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September 23, 2008

McCain Chief of Staff Outed?

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's chief of staff was outed Monday after radio host Michelangelo Signorile quoted additional sources to confirm the long-blogged-about rumors. Mark Buse, 44, previously served as a lobbyist for several large corporations including AT&T and ExxonMobil, the only Fortune 10 company without a nondiscrimination policy covering sexual orientation, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Signorile said on his blog that he had previously been contacted by three sources, all wishing to remain anonymous, claiming Buse is gay. The radio host says he was then contacted by 46-year-old Brian Davis, who claims to have had a past intimate relationship with the McCain staffer.

Davis claims he first met Buse at a Phoenix bar called Connections in 1986, around the same time Buse started work as a McCain intern during the presidential hopeful's tenure in the House of Representatives. Davis said Buse asked him to move to Washington, D.C., with him after a long-distance courtship taking place over several months. A year after moving to Washington, Buse left Davis for his current partner.

McCain has opposed several gay rights bills during his Senate tenure. He told the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network in 2007 that the ban on openly gay and lesbian military personnel was necessary and that the legislation "unambiguously maintains that open homosexuality within the military services presents an intolerable risk to morale, cohesion, and discipline."

McCain also voted against two hate-crimes bills in 2000 and 2002 and did not cast a vote for the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2007. He voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in 1996 and 2006, because, he said, current laws already apply to LGBT workers.

In 2003, McCain voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have federally banned same-sex marriage. Instead, he said, he favors states' rights to grant or deny same-sex marriage, and he supported Arizona's proposed (but failed) ban in 2006. (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Stephen Jerome
    Date posted: 2008-09-24 11:45 PM
    Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Comment:

    I generally respect anyone's closet, liberal or conservative. But I refuse to respect the closet of someone who attacks me and who works to deny me my rights. If a gay politico is supporting homophobia, it is our right to defend ourselves by destroying his or her ability to advance homophobia.


  • Name: Zac
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 9:23 PM
    Hometown: Birmingham

    Comment:

    "As a gay moderate Republican, there are two groups that in my life I have found to be the most discriminatory, narrow-minded and bigoted: 1.) many in the mainstream gay community, and 2.) many within the evangelical whacko far-right Chrsitian community. The extremist members of both groups are pitiful, dangerous folk." Perhaps what is most alarming about this fool it that while he is concerned by the "many" in the gay community, he is NOT concerned enough about the "evangelical wackos" NOT to help keep them out of power. Last I checked "moderate" republicans have little influence within their party. Yet another tortured personal philosophy attached to a turtle in the middle of the road. Usually they get run over - which is the good thing ( do nothing queers, not literal turtles). Gay repukes (uncle toms) really do little harm and absolutely no good. Frozen assets, useless ideologues with no power or influence.


  • Name: Carlos Tormos
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 8:05 PM
    Hometown: Mooresville

    Comment:

    I agree in the fact that no one deserves the right to be outed in unless they are ready to so. But let’s look at the facts. What has happened here was not a matter of outing. He is a man in politics that that has chosen to ally himself with the one party that is synonymous with hypocrisy. A man that has pledged to put in power the one man that would call him a disgrace for being what he is by no choice of his own. Let's be real about this. His choices were based on money and that alone. If he had followed his heart he would not have made the choice to back a man that is against everything that he is or represents. On that basis, it’s fair game if he is exposed for the hypocrite that he is. I hope that all that money can fill the void that he will have as this story progresses to what it should.


  • Name: Retired Farmer
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 7:13 PM
    Hometown: Rural Central Illinois

    Comment:

    As a gay moderate Republican, there are two groups that in my life I have found to be the most discriminatory, narrow-minded and bigoted: 1.) many in the mainstream gay community, and 2.) many within the evangelical whacko far-right Chrsitian community. The extremist members of both groups are pitiful, dangerous folk.


  • Name: Mark
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 7:02 PM
    Hometown: Chicago

    Comment:

    Buse deserves all the humiliation he gets. No, more.


  • Name: Chris
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 6:01 PM
    Hometown: Vancouver, WA

    Comment:

    Art, that's where I personally draw the line. Friendship is one of the most precious things in this crazy world, and I would never reject a friendship over politics. Never


  • Name: Art M.
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 5:34 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    Comment:

    What's worse than a Gay Republican? A Gay Democrat that would befriend one. They should be shunned until they seel the light.


  • Name: Doug Johnson
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 4:16 PM
    Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD

    Comment:

    I would dearly love to see the Fox TV channel be forced to answer this charge against an employee of their boy wonder, McCain. O'Reilly has a big mouth. I would pay to see him try. Anyway, I have already voted absentee for Obama and even if McCain turns out to have a male lover I will not regret my vote. And to be superficial, though McCain might have been sucking cock, that won't redeem him in my eyes. His past abysmal personal lifestyle (re: his treatment of his first wife) and his political record make him no better than any other sexual opportunist. Psychologically he's not fit to be my president.


