Wednesday, February 22, 2012
politics LDS Businessman VanderSloot: 'I Have Many Gay Friends'
Posted by George Prentice on Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Frank VanderSloot, the Idaho billionaire who, along with his employees and relatives, continues to pump more than $1 million into Mitt Romney's campaign bank account and super PACs supporting Romney, has had a volatile week in the national media.
Monday night, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow likened VanderSloot, founder of Malaleuca (a manufacturer of cosmetic, nutritional and skin-care products) to a 19th century copper baron. Maddow referred to salon.com columnist Glenn Greenwald's recent essay that accused VanderSloot of using "thuggish" tactics to silence gay-friendly journalists. Greenwald, a recent guest of the ACLU Idaho, wrote the column after meeting with Idaho journalist and regular BW reporter Jody May-Chang.
"[May-Chang] mentioned to me the series of threats issued to local LGBT journalists and bloggers by VanderSloot," wrote Greenwald. "Unbenknownst to May-Chang at the time, she, too, had been targeted for the crime of speaking critically of the Idaho CEO."
May-Chang, in the wake of her 2007 reporting of VanderSloot's political support of then-Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, received a series of communications from Melaleuca's legal team saying she had reported "inflammatory rhetoric" with "false accusations of bigotry." May-Chang said VanderSloot's lawyers continued to badger her at home.
"But May-Chang is determined not to succumb to this bullying," wrote Greenwald. "Or to relinquish her right to opine and report on the conduct of a very significant political figure in her state."
Additionally, VanderSloot's wife reportedly made a $100,000 donation to the Prop 8 campaign, the effort the ban gay marriage in California. KIFI-TV in Idaho Falls also reported that VanderSloot had attempted to "out" a gay Idaho Falls reporter, which he denied, but made certain to mention the reporter's name in his statement of denial.
"It was public knowledge that [he] was gay," said VanderSloot.
In a lengthy statement released on Tuesday, VanderSloot contended that he was gay-friendly.
"I have many gay friends who I love and respect," he wrote. "And I believe they love and respect me."
Comments (30)
Showing 1-30 of 30
As I mentioned to someone else yesterday, Frank VanderSloot's 'gay friends' must all live in Upper Imaginary Gaylandistan, across the river from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Vader can't even bring himself to admit he's a Republican, so why would anyone believe anything else in his letter?
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I think that my favorite part about this is the "outing" of the reporter. If it's okay to be gay, then what's the big deal?
Vandersloot is a slimey toad. Him saying he isn't anti-gay is laughable.
Why does it matter that he's LDS? You wouldn't put "Catholic," "Jewish," or "Muslim" in the headline if he were aligned with those faiths. I thought the Margaret Lawrence story was a fluke, but it appears George Prentice thinks that anything bad that LDS people do is explained by the fact that they are LDS.
If you do have gay friends, I can guarantee they don't respect you.
How can you "guarantee" that, cominginsecond? You might feel differently, but you don't know how every single gay person feels or who they respect. With Melaleuca being one of the biggest employers in Idaho with hundreds of thousands as part of their sales force, I'd imagine there are tons of gay employees and marketing executives at Melaleuca - they might feel totally different than you as they get to know Frank.
Every one has thier own thoughts on the whole thing..and every one is different. But right now in this economy..if it's going to hurt some ones income because of what some political news media suggests..right or left... I listen both right and left news all the time and I have no political stance but I'm seeing too many people trying to pay bills and not making it. God help us!
I have many friends and family members whom I love, oh by the way, they are gay. They talk about mr Vandersloot like he is a joke.
Seems to me there is some ju-jitsu going on--"gay" rights activists bashing Frank VanderSloot and then yelling like it was him going after them. My children love to (try to) pull that trick. Somehow--in the press--yelling "Foul" when you are the perpetrator is okay. Frank's real sins are hard work, good fortune, and being conservative. America was founded on those principles. I'll not jump on the bandwagon with those who would make supporting the candidate of your choice sound like a crime.
