Koch: White House Should Denounce Kagan Gay Speculation

In his Huffington Post column, former mayor Ed Koch has blasted the White House for responding to inquiries about Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan's sexual orientation. According to Koch, the White House should never have dignified such questions with an answer, and instead ought to have denounced the speculation. "By denying she is lesbian instead of denouncing the inquiry, the White House is implicitly stating sexual orientation is a legitimate issue of discussion in the confirmation process," writes Koch.

Bloggers like Andrew Sullivan have drawn fire for asking whether Kagan is gay (her friends insist she's straight), and Koch says such questions bear no relevance on her nomination process.

Koch himself has been known to respond indignantly to inquires about his orientation, which inspired a nasty poster in the 1977 mayoral campaign; here's how he handled Time Out New York's Alison Rosen:

TONY: Are you gay?
Koch: When was the last time you performed oral sex on your boyfriend?

TONY: Well, I'm single now so it was a long time ago.

Koch: See, I don't think you should answer that question. It's an improper question, and so is yours. My sexual orientation is none of your business and whether or not you performed oral sex on your boyfriend is none of my business.

Come on, Ed, she showed you hers!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on May 18, 2010 5:09 PM

Comments [rss]

GREGORYABUTLER

Koch needs to man up and come out of the closet!

It's not like it's going to damage his career at this point - he's elderly, retired and close to death.

Come on Ed - admit it already!

As for Elena Kagan, she could derail this whole debate by doing the same thing (assuming she's a lesbian, of course)

GoldenRuler

No matter what you think of Koch, he's right. What matters here is the candidate's ability to think as objectively and logically as possible. One's sexual orientation has very little to do with either. Julia Roberts, Michael Moore and Billy Graham are all straight - how much does that tell us about unifying people by their orientation?

so tired of all the bread and circuses...

Mermaid Fornicator

we all know this speculation is taking place because kagan is going to be releasing a sex tape: "softballs & teabaggers"

ProudLiberal1947

Now one of their the Anti American Racist Nazi Family Values people just resigned are the Anti American Nazi Racist republicans or teabaggers looking for someone along those lines.?

This sounds like a smoke screen as she is a strong Supporter of Executive Power she is a Danger to Minorities Civil Rights and Women so are these Racist Nazi republicans making noise so they can hear themselves or what?

Mordicai

...& the commentors on Gothamist miss the point entirely.

Ladies & gentlemen: The Peanut Gallery.

Guest

Is the point that no one should give a damn what a washed up politican says or thinks?

ddhboy

Exactly, but its not unexpected, you can't really expect anything out of these people than lowest common denominator comments and a billion "aspiring rapper" and "where's al sharpton" comments whenever a black person does something wrong.

corinac

no kidding. no one registers that who you have sex with shouldn't be a determining factor in the supreme court confirmation process? and furthermore, being a homosexual needn't be a negative factor, which is what such questions allude to? criminy.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

but it isn't part of the confirmation process. it is the media i.e. WSJ that has gay baited this issue. What senator is questioning her sexuality?

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Christine Quinn suffers from Ed Koch Disease - a progressive condition that results when ambition overtakes conviction. Sufferers generally start out very liberal and end up centrist or worse.

youngpro

I thought I'd read that someonewhere else:

http://mycrains.crainsnewyork.com/polls/2008/10/how-badly-has-christine-quinn.php#comment-46528

ripping off other sites AGAIN?

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Valeriob, will you ever comment on the story or just comment only on me. damn,you are fucked up mentally

youngpro

why talk about the article when it's easier to comment on how much of a FRAUD you are.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Valeriob, you mental case, FRAUD?? I am a commenter on a blog. do you really think FelixtheCat is real? damn, what a lunatic. You exposed nothing on that stupid facbook page nor blog you created on me. You only exposed your own lunacy. damn,get some mental help. You stalking me all over this blog is just beyond stupid and quite sad. I actually feel sorry for you.

youngpro

felix,

you are a commenter on a blog, while felix isn't real, the person (ie- you) that uses said alias is real. goes without further deduction.

if i exposed (you) nothing on that facebook page, why do you want it removed so badly? and why did you even further go onto my own blog and leave threats and harassment (if you dont remove this page i'll call mtv- evidently you tihnk i work at mtv?).

grow up felix, get out of defense mode, fucking baby.

also: let's get one thing straight- YOU came onto MY blog, YOU harassed facebook and me, YOU left ridiculous threats in MY email....so who 'stalk's who here?

i think the 232892 people here that cant stand you and get such great joy and pleasure out of seeing you undressed and made to look stupid can all agree.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Hey lunatic stalker, What KIND OF PERSON creates a blog and a facebook page on a commenter on a blog? ONLY YOu psychopath. It is you who contacted me on facebook and you even stated it on your own blog that you snare me. what fucking loser. I am done with you. keep your blog and facebook to comfort your lonely pathetic self. You are a sick person who pretends to be a lawyer and then stalks me all over this blog and facebook. And then you spend all day comenting on me. There is nothing to expose. you are an idiot, valierob. a real idiot. and regarding the 232892 people, it is only YOU that created that blog and that facebook page. YOU are a real nutcase. jeez, i never met such a freak like you. i done with you. you are a waste of my time

Dead Himmler

Being the official judge. Youngpro won this round easily.

handsomedevil

bullshit valiriob and youngpro are just upset that felix does nothing but post the truth 24/7 the more he posts the more upset they get and that's good because eventually they will have to face the truth