Forsyth County politics pick up again with homophobia, bigotry & prejudice
by Matt | December 29th, 2005 |As Nathan Tabor announces his intentions to run for office, one thing becomes apparent: Homophobia, bigotry and prejudice will once again be the currency of Forsyth County politics.
According to an article published by The Winston-Salem Journal, the race for Senator Ham Horton’s seat in the North Carolina Senate is heating up.
Nathan Tabor, a young Republican conservative activist (should be known as anti-gay bigot) from Kernersville, has announced that he will run for the Horton’s seat in 2006, the 31st NC Senate District.
Tabor (pictured right), who made an unsuccessful run for the 5th Congressional District in 2004, was called a “young Jesse Helms” by Liberty University founder the Reverend Jerry Falwell, who is himself one of the biggest anti-gay bigots in America (recall his placing blame for September 11th on the “feminists and homosexuals”). Tabor lost his 2004 bid for Congress to Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5); by the way, did everyone see her open the NY Stock Exchange yesterday with her grandchildren? How cute.
Everyone, I am sure remembers the horrible anti-gay fear tactics which were used during that dreaded 2004 race for the 5th Congressional District. Even I found myself wrapped up into that melodrama when the now ousted City Councilmember Vernon Robinson decided to hold a counter-protest to my April 2004 demonstration against the Boy Scout’s anti-gay membership policies. Needless to say and known to everyone, Robinson also lost his bid for Congress and in the process of angering Winston-Salem Democrats with his anti-gay bully tactics lost his City Council seat to Democratic newcomer Molly Leight this past November.
It seems now, however, that Nathan Tabor is all too willing to insert the same anti-gay tactics into his race for the North Carolina Senate. Homophobia, bigotry and prejudice will once again be the currency of Forsyth County politics. How sad.
In a commentary piece published today on TheConservativeVoice.com, Tabor mentions gay marriage as something which the Republican Party should resolve to fight:
Protect the sanctity of marriage. It should be no surprise that former Democratic President Bill Clinton is making headlines by sending a video of congratulations to singer Elton John for his “marriage” to his homosexual lover. The Democratic Party is, quite simply, the party of gay marriage. Given this fact of modern political life, the GOP is in the perfect position to protect the sanctity of marriage. Republican leaders must spearhead initiatives to ban marriage between homosexuals. Dr. Timothy J. Dailey of the Family Research Council has written, “By their own admission, gay activists are not simply interested in making it possible for homosexuals and lesbians to partake of conventional married life. Rather, they aim to change the essential character of marriage, removing precisely the aspects of fidelity and chastity that promote stability in the relationship and the home.” The push for gay marriage is, at its core, an attack on the traditional family. For the sake of our children and our children’s children, the Republican Party must take concrete action to put a stop to gay marriage.
Tabor goes on to say that fighting gay marriage should be one of the Republican Party’s top three priorities; the other two being fighting abortion and big government. What ever happened to healthcare, employment, national security, economic stability, democratization and, let us not forget… the illegal and unconstitutional spying on American citizens?
I’ve come under attack on the UNCG campus for being a conservative, or at least for being more conservative minded. Many people have said you can’t be gay and conservative and the reason for their thinking is rooted in the anti-gay tactics of people like Tabor, who proclaim themselves to be “conservative”. The thinking also comes from the mainstream media, who pick up this false ideology of what “conservative” means. Conservative does not mean Republican, and neither does it mean anti-gay. Being conservative, at least to me, means standing up for social decency, defending the tradition of American independence, bringing democracy to more people (within and without the United States), favoring a smaller, although not
absent, federal government and states’ rights (at least Tabor has that part right).
Tabor, who has gone as far as to already have a campaign website, TaborForSenate.com, touts himself as the only acceptable, “conservative” successor to Senator Horton. In his list of those who supported him in his 2004 run for Congress are the names of some of the most anti-gay bigots in the nation: Pat Robertson, Beverly and Tim LaHaye, Bob Jones III, Jerry Falwell and many more. He has also worked with the likes of Jesse Helms and Elizabeth Dole.
The sidebar on his website (pictured right) lists all of the supposed “important issues” of his campaign. I think that it is important to note that five out of the nine issues mentioned are among a large list of the Republicans’ hot-button, scare-tactic issues. Although he highlights job creation, tax cuts, education, and balanced budget issues why does he feel the need to insert issues which serve only to push voters toward positions which tend to be prejudiced.
One of those hot-button issues is of course the “protection of traditional marriage”. Another is illegal immigration and while I can support the notion that illegal immigration is, of course, illegal and wrong (and that it must be stopped), I can also see another way in which to go about addressing the issue. It should not be used as one of those hot-button issues, as all it will do is fan the fires of anti-immigrant prejudice just as using anti-gay tactics will fan the fires of anti-gay prejudice.