'I Have Many Gay Friends' is probably based on his knowledge of statistics.
Peter is a very prominent member of the gay community in the NW. He's dating the mayor of Portland for goodness' sake. He told me he was gay three months before Frank ever breathed a word, and I was just a casual acquaintance at the time. It wasn't a secret.
I know Frank and Melaleuca. I have lived in Idaho Falls my whole life. He is an honest stand-up guy who cares deeply about Idaho and its people. When he says he is something, take it to the bank. He is one of the most honorable men i know.
I don't know whether Prentice or somebody else at BW authored the "LDS Businessman..." headline, but I agree with cominginsecond that VanderSloot's religion is irrelevant to the story. Unless BW just has an axe to grind. (And it's pretty obvious they have some enmity toward the Mormons.) Leaving his religious affiliation out of the story would be the "objective journalist" thing to do.
Well, who are these gay friends? They should come on out and stand up for Frank!
I find it interesting that BW and the liberal media are calling into question Mr. VanderSloot's motives for participating in the political process and expecting accuracy in reporting - but no one questions Ms. May-Chang's motives when she calls him a bigot. Talk about using inflammatory tactics to silence a critic.
What we've lost in America is the ability to criticize certain special interest groups because they automatically cry out the bigots have denied them of some right. The truth is just because the conservative right disagrees with someone's lifestyle does not come even close to proving that they would mistreat or take away that person's rights.
"I don't know whether Prentice or somebody else at BW authored the "LDS Businessman..." headline, but I agree with cominginsecond that VanderSloot's religion is irrelevant to the story. Unless BW just has an axe to grind. (And it's pretty obvious they have some enmity toward the Mormons.) Leaving his religious affiliation out of the story would be the "objective journalist" thing to do."
I couldn't agree more.
Melaleuca makes great products and I'm really gonna miss using them. Honestly. Truly. That said, those who would defend VanderSloot need to unconfuse the issues of "quality cleaning and skincare products" and "super-massive political influence being wielded to denigrate and intimidate Americans."
Trying to get the facts without fully citing the person involved is never going to give the full story. Listen to what Frank actually said and what others have said in his defense.
http://www.frankvanderslootresponse.com/
Always surprises me how people can assign all sorts of motives and character flaws to someone based on second- and third-hand accounts. Isn't that the dishonesty every right-thinking person is already railing against? This is exactly what VanderSloot is so adamant about fighting. Articles that don't get the facts right and make liberal use of assumption and hearsay--already damaging a reputation even if they don't get corrected quickly—later get quoted as solid fact by other reporters and bloggers, simply because they already exist. The further down the road we get, the more work it is to refute those "known facts."
"Speaking critically" vs. slander. If you had a company to defend with thousands of livelihoods depending on it and lawyers paid to defend it, would you engage the legal system designed to protect you or would you simply look the other way?
Frank is a good man. Look at his response. He has totally taken the high road here. That speaks volumes about the man's character. In the face of brutal lies and distortions, Frank has not flinched. Haters will always exist. But they will never build anything like what Frank has done.
Perhaps what Vanderfloot meant to say was that he has many friends who have "wide stances," similar to that of Larry Craig.
Case law is very clear here ( Times vs. Sullivan - look it up) - VanderSloot is a public figure by virtue of his active participation in public debate - remember the Roberts-Scalia court says "Money=Free Speech". He enjoys no legal protection when he takes a position on any public issue. Whether you buy a full page ad to criticize someone or pay $100K to support a political campaign, you're jumping into the free market of ideas with both feet. - Just like the founders intended.
The point of Prentice's and Greenwald's articles is that VanderSloot used intimidating legal practices against several journalists to silence his critics. That is the wrong here. Free speech and free press cannot be bounded by tactics like this. Yes, these moves are thuggish, slimy and cowardly...So Frank, if you can't the the heat...get out of the frickin' kitchen. As far as religion is concerned, it has no bearing on this issue.
