Were Martinez to have someone gay working at the highest levels of his campaign, someone who was personally responsible for helping ensure this ad could go on the air, someone who was out out OUT and was to have, oh, say, a boyfriend of over 10 years, would you out this staffer? Or is his sexual orientation irrelevant and a private matter while he personally helps ensure that the current anti-FMA senators from Florida are replaced with a pro-FMA senator?
Just asking.
Actually, now that I think about it, the staffer is openly gay, has never tried to hide his orientation, and in fact is quite open about it in town, has been out at previous jobs, etc. So why the hell am I "in-ing" him? His name is Kirk Fordham, and he's the finance manager for the campaign - meaning, he's the money guy. Were I openly gay and on that campaign, I'd have quit as soon as they decided to run that ad, rather than helping them raise even more money for it.
Miami Herald:
Republican Senate candidate Mel Martinez unveiled a radio campaign ad Friday urging the state's two sitting Democrat senators, Bill Nelson and Bob Graham, to support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages.
The ad opened on the same day Senate Republicans began debate on the emotionally charged issue.
Martinez, the former Housing and Urban Development secretary, says in the radio spot that 'the very institution of marriage is under attack,' and he's seeking the Senate seat being vacated through Graham's retirement to continue what he called a fight for values.
'If you believe, like I do, that marriage should be between one man and one woman, please join me in calling on Florida's U.S. Senators to support this historic legislation,' Martinez said in the spot, which is running in the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Pensacola, Jacksonville, Naples-Fort-Myers and Orlando markets.
The radio ad is the first mass media spot purchased by the Martinez campaign. The ad is to run into next week, said Martinez campaign spokeswoman Melissa Shuffield.
