Neal Plays Up Being Outsider, Not Being Out

Raleigh, N.C. — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal said Tuesday that he doesn't think being a gay man should stand in the way of his campaign.

Neal revealed his sexual orientation publicly over the weekend during an online discussion organized by BlueNC.com, a liberal blog. But he said his family and friends have known about his lifestyle for years, and he doesn't foresee it as a campaign issue.

"I have faith in the innate goodness of the people of this state and country to make an informed decision and to look beyond all the fear-mongering, preconceived notions (and) prejudices that may exist. I think we've moved beyond that," he said. "I'm not running to make a political statement; I'm running to lead."

The Chapel Hill corporate financial adviser said he has "always been out," calling himself a political outsider who would play closer attention to the needs of North Carolina than Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

"I understand what the problems are and the issues are that confront the people of this country, as opposed to what the political agenda is of a professional politician like Sen. Dole," he said. "Sen. Dole is part of a process that is out of touch with reality."

One such issue is President George W. Bush's recent veto to not expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which is designed to cover children in families that don't qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance. Dole joined most other Republicans in declining to override the veto.

About 120,000 children in North Carolina would be covered if SCHIP had been approved, Neal said.

"How she can turn a deaf ear on that, I don't understand," he said of Dole. "I don't understand it as a parent. I don't understand it as a human being."

Neal said he prefers having the gay issue out in the open because it prevents rumor-mongering on the campaign trail.

"I'm glad that they can't whisper anymore," he said. "They can shout. I can hear that. But there's nothing to whisper about because it's no secret."

He said he plans to "erect a firewall" around his family – he has two grown sons with his ex-wife – and personal life because they aren't part of the campaign.

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Mr. Neal: If you don't think being gay is an issue, why did YOU make it the very first thing you said about yourself? Also, let me give you some background about S-CHIP. Generally, nobody had health insurance until recently - you went to the doctor, got treated, paid your bill, and went home. The poor began being covered under Medicare, because hospitals are legally required to treat everyone, and they'd go broke if the government didn't reimburse them. In 1997, the government & hospitals saw that they'd still go bankrupt by treating everyone who was between poor enough for Medicare and "rich enough" to afford insurance ... so the Republicans led the effort to start SCHIP. President Bush wants to expand its funding to continue allowing it for everyone it currently allows. The Dems. eventually want universal health insurance, so they decide to push an S-CHIP expansion "for the children" ... which in this case is 18-25yo "children" of those making $45-83K/yr.

hpr641
October 24, 2007 11:02 a.m.

SCHIP, I think everyone is going to try to get voted in on that one premise alone. $41,000 per person in a household is NOT poverty. My parents were making $3,000 a year when I was born and refused any social welfare assistance. They wouldn't even apply for free lunches at school. Why? Because whatever they got they wanted to work for it. Today poverty is measured by how many cars you have, and how many televisions you have. This issue needs to be attacked at the root of the problem with the health insurance companies who are raising their rates and yet seeing millions of dollars in profits each year. Health care costs are too high, but our answer is to throw more money at the problem?

We're so incredibly spoiled.

gpd
October 24, 2007 7:40 a.m.

To libandproud:

Just to clear up two misconceptions.

One: Republicans who are elected in this country did not write books well before their running for office that blamed all our problems on gays, Jews, and others while at the same time recommending that if only they were to disappear all things would be better. Hitler did and yet the people still elected him. And elected is way too strong a word. Check out http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-hitlerdemo.htm

Two: I never linked the KKK to Democrats. What I did say was a statement of truth that Democrats founded the KKK. I leave you with a Wiki article that is very well cited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan

Steve Crisp
October 23, 2007 8:28 p.m.

Libandproud - to answer you question quite simply, the reason homosexuality is a threat our nation is because people like you continue to support it and condone it - that's why its a threat. The more people support it, the more the country will continue nose-diving into absurdity. I don't remember homosexuality being "praised and defended" when America was founded (if you think that is was condoned 200 years ago, I challenge you to find it in the historical texts and share it with all of us debating this issue). Otherwise, I stand firm on my beliefs that homosexuality is wrong and is sending our country downhill - can you prove otherwise? What benefit has the homosexual agenda and lifestyle provided to America? Can you name just one thing that has been a positive contribution?

Commentor5
October 23, 2007 8:22 p.m.

It will not be a problem for me if he wants to be gay I do not have to vote for him. As for Dole not being for the SCHIP's 120,000 more on the government hand out apparently she knows some one has to pay for it, and that someone is us.

SANDHILL
October 23, 2007 8:03 p.m.