Another one bites the dust

[ladyinred]

Published on Saturday, April 28, 2007 by ABC News
Senior Bush Official Linked to Escort Service Resigns
by Brian Ross and Justin Rood
Deputy Secretary of State Randall L. Tobias submitted his resignation Friday, one day after confirming to ABC News that he had been a customer of a Washington, D.C. escort service whose owner has been charged by federal prosecutors with running a prostitution operation.Tobias, 65, director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), had previously served as the ambassador for the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief.

A State Department press release late Friday afternoon said only he was leaving for “personal reasons.”