Ken Buck's homosexuality-to-alcoholism line: Take that back, says One Colorado's Brad Clark
Dems pounced after Republican candidate Ken Buck likened homosexuality to alcoholism on Meet the Press. And while Buck's spokesman pooh-poohed the controversy, activists like One Colorado's Brad Clark aren't ready to move on.
Ken Buck.
Clark is among those appearing at a press conference at 1:30 p.m. today at which Buck will be asked to retract his statement.
As shown by the Meet the Press transcript, host David Gregory didn't exactly maneuver Buck into making this statement. Here's the exchange.
MR. GREGORY: And Mr. Buck I want to start with you. The issue of gays in our country, in a debate last month you expressed your support for "don't ask, don't tell," which we talked about with Mr. Gibbs, and you alluded to lifestyle choices. Do you believe that being gay is a choice?MR. BUCK: I, I, I think that birth has an influence over like alcoholism and some other things, but I think that basically you, you have a choice.
Clark says he was dismayed by this statement but not exactly surprised.
"It was just one more in a long line of examples that show he's out of touch with the majority of Colorado," he maintains. "I think the majority of Coloradans would disagree with his position" -- and so do most behavioral experts: "Every major medical and mental-health association across the country has disputed Ken Buck's position.
"Even more troubling," he continues, "is that he didn't say it was just a choice. He went further, comparing it to a disease like alcoholism."
Brad Clark.
Buck spokesman Owen Loftus maintains that debates about the roots of homosexuality or his decision not to file charges in a controversial 2005 date-rape case are distractions from the issues that are most important to Coloradans these days, including jobs and the economy. Clark disagrees.
"Voters deserve to know where Ken Buck stands on this issue," he allows. "Just last week, a federal court overturned 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and that issue's going to be before Congress. It's the type of issue the U.S. Senate will have to address -- and what we found out over the weekend is that Ken Buck's position is really rooted in biased ideology and some very flawed research."
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