Talk Radio Personality Tries to Out Suspected Homosexual

[BPSCG]

Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/18/AR2009021803819.html?hpid=topnews).
When Beltway insider Jack Valenti died two years ago at age 85, he was playing the role of intermediary between Washington and Hollywood as the theatrical, snowy-haired president of the Motion Picture Association of America.

But back in 1964, Valenti was a Houston ad executive newly installed at the White House as a top aide to President Lyndon B. Johnson. And J. Edgar Hoover's FBI found itself quietly consumed with the vexing question of whether Valenti was gay.

(...snip...)

Even Bill Moyers, a White House aide now best known as a liberal television commentator, is described in the records as seeking information on the sexual preferences of White House staff members. Moyers said by e-mail yesterday that his memory is unclear after so many years but that he may have been simply looking for details of allegations first brought to the president by Hoover.

[king catfish]

Am I alone in being puzzled at everyone's fascination with other peoples' sexual preferences? Why does anyone care? I mean this question very earnestly.

[bruto]

I am far far from being Mr. Moyers's greatest fan, but in fairness one ought to point out that, given the political atmosphere then and even now, it would probably have been prudent to look into such matters even if one didn't personally care, since homosexuality put a person in serious danger of blackmail.

But "unclear memory?" Give us a break, Bill.

[Damien Evans]

Didn't Hoover turn out to be gay himself?

[Ladewig]

Am I alone in being puzzled at everyone's fascination with other peoples' sexual preferences? Why does anyone care? I mean this question very earnestly.

Virtually all fundamentalist Christians consider homosexuality to be an abomination (Leviticus 18:22) and a very grave sin. They believe that because homosexuals cannot have children they often target young Christians in an effort to "recruit" them to this perverted lifestyle. For some reason the majority of these fundamentalists consider it not just a sin, but an unforgivable sin. Swaggart can visit prostitutes and be forgiven. Peter Popoff can fleece his congregation by faking miracles and be forgiven. But Ted Haggard had sexual relationships with men and he will never be accepted again as a minister.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Am I alone in being puzzled at everyone's fascination with other peoples' sexual preferences? Why does anyone care? I mean this question very earnestly.

Which way do you swing?

[Puppycow]

Am I alone in being puzzled at everyone's fascination with other peoples' sexual preferences? Why does anyone care? I mean this question very earnestly.

Are you very young? This used to be a big deal. Why exactly is like a cultural thing with religious roots. The past culture in the US was very different and more puritanical. Look at countries like Iran today, where homosexual sex is a capital offense. And if you knew about someone's sexual preferences you could use that as a weapon against them, if they were considered deviant.

[Skeptic]

Another issue was that homosexuals were more suscpetible to blackmail and extortion over their sexual preferences, so that nominating "closeted" (at the time there was no other kind) homosexual to sensitive positions is a security risk.

This was quite true, at the time. In any case I don't see why Moyens is necessarily lying when he claims he cannot remember the details: it's not that he claims he doesn't remember ANYTHING about it or denies doing it.

[luchog]

Another issue was that homosexuals were more suscpetible to blackmail and extortion over their sexual preferences, so that nominating "closeted" (at the time there was no other kind) homosexual to sensitive positions is a security risk.
When I went to get my interview for my military security clearance, the subject of homosexuality was still an issue. They didn't really care if you were or weren't, only if you were open or closeted. "Out" homosexuals were eligible, closeted ones were not; despite the fact that the military in general did not permit homosexuals to enlist.

[Upchurch]

In any case I don't see why Moyens is necessarily lying when he claims he cannot remember the details: it's not that he claims he doesn't remember ANYTHING about it or denies doing it.
Agreed. That was over 40 years ago. I couldn't tell you too many details of things I did 10 to 20 years ago.

[Soapy Sam]

I still have the negatives...