"Dump Tisei" campaign attacks senator's politics, steers clear of sexuality

A Republican-backed Web site challenging Charles Baker's choice of state Senator Richard Tisei as his running mate in the 2010 gubernatorial election debuted earlier this month, rich with criticisms of Tisei's political history.

Much of "Dump Tisei's" criticism rests on endorsements Tisei has received from the Massachusetts Teachers Association and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Surprisingly absent from the site, however, is any disparagement of the senator based on his sexuality (Tisei publicly came out as gay on Nov. 19, prior to the announcement of Baker's choice.)

Despite the absence of sexuality-based condemnation, some of the readers of local Republican blog Red Mass Group (www.redmassgroup.com) are challenging the "Dump Tisei" campaign to come clean about what they claim is the real reasoning behind the criticism. After dissecting Tisei's middle-of-the-road political record, one reader commented, "So let's cut to the chase: Why is 'DUMPTISEI.COM' really opposed to the Senator's campaign for Lt. Gov? I think you know the answer [sic]."

Username "republicanvoices" agreed: "The same people vilifying Tisei had no problem whatsoever of enthusiastically supporting candidates with essentially the same voting record -- pro-choice, pragmatic conservatism on fiscal issues, save for one issue. Three guesses what the issue in question is."

While no one commenting on the blog actually guessed, it became clear as time went on that the members of the Republican party represented on the Web site is passionately divided regarding not only the senators politics, but his sexuality as well.

"I think there's a small number of people [who are against Tisei because of his sexual orientation,]" former head of the Massachusetts Log Cabin Republicans Michael Motzkin said. "You're always going to have your zealots; they're never going to be happy, no matter what, as long as you include 'gay' in 'Republican' or as long as you include 'gay' in any sentence."

Username "tonid" referred to Tisei as "Barney Frank's lover" and wrote, "hes married to Charlie Baker's brother [sic]." Baker's brother is openly gay. "Charlie Baker has ALIENATED the only people who could win him the election," tonid wrote, "the conservative voters who stopped voting because they are sick of getting 'Tisie'd in the Behind [sic].'"

Several readers quickly chastised tonid for his comments, saying that Tisei's personal life should not be taken into account during the election.

Rebecca Schiff, a former member of the Log Cabin Republicans, views Baker's selection as an opportunity for the LGBT community and the Republican party to find themselves on the same side of an issue. "This choice will ... make important inroads within the electoral fabric of the Republican Party," she said. "Moreover, whenever the LGBT community can embrace its supporters on both sides of the political aisle, Republican and Democratic, it gives our community far more leverage and impact in political and economic circles than we have when we support only candidates from one political party."

Motzkin, meanwhile, is unconcerned regarding anti-Tisei campaigns that are based on the Senator's sexuality. "I really don't see any real movement or anything defining another candidate. I know that there's some people blogging and such, but it really seems that a lot of people are happy with him. He brings a lot to the table and I think they realize that."