Vandersloot, last week, gave a nearly 4 page long, wordy response to the outrage he received to his insensitive comments about gays and his attempts to silence his critics. He also mentioned a film that aired a few years ago on PBS, which he was critical of and publicly protested, and he claims targeted 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade children. The man claims that is why he believes others believe he is anti-gay, which he says isn't and only didn't want that film shown during prime-time hours.
Debra Chasnoff, award winning documentary film maker, responded to Vandersloot's letter:
"Fourteen years after my film, "It's Elementary—Talking About Gay Issues in School" aired in Idaho Mr. VanderSloot is STILL mischaracterizing it. The point of this documentary is not and never was to "promote the concept of gay marriage to first, second and third graders." The point of the film was to show that all children are affected by anti-gay prejudice and that all adults, especially those who work with children, have a responsibility and the ability to address that bias in age-appropriate, respectful ways.
With the ever-growing tide of youth violence and suicide related to homophobia, it has never been more crucial that our schools pro-actively address bias and prejudice. Mr. VanderSloot was indeed quite responsible for whipping up fears that our film was advocating indoctrinating children rather than the truth - that the film was advocating that ALL adults step up and take action to protect children by preventing violence and harassment connected to anti-gay bullying. I don't care how many gay friends you have Mr.VanderSloot. The harm you caused during the months before "It's Elementary" aired was extensive. Your campaign created a cloud of confusion that led many people in Idaho to fear and resist curricula which addresses ignorance about LGBT people.
Who paid the price for the billboards that you bankrolled? Children. I shudder to think who will pay the price for the campaign you are now bankrolling."
I'm sorry, but I agree with Frank and not Debra on this point. I don't want PBS or this documentary telling my kindergardner about sexual issues. As a parent of four little kids, I don't think my oldest child, a five-year-old girl, is ready for it just yet. Does that also make me a "homophobe" and "anti-gay" as several bloggers have called Frank? Just because he didn't want that show to air during prime time, he's been labeled anti-gay and a boycott of Melaleuca was called for. Now who is the bully?
I think it is telling that that Mother Jones, one of the supposed victims cited by Greenwald, took down its article and then re-posted it with a bunch of "corrections," "updates," and changes. It shows that MJ made false statements in the original -- and I don't think it wasn't bullying for Vandersloot to ask them to correct the false statements. It makes no sense to think that the likes of MJ and Forbes are shaking in their boots after getting a letter from Vandersloot, when the publisher of the local Idaho Falls newspaper (who presumably lives in the same small town as Vandersloot) says "I've never felt so threatened that I considered pulling or killing a story." His complete statement is available at frankvanderslootresponse.com
whatarewedoin, you are right to monitor the material being offered your 5 year old daughter. You did watch the film, before deciding it was inappropriate for your child, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzrznSpf8V4
Children and adults, talking about respect for all.
HEY FRANK: I wonder exactly how many people you are paying to put comments that cast you in an undeservedly favorable light on all of these articles exposing you for the sleazy worm that you are. What's next? "Frank is a kind and generous man who gives to the community...oh, and rainbows come out of his ass." Hmmm...maybe that's why he has so many gay friends?? Please.
If you want to know the significance of his believing in the LDS doctrine and having power through his money you would need to learn the history of the Latter Day Saints.
Subscribing to a male dominated, elitist cult that worships money and preaches that members have no choice but to follow the direction of cult leaders--well it is important for the rest of us to know where the man gets his ideas.
The importance of being a Latter Day Saint.
He Made Lincoln Laugh; Don Carle Gillette; 1967 67-26394 (most popular Dan Rice is paid recruiter for LDS leaders throughout the US)
Emma; Juanita Brooks; 1978 978-0-87421-121-4
The Mountain Meadows Massacre; Juanita Brooks; 1950 0-8061-0549-6
Mormonism Unveiled, or Life & Confession of John D. Lee and Brigham Young; John Doyle Lee; 1877 0-8263-2787-7
The Murder of Christ; Wilhelm Reich; 1953 671-21912-x
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