October 9, 2006

Gays Like Kolbe

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Despite the temptation to blame Mark Foley’s self-proclaimed gayness for his repugnant behavior with young male pages, it was Congress’s only out gay Republican, Rep. Jim Kolbe of Arizona, who schooled Foley on how to treat and not to treat pages. Kolbe had a friendly relationship with many pages, and on one occasion offered to let several formal pages stay in his Washington home while the congressman was away. Kolbe’s warmth led one page to approach him in 2000 with concerns about some emails Rep. Foley had sent him. Kolbe certainly should have done more, but he did at least confront Foley about his behavior. He later suggested that another page show Foley’s emails to the clerk of the House. At least Kolbe did more than House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

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We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

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