There is no room for such blatant homophobic and prejudiced tactics in Forsyth County politics. Winston-Salem citizens evidently understand this as they very loudly ousted Robinson from the City Council. Hopefully, the more “conservative” people (should be known as anti-gay bigots) of Forsyth County will understand this.
Politicians and candidates everywhere need to understand how to stick to the issues and stop going off on conquests to control other people’s lives and create an un-needed and un-American second-class citizenship.
The Forsyth County Democratic Party says they will be mounting a challenge to the Republican candidate(s). They say they will have a “viable” campaign. I hope and pray to God that this is so, because we do not need another bigot in the North Carolina Senate.
Technorati Tags: gay, lgbt, gay rights, nathan tabor, forsyth county, winston-salem, triad, north carolina, senate
16 Responses to “Forsyth County politics pick up again with homophobia, bigotry & prejudice”
I can almost say with complete certainty that the ONLY reason that bastard is running is because Vernon is… they both got smacked around last time, but it was particularly shameful for Tabor, because even Vernon Robinson got more votes than he did. He’s out for blood, that’s it.
His website just panders to what he thinks conservative norms are, he doesn’t have an identity of his own. His website is proof of that… the conservative voice, my ass.
By Ryan Radford on Dec 29, 2005
But.. oh no, Vermin is not running.
From The Winston-Salem Journal:
Robinson said he could not even consider running because of his address. He does not live in the 31st Senate District, which is formed mostly by the part of For-syth County that circles Winston-Salem.>
Tabor is just out to make himself into something he is not… he is a conservative activist not a conservative politician.
By Matt Hill on Dec 29, 2005
Really… hmm, I read somewhere he was running. Oh well.
I still hate Nathan Tabor, pompous little asshole.
By Ryan Radford on Dec 29, 2005
Same sentiment here… I’ll just let you use the profanities, lol.
By Matt Hill on Dec 29, 2005
This was the first I have heard of this guy and it won’t be the last either.
There is no room for such blatant homophobic and prejudiced tactics in Forsyth County politics.
Agreed my friend. And that goes for Guilford and everywhere.
By Samantha on Dec 30, 2005
Oh, definitely… I’ll be keeping a look out for good ole’ Mr. Tabor. I hope I get a chance to meet him, although he’ll probably not be honorable enough to do that kind of thing, just like how Vermin turned down my offer to go over and meet him, shake his hand and acknowledge both of our rights to protest during my Scout demonstration.
By Matt Hill on Dec 30, 2005
Now Nathan is running for senate. There are a lot of trouble makers who are members of the Southern Baptist convention. (SBC) I am not say that all baptists are bad. I am saying that most of these wingnuts are southern white baptists using the SBC to gain power. I would like to meet this Nathan and another ond who concerns me is Al Mohler. He is the president. I think we should wake up this website and do some research on the SBC and find out the doctrine, the history and why these people have to be so legalistic. Tabor is not the only nut job.
If Jesus came down in the flesh again do you think these christian men of authority would like taking orders from Him? I doubt it.
By Jake on Aug 11, 2006
Actually the President of the SBC is Frank Page. Nathan is no longer running for Senate… he lost the primary… BUT I do understand your feelings and I do agree that a lot of bad things have gone wrong with the Baptists and their mixing of religious views and government policy/actions.
By Matt on Aug 11, 2006
I have been watching Mr. Tabor for sometime, and I live in California for crying out loud. The website The Conservative Voice, really is far more than just gay-bashing. He often published the most incredibly bigoted things regarding people living together, other religions, other “false christians”, and sometimes purely relgious rantings of people who must be so stuck on their own self righteousness that they really must believe God does speak through them. It has really been going down hill fast, and I have to say it is so entertaining and captivating that I am a little addicted to his site.
He has really spread out from just gay bashing. Practically anyone who is not a fanatical right wing protestant or extreme catholic christian will find at least something there to be offended by. I promise. I kind of like the Conservative Voice because it is now almost a one-stop shop on the Christian Right and whatever absurd things one of their commentators may be floating currently in the wind. Just one click, and I see the whole thing. My favorite is Rob Hood. This guy would be clinically insane in most states.
By Dave on Aug 11, 2006
Thanks for the comment Dave.
I have to wonder though… why has this older post of mine (#491 out of more than 1200 now) has suddenly become so popular… Did Mr. Tabor make a post blasting me or something, lol?
By Matt on Aug 12, 2006
Matt,
I did a search of the following words “gay nathan tabor” and I found a link to your site, and at first the article on anti-gay poltical watch, which links to this blog.
