The last several weeks have created quite a buzz within the LGBT political community because of my message entitled “Conversations with a Republican Mouthpiece” (San Diego LGBT Weekly issue 153). In it I take activist Nicole Murray Ramirez to task on a variety of fronts, and will again later in this message. But first I want to clear the air.
Nicole and I are friends; friends who are at odds fundamentally at this point when it comes to politics on a local, and in some cases, national level.
Rivalries and disagreements among friends are not unusual in the political arena. Whether it was Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan, or Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, they could disagree politically but break bread with one another when the spotlights were turned off. In fact, both were known to enjoy each other’s company. That is also true with Nicole and me.
What this means is I can hold Nicole to account for his often contradictory views and comments. In his “response” to me, Nicole says my message was a personal attack. Many know that Nicole is infamous for wielding personal attacks, so his accusation amounts to “what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander.”
Nicole suggests that all the “DeMaio Democratic partisan haters” should be quiet. Well let’s take a look at what Nicole has said about our beloved perennial “gay” candidate:
“The saying goes, ‘Who knows you better than your own community.’ Well, Carl DeMaio lost the vote of every gay, Latino and African American. In newspaper article after newspaper article, DeMaio has been called, and I quote, ‘Divisive, liar, psycho, bully, etc, etc.’
Even our popular mayor, Jerry Sanders, has stated that Carl DeMaio is “all bullshit.” Every GLBT elected official has refused to endorse DeMaio.
But, Carl DeMaio did carry 80 percent of the Tea Party voters and 90 percent of the radical religious right-wing.”
What’s wrong with this picture? A vast majority of our GLBT leaders, including Todd Gloria, Chris Kehoe, Toni Atkins, etc have endorsed Bob Filner for mayor.”
Conversations with Nicole: ‘Il Duce’ of San Diego? – July 5, 2012
lgbtweekly.jeffjungblut.com/2012/07/05/il-duce-of-san-diego/
Nicole, when you called activist Susan Atkins a liar because she called DeMaio a “tea party extremist,” I guess you were objecting to the word extremist; before you respond yes, read on. Here are another three rants:
“GLBTs boo, turn their backs on DeMaio
It was so noticeable that even the Union-Tribune, among other media, reported that people all along the Pride parade route booed or turned their backs on radical right-wing homophobe-backed gay Republican Tea Party favorite Carl DeMaio …”
Conversations with Nicole: Boos, Bayard and Big Mike – July 26, 2012
lgbtweekly.jeffjungblut.com/2012/07/26/boos-bayard-and-big-mike/
“We are tired of DeMaio’s two faces and his lies. Oh, how he loves his fellow queers in Hillcrest and then denies us in Rancho Santa Fe. It’s only a matter of time until all San Diego will know what we know: If you elect Carl DeMaio, you will also be electing Johnathan Hale as “deputy mayor” along with his coveted title of ‘First Lady of San Diego.’”
Conversations with Nicole: HRC Dinner, 20 years in the making, plus DeMaio, Hale like Nancy, Ronnie Reagan – Aug. 23, 2012
lgbtweekly.jeffjungblut.com/2012/08/23/second-san-diego-hrc-dinner-20-years-in-the-making/
“The Republican Party is now in the hands and leadership of the extreme radical Christian right and the Tea Party. This is the Republican Party that mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio has committed to, been endorsed by and, yes, Carl DeMaio has stood with and supported its candidate, Mitt Romney, on the same stage – proudly. Think about it.”
Conversations with Nicole: The GOP: now strictly for the Christian right – Sept. 6, 2012
lgbtweekly.jeffjungblut.com/2012/09/06/the-gop-now-strictly-for-the-christian-right/
Nicole, has DeMaio changed or have you read what you believe to be the political tea leaves? Please tell us what you fundamentally disagree with that Scott Peters’ supports, particularly with respect to LGBT issues. There isn’t anything, based upon your commentary; not so true with DeMaio.
If DeMaio is “committed” to a party which is now in the hands of “extreme” Tea Party forces, as you assert, is DeMaio an extremist? I guess you actually agree with activist Susan Atkins. You also repeated in a column that some compared DeMaio to Mussolini. Now you want us to vote for Mussolini?
I applaud Nicole for saying, “My column is my personal opinion, not this paper’s or the community’s, but mine and mine alone.” Bravo. I hope the San Diego political class is listening; Nicole does not represent the views of the LGBT community.
Political power is garnered through fundraising or delivering votes. If you can make a candidate believe you can do either, you’re set. Why? Candidates who lose fade away. The fact that the money was not raised or the votes were not delivered is forgotten. If the candidate wins, they are giddy with those that have supported their candidacy. So you’re LGBT, hung out at the campaign office, and got to know the candidate; voila, you may become part of the new administration. Or according to Nicole, get a City commissioner job because he helps you.
Nicole said he was, “… personally responsible for the appointments of a majority of LGBT City and County commissioners and board members.” He also noted that I neglected to mention that he helped me get certain political appointments and positions in this town.
Nicole, you belittle those who serve our lovely community. Are you saying that the LGBT City commissioners were not appointed because of their qualifications? By the way, you neglected to mention that I recruited you for the 2008 Obama National LGBT Leadership Council. Did that slip your mind? Of course not.
As for as my appointments, I’m a Harvard MBA with an undergraduate degree from Stanford which makes me qualified for a host of positions in and out of government. If the City or County leadership think that I’m not the best qualified for positions like my chairmanship of the Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission, they sure haven’t let me know.
Nicole and I disagree in the public and privates square, but I still can laugh and have a good time with him; sometimes even when arguing politics. I just hope our relationship does not end like that of Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams; they died on the same day.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
Great article, and well-documented, but it was John Adams and Thomas Jefferson who died on the same day– July 4, 1826– the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Adams’s last words: “Thomas Jefferson survives.” But he was wrong. Jefferson had died five hours earlier.
You are absolutely correct. The article has been modified to reflect the correction at the end. The Adams-Jefferson rivalry was correctly noted in the beginning of the article.