Arizona Lawmaker Says Opponent Called Him Bisexual, Wants an Apology

Arizona's Republican Representative Ben Quayle is mighty upset this week, telling reporters that a mailer from his (also Republican) opponent, Rep. David Schweikert, for insinuating he is bisexual. The mailer, which went out last week, says that Quayle is a politician who "goes both ways." Schweikert says it was meant to refer to Quayle's flip flopping on issues, according to TheHill.com.

"The mail piece was clearly intended to say 'both ways' -- taking the liberal and conservative side on issues," Schweikert campaign spokesman Chris Baker told The Hill.

Quayle spokeswoman Anna Haberlein told the Tucson Citizen the insinuation of sexual orientation was really a "sleazy smear tactic." Quayle is demanding an apology, and his campaign also released a statement from Arizona Senator Jon Kyl who the flyer was an example of the worst in American politics.

"It not only misrepresents Ben Quayle's positions on important issues, it includes what can only be described as the strangest of allusions to sexuality that have no place in a political debate. Such campaign tactics insult the voters, degrade politics and expose those who stoop to them as unworthy of high office," Kyl said in the statement.

Baker said that the Quayle campaign "should get their minds out of the gutter, but we're not surprised they would think that way. He's more experienced in more risque stuff than we are," apparently referring to a website that Quayle wrote for before he joined the legislature.