The reason I did the search is because I wanted to see if there was anything out there about Nathan being gay. He looks kind of gay. He is certainly obssed with gays. So, I was curious to see what I would find about him.
He kind of fits a certain model of someone who has unresolved issues in his life, which in my opinion has to be why he is driven to such extremes in his writings, and the opinion articles which he post which go from mild to wild at times and includes a number of articles which are nothing but pushing theological arguements and ideas. They are no longer even political but on subjects such as Hell, or the 2nd comming of Christ, or the nature of Sin. Crackers.
So, maybe just chance. Maybe he is steering up so much curiosity about why he feels so intensenly about gays that others decide to do the same search I did and run into this site. Who knows. Keep up the good work.
By Dave on Aug 12, 2006
You are kidding right? You probably wont show this on your website which is fine, but I want you to read it. Nathan Tabor and his brothers are some of the greatest men NC has. Nathan’s older brother is a doctor and invented revival soy which is a great product and has helped many many people. Nathan is a a very nice man with a loving family and he is not gay. He would not be something that God hates. The bible clearly says God hates the act of homosexuality not the homosexual. And before you go and trash all the Baptist, maybe you ought to look and see all the good they do. Some people will find any excuse and bash anyone to get their point accross.
By Janet on Oct 31, 2006
What makes you think I wouldn’t show it on my site Janet? I almost always allow for discussion, even if I disagree.
I never said Tabor was gay… that was commenter Dave.
On your point: And before you go and trash all the Baptist, maybe you ought to look and see all the good they do.
Would you say the same 150 years ago and defend the Baptists who defended slavery? What about 100 years ago… would you defend the Baptists who defended keeping women from voting? What about 50 years ago… would you defend the Baptists who defended segregation and bans on inter-racial marriage? “Oh, but look at all the good they do!”
B.S. The “good they do” does not excuse the wrongs they do by hurting people and attempting to institutionalize discrimination against people.
By Matt on Oct 31, 2006
And… by the way… Did you even read my post? I didn’t “bash” Tabor for being a Baptist. Those were commenters. I called Tabor for being a homobigot bent out on putting a whole group of people in a second-class citizenship.
By Matt on Oct 31, 2006
Vermin Rottenson is running against Brad Miller in Guilford. That’s probably what the previous poster was referring to. Over here in Guilford, we wish that nutcase would go back home, but it’s clear that Forsyth doesn’t want him back, either. Don’t blame you — Rottenson is completely unhinged and shouldn’t be walking around loose and off his meds.
As for Tabor, yeah, I saw him on WXII-12, spouting about his “family values”. It’s 100% certain 100% of the time, when a selfservative, um, “conservative” candidate spouts the words “family values” it means “I’ve smelled the money trough in DC and I want what’s in it for me!!!”
See how Burr and Fox turned out. Abramoff money, DeLay agenda voting record. If anyone in central NC needed a demonstration of selfservative “values”, there it is. Tabor’s just another pitiful wannabe who will never be allowed to sit at the same table as the Bushes, Roves, Mellons, Scaifes, and the sorry lot of seditionists. These vipers in lamb’s clothing attack the Constitution (the very most unpatriotic act any American can ever perform), using this “values” shell game to stomp on the Bill of Rights for their own enrichment.
Only an unpatriotic, bigoted fool could ever fall for the line of spew that flows from the likes of the extreme nutcase right, such as Robinson, Tabor, Fox, Burr and Dole. How benighted does someone have to be, to accept that these people will actually legislate their version of “morality” when their voting record and campaign finance habits (public record! Google it up!) reveal that they are the biggest, greediest pigs on earth.
I’m voting early today and making sure that Brad Miller gets my vote. BTW, when (not if, kids) you vote, make sure that your final ballot reflects your true vote. Check carefully. Irregularities and problems are already cropping up all over — 100% of them favoring Republican candidates. Take that as you will, I’m just reporting the facts as they are on the ground so far.
By HillWilliam on Oct 31, 2006
how funny. I wonder how Janet suddenly ran across this stuff? It is amazing to me that “Christians” never question anything. The fundamentalist world view, and specifically the literal interperation of the bible world view seems to attract the most currious personalities. Any suggestion that their world is less than perfect, or someone is not what they seem is met with outrage.
I have no idea if Nathan is gay. But Ted Haggard, well, there is a story of stories that Shakespear could have written. You know this guy actually wrote a book about marriage? I can not imagine what part of his heart had Jesus in it. Was it the part doing Meth, or the part doing gay sex, or the part peddling books, tapes, and movies about fundamentalism? And people like Janet wonder why people like me have such questions and would dare to question a figure like Nathan.
By Dave on Nov 21, 2006