  • Name: Terre
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 3:56 PM
    Hometown: San Luis Obispo

    Comment:

    I don't believe in outing anyone before their own time EXCEPT political operatives at whatever level or occupation (including married preachers who advise presidents) if they are working against gays while hiding their own orientation. They are public figures with the power to hurt other gays or help us -- never mind what they do to themselves. For that reason they should be outed once credible information confirms that they are gay.


  • Name: Frank Brown
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 3:36 PM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    I have no energy to waste on anyone- including my fellow gay and lesbian friends who hate themselves so much that they support a political party that denies us equality. Privilege afforded only to heterosexuals can’t be found by hiding in the Republican party.


  • Name: Stan
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 2:56 PM
    Hometown: Richmond, VA

    Comment:

    Versatility!!! Colin get real, it is still Hypocrisy.... Pul all the lipstick on it that you want...it's still the same.... As for the Republicans 'bailing out' Wall Street...Well it's the Republican's that caused the current need...Remember John McCain as a member of the KEATING 5.... and we're suppost to trust this individual....


  • Name: Chris Brown
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 2:56 PM
    Hometown: Vancouver, WA

    Comment:

    Chris Sullivan: Totally off-topic, but I need to know: are you by any chance the Chris Sullivan that went to Libertyville HS?


  • Name: Colin
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 2:24 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    I have to disagree with Chris Sullivan's post. Yes, whether it's bailing out Wall Street & foreign financial institutions or having gay sex in airport restrooms, we Republicans can be counted on to practise what we preach most vociferously against. However, what some people might call hypocrisy I would prefer to call versatility. After all, it's a good thing to change one's position when the facts change!


  • Name: Kevin Olomon
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 1:15 PM
    Hometown: Bloomington, Illinois/Fairbanks, Alaska

    Comment:

    RE: Bob R.- my Bloomington brother, the reality is there are only two chief candidates in this or most elections. Typically the divide for each is roughly 50/50- as it is now. Unless and until the divide is 90/10 or 80/20, points like the one you attempt to make contain no tangible substance. For every person who shares your exact view- there is another who can say the exact same for the opposite candidate. At this current date, for every voter who jabs at McCain- there's exactly one who jabs at Obama. It would seem that unless either side has something up their sleeve to change things in this regard- any amount of fretting about it is pretty much nothing but wasted energy. In 19 long months, all these wasted campaign funds- all this wasted energy and fight-filled anger from voters on either side... and STILL the race is 50/50. Wow. Argue on, brother... argue on. Excuse me now please- I'm off to watch my dog chase her tail...


  • Name: Bob R.
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 10:31 AM
    Hometown: Bloomington, IL

    Comment:

    I cannot see, in any good conscious, how an informed person could vote for McCain/Palin. The flip flopping in just one week about the economy and several other issues (regulation for one) has been unbelievable...and this someone would want for a president? I don't think so! Then there is Palin, who, of course, offered yet another reason why she let Mr. Monegan go (read as fired). The reason was an unauthorized trip to a seminar about how to reduce sex abuse cases. Turns out, Mr. Monegan produced the authorization for the trip, signed by Palin's chief of staff. BINGO, rack up yet another lie. And, the Republican leader of the Alaskan Senate has come out against her for this and other faliures in judgment as a governor. Sad case if they vote for her based on her vivacious personality, when she operates like a girl in a junior high clique.


  • Name: CHris Sullivan
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 10:18 AM
    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    Comment:

    The Republican Party IS the Party of Hypocrisy!


  • Name: Robert H
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 10:12 AM
    Hometown: Worcester Ma

    Comment:

    hypocrisy for the common good? The republican party will soon fall and what makes this even better is that the free market will be their undoing. Republicans need to be "downsized, right sized, or for our UK members sacked." like the buggy whip of olde they have become quaint and useless. No longer will gay people need to fear attacks from the right. The left has proven themselves more vicious and infinitely more efficient. It appears that if you are gay and commit the sin of republicism the left is willing to out and humiliate you. i guess you actually don't even need to be a republican yourself just work for one. after the bastions of the right wing conspiracy like the advocate finish profiting off your disgrace you can console yourself that your public humiliation was necessary for the common good. after all republicans are all nasty mean people.


  • Name: Scott
    Date posted: 2008-09-23 1:52 AM
    Hometown: LA

    Comment:

    I'm with you Zac. Chubby, this guy is an idiot and a disgrace who deserves whatever bad karma he gets. Those who work or work for someone against their own people in the name of the almighty dollar a/k/a "juicy gain" are PRICKS.


  • Name: chubbyalaskagriz
    Date posted: 2008-09-22 10:38 PM
    Hometown: Bloomington, Illinois/Fairbanks, Alaska

    Comment:

    I'm thankful I got to out myself, in my own way, in my own time. Can't imagine the hell of having my orientation held over my head at a time when I wasn't personally secure in making it known. Those who out others- especially for juicy gain- are PRICKS.


  • Name: zac
    Date posted: 2008-09-22 8:51 PM
    Hometown: birmingham

    Comment:

    So gald this Uncle Tom has been outted. Just cant wait for the details.


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