The Romney bullying story really bugs me

[Guest]

It probably shouldn't bug me, because he was a kid, and we all did stupid things as a kid. This kind of thing shows a person's character, and I really hope he has changed.

He hadn't changed as of the time he was Governor: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/1 ... f=politics

[_KevinSim]

It probably shouldn't bug me, because he was a kid, and we all did stupid things as a kid. This kind of thing shows a person's character, and I really hope he has changed.

Back in 1996 I tried very hard to like Bob Dole, but in the end I just couldn't bring myself to vote for him, so I decided to forgive Bill Clinton for his past sexual indiscretions and ended up voting for him.

I'd like personally to hear what Romney has to say about the John Lauber incident, but if it turns out it occurred as described, then I'm very disappointed in him. But to be consistent I really need to forgive him of such an act carried out as an 18-year-old just like I forgave Clinton.

[_BartBurk]

If you didn't call them gay, what did you call them? Queer? Faggot?

I wouldn't have even thought that someone was gay. It would not have crossed my mind. Homosexuality simply was not a serious issue then. So I would not have called anyone but by their name. I guess I was naïve, but Romney's assertion that he wouldn't have thought of this young man as homosexual rings true for the time period.

[_beastie]

I'm old enough to know that we didn't normally even think of other people as gay in the early 70s. There may have been gays in my high school, but at the time it would never have crossed my mind that someone was gay.

I guess you didn't listen to Packer's talk or read the pamphlet. 1976.

http://www.lds-mormon.com/only.shtml

[_DarkHelmet]

It probably shouldn't bug me, because he was a kid, and we all did stupid things as a kid. This kind of thing shows a person's character, and I really hope he has changed.

Back in 1996 I tried very hard to like Bob Dole, but in the end I just couldn't bring myself to vote for him, so I decided to forgive Bill Clinton for his past sexual indiscretions and ended up voting for him.

I'd like personally to hear what Romney has to say about the John Lauber incident, but if it turns out it occurred as described, then I'm very disappointed in him. But to be consistent I really need to forgive him of such an act carried out as an 18-year-old just like I forgave Clinton.

Were you a TBM at the time? I remember during the Clinton years he was the anti-Christ to every TBM I knew. If Satan ran against Clinton in 92/96, I think most TBMs would have voted for Satan.

[_BartBurk]

Were you a TBM at the time? I remember during the Clinton years he was the anti-Christ to every TBM I knew. If Satan ran against Clinton in 92/96, I think most TBMs would have voted for Satan.

I was not a church member of any kind at the time.

[_BartBurk]

I guess you didn't listen to Packer's talk or read the pamphlet. 1976.

http://www.lds-mormon.com/only.shtml

The Romney incident supposedly occurred in 1965. I graduated from high school in 1972. I don't remember when gayness became an issue with Florida and Anita Bryant. Was it the late 70s?

[_DarkHelmet]

I'm old enough to know that we didn't normally even think of other people as gay in the early 70s. There may have been gays in my high school, but at the time it would never have crossed my mind that someone was gay.

I guess you didn't listen to Packer's talk or read the pamphlet. 1976.

http://www.lds-mormon.com/only.shtml

The Miracle of forgiveness was published in 1969:

and in our modern language, masturbation, petting, fornication, adultery, homosexuality; and every sex perversion, every hidden and secret sin and all unholy and impure practices." (p. 25)

There are talks in general conference from the early 70s about the evils of homosexuality.

[_EAllusion]

Just because you are abstractly aware that homosexuality exists, that doesn't mean you think that anyone around you is gay. I find it entirely plausible that someone in the 70's might not think anyone in their social sphere was gay unless it was a guy that was a total swish.

[_DarkHelmet]

Just because you are abstractly aware that homosexuality exists, that doesn't mean you think that anyone around you is gay. I find it entirely plausible that someone in the 70's might not think anyone in their social sphere was gay unless it was a guy that was a total swish.

It sounds like Lauber was a total swish.

“He can’t look like that,” Romney told a close friend at the time. “That’s wrong. Just look at him!”