DeMaio’s political mind

Everyone wonders about the motivations of those in many professions. Whether it is the teacher in an inner city school who works for low pay but is determined to offer children the best opportunity at a good start in life. Or the firefighter, or police officer, who risks his or her life everyday so that others can live. Or the social worker who helps those with a terminal disease run the gamut of hurdles necessary to get critical drug treatments.

Each of these professions offers a person who chooses the career certain satisfaction; they are helping people. The firefighter, teacher and policeman believe so much in what they’re doing, they do it regardless of the cost to their families. That cost is often lower pay, long hours, unbelievable stress and an under appreciation of their contribution to the world. Many of us understand and celebrate that type of altruistic dedication. Not so when it comes to some of our politicians.

Let’s take a look at the motivations of candidate Carl DeMaio. DeMaio was the first elected LGBT City councilman in San Diego. As many of you know, DeMaio won in the heavily Republican district that included Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch and Mira Mesa. DeMaio ran as a closeted candidate, his personal life was off limits. Most of those who voted for DeMaio did not know he was gay.

What does that say about DeMaio? He was running for City council in one of the leading states with respect to LGBT civil rights, yet he refused to run openly. I understand DeMaio wanted to win but at what personal cost? Would a woman candidate run as a man to win a political race? Sounds like a ready-made Hollywood political comedy. Not so much when the candidate is trying to hide their sexual orientation.

The political mind of Carl DeMaio says “win at any cost.”

Many of you know someone at your job who takes credit for work others have done. It is exasperating. If you call the co-worker out, then you become the bad guy. If you don’t deal with the situation, the co-worker may get promoted or a raise based upon work you or a colleague did. Quite the dilemma.

DeMaio fraudulently claimed that he had authored a report about congress members who were being paid salaries, as well as drawing government pensions from previous jobs. DeMaio cut and pasted a report from the National Journal on the pension issue and called it a “Report from Carl DeMaio.” The National Journal called DeMaio out. DeMaio apologized by throwing his staff under the bus and then saying “I would never throw my staff under the bus.” The mind of Carl DeMaio says “try to have it both ways.”

Like how DeMaio says that he is being attacked on the right by zealots who hate that he is gay and on the left by those who hate he is a Republican. DeMaio thinks that Democratic leaning Independents will say, “We should vote for DeMaio. He must be a moderate, the right hates him.” DeMaio also thinks that Republican leaning Independents will say, “We should vote for DeMaio to stop the tide of the ultra conservative and Tea Party movement within the Republican Party. He’s gay.” The problem with DeMaio’s political mind is that it never says “voters aren’t stupid.”

DeMaio is no Republican moderate. During his mayoral campaign DeMaio told a group of Tea Party supporters that if he won, he would owe everything to them. The new candidate DeMaio now vocally supports LGBT rights, though he believes it’s a social issue; same with a woman’s right to choose. DeMaio espouses progressive ideas about these “social” issues but refuses to fill out candidate questionnaires. Is it because DeMaio’s mind is saying “don’t officially go on written record”? Or worse, is DeMaio thinking “they will never support me so why bother.” Just the attitude we need to send to an already gridlocked Congress.

The Victory Fund, a leading LGBT political advocacy group whose mission is to elect openly LGBT candidates, has not supported DeMaio. DeMaio believes he was denied the endorsement because he is a Republican. The Victory Fund has endorsed Richard Tisei and Dan Innis, both Republican, openly gay congressional candidates this election cycle. So the lack of the Victory Fund endorsement of DeMaio is not based upon partisan politics, it has to do with DeMaio the candidate.

Then there is the pro-choice issue. DeMaio has not received the endorsement of any national pro-choice group like NARAL. According to Republican National Committee spokesman Raffi Williams, “Standing for life is a principle, not a political calculation.” Apparently DeMaio did not get the memo.

DeMaio’s megalomaniac mind is telling him, “I will make the difference. The Republican Party will change its position on LGBT rights and abortion by my will.” Voters know that DeMaio is deluded. The poor guy actually believes he is the change the Republican Party has been waiting for. Problem is most of the Republican Party leaders do not think so when it comes to LGBT civil rights, abortion and birth control.

Finally, how many staff members burglarize their boss’ office? That tells you that DeMaio created hostility among his staff members. If DeMaio creates that kind of emotion from his supporters, imagine what he would create with congressional members across the aisle?

DeMaio is an interesting study of one political mind. He denied his personal self to win the City council race. He thought success breeds success, so I’ll make the same denial when I run for mayor. Remember DeMaio saying he was single in the U-T even though he was in a long-term relationship with Johnathan Hale? That didn’t work so well; the LGBT community resoundingly rejected DeMaio.

What does DeMaio do? He simply changes political tactics. He featured his life partner in ads for his congressional campaign. I think living honestly is fantastic. DeMaio’s political mind led him to do the right thing but for the wrong reason. Hey, even a blind squirrel can find a nut.

I wish DeMaio’s motivations were pure like those of a firefighter, teacher or policeman; to help people. But DeMaio only wants to garner political relevancy and power. He is not in the congressional race to help the nation; he is in it to win at any cost. DeMaio’s dramatic, public, policy shifts says one thing about his political mind; schizophrenia.

STAMPP CORBIN

PUBLISHER

San Diego LGBT Weekly

LGBTweekly.com