Trump-Backed MAGA Senate Candidate Linked to Gay Hookup Site

MicroWave@lemmy.world to politics @lemmy.world – 304 points – Trump-Backed MAGA Senate Candidate Linked to Gay Hookup Site
newrepublic.com

Ohio’s Bernie Moreno is trying to blame someone else for his presence on the site.

The leading candidate in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary has been linked to a profile on a gay hookup website, sparking in-party fears that he could cost them the race.

Entrepreneur Bernie Moreno is one of three men running to face off against Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in the fall. So far, Moreno is the front-runner, and his far-right stances opposing abortion access and LGBTQ rights have earned him an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

But in 2008, someone used Moreno’s email address to make an account seeking “Men for 1-on-1 sex” on the casual sex website Adult Friend Finder, the Associated Press reported late Thursday.

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Note: This wouldn't be news if Moreno had stayed supportive of LGBTQ rights instead of recently campaigning on bigoted GOP talking points. The hypocrisy is the important part.

Beyond Moreno’s link to a queer sex website, voters may also be put off by his flip-flopping on LGBTQ rights. Moreno’s oldest son is gay, and he expressed support for LGBTQ rights and anti-discrimination legislation as recently as 2020.

But starting in 2021, when Moreno first ran for Senate, he began to distance himself from his past positions. During this campaign, he has spouted common Republican talking points, including accusing LGBTQ rights advocates of pushing a “radical” agenda of “indoctrination.”

Having a gay kid while hiding in the closet and being an open bigot towards gay people must be really hard.... hopefully he suffers from the stress.

I hope his kid realizes his dad is an asshole, I hope his kid cuts him out of life, I hope his kid lives a happy and successful life, I hope that his dad lives with regret until he dies.

Or he could just lose the election, get out of politics and privately apologize to his son.

As long as he isn’t elected.

I once read that it's easier to gain support as a Republican running independent than a Democratic running independent.

I have always wondered what it would look like if an Independent tried to get an easier entry through the Republican party what may happen.

I imagine it could look something similar to this. The commentary on this reminded me of this thought.

Family Values means creating Legislation designed to put your Own Children in Jail!

out👏every👏gay👏republican👏

no reason they shouldn’t face the same public shaming they impose on everyone else, fair’s fair!

also god wants you to do it, he told me just now when no one else was looking.

Moreno’s campaign told the AP that a former intern, Dan Ricci, had created the account as a prank. Ricci also provided a statement saying he made the profile as “part of a juvenile prank.”

I hate the idea that someone's sexuality can even cost them an election....

Buuuuut, couldn't happen to a nicer guy if you ask me.

It not his sexuality, it’s his hypocrisy and the GOP’s hate.

Imagine being so fragile that someone else’s sexuality could cost you an electoral win.

My god, they’re repulsive.

Likely because every accusation is actually a confession.

Also, if people would read the article:

Moreno’s campaign told the AP that a former intern, Dan Ricci, had created the account as a prank. Ricci also provided a statement saying he made the profile as “part of a juvenile prank.”

but as @snooggums has pointed out, it's the hypocrisy of him flip flopping that going to hurt him the most.