks. Since I’m so well-respected, people will cover for me.
10. I’ve been caught out somehow.
11. Since I’m so well-respected, people will believe me when I tell them I’m not gay, but they’re weak-minded, so it’s best not to tell them any of the other things I’ve been doing. They might get the wrong idea.
12. I’ve been forced to resign, but it’s okay, because I’ve found Jesus and it turns out his followers will pay me to talk about sinning and then repenting.
13. Now that I’m so well liked and doing so much good…

Repeat ad nauseum.

by: when politicians try to police our sex lives | Good Vibrations Blog

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:38:05 +0000

[…] OK, so I’m sure that you’ve seen lots of posts about all of the politicians who get caught doing exactly the thing that they rail against and/or pass laws against. But here’s a quick review of a recent few (excerpted from the Blowfish Blog): […]

by: david

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 21:57:05 +0000

senator larry craig

CRAIG: I don’t, ah, I am not gay, I don’t do these kinds of things and…

OFFICER: It doesn’t matter. I don’t care about sexual preference or anything like that. Here’s your stuff back sir. Um, I don’t care about sexual preference.

CRAIG: I know you don’t. You’re out to enforce the law.

OFFICER: Right.

CRAIG: But you shouldn’t be out to entrap people either.

OFFICER: This isn’t entrapment.

CRAIG: All right.

OFFICER: Um, you you’re skipping some parts here, but what what about your hand?

CRAIG: What about it? I reached down, my foot like this. There was a piece of paper on the floor. I picked it up.

OFFICER: Okay.

CRAIG: What about my hand?

OFFICER: Well, you’re not being truthful with me, I’m kinda disappointed in you Senator. I’m real disappointed in your right now. Okay, I’m not, just so you know, just like everybody, I, I, I, treat with dignity. I try to pull them away from the situation.

by: Hugh

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 07:21:08 +0000

I think you people have got it the wrong way around I think that these people start with good, if horribly misguided, intentions and then as they fight the “enemy” they find out more about them and end up doing the things they swore not to. This is similar to the case of the crusades who, having been told of the rape pillage and gluttony of the enemy did many of these things themselves. In the case of guilt complexes such as the ones your talking about they’ll usually not partake in the deed itself.

by: LarryO

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 05:59:17 +0000

I think the guilt underlies self-loathing, and it is the self-loathing that is the egg that hatches the public displays and posturings - a kind of public denial at the beginning, which if successful soon morphs.

Because that field is truly fertile, if properly plowed. So Haggard had a hugely profitable business, as did Falwell, and Foley, Vitter and this latest nincompoop all held public office . . . the troublesome thing is the number of people each of these jackasses favorably impressed with his particular brand of venom.

That is, I believe, the attraction of public office for these outspokenly self-righteous, reactionary Republican pervs who indulge in exactly what they inveigh against: I don’t think they are trying to compensate for anything - I think they are simply hypocritical charlatans, latter day Elmer Gantrys, preying on the weak-minded, narrow-minded, fearful, superstitious and ignorant people to whom their blatherings appeal.

by: Helen

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 04:55:41 +0000

I was actually thinking the same guilt complex half-way through your article - it’s a good point, too. I guess now the only problem is trying to convince delegates who are supposed to be pinnacles of morality not to be guilty of their sexual fantasies…

by: Barrett Laurie

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 04:28:34 +0000

Amen! As an openly gay man, I was reading this thinking how unfortunate for these guys! I agree, I think that their guilt made them take the paths they took! It seems very disheartening to think how powerful these men had become based on lies. Great post! I really like your blog! I will be back to see what’s new soon!

by: Republican Sex Guilt, Gay Marriage And Iraq

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:07:33 +0000

[…] Right Wing Hypocrisy, or Why Sex Guilt Fucks Things Up For Everyone | Blowfish Blog […]

by: The Ridger

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:02:41 +0000

Welcome to the Carnival of the Liberals, a fortnightly collection of the best of liberal blogging. This Carnival differs from others in that it is “the best” - only ten posts are selected

by: Robert Armistead

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:58:20 +0000

Making fools of themselves, as these jerkoffs have done, at least causes little harm to the country at large. Consider however what may be the most damaging hypocritical “act” of all time - J. Edgar Hoover. His homosexual bent is no longer in doubt but he spoke out against its “evils” often.
The damage? He testified to Congress that “The mafia doesn’t exist.”
The FBI had, at that time, detailed charts of the “families” with names and dirty histories plainly shown but Hoover ignored this and thus dealt the war against organized crime a body blow it took years and the death of Hoover to overcome.
Why did he do it? The most likely explanation and also the one offered by one of the wise guys is that one of the major “Dons” had very revealing photos that Hoover would have been most unhappy to see released to the media. The Don, according to the wise guy, made Hoover aware that the pics existed and Hoover’s silence about the “mob” was required to keep them safely locked away.
We can laugh at the escapades of public figures who soil their images (and their diapers) and poke comedic fun at them but considering the case of Hoover, we have to wonder if there are any more with the power he wielded causing like damage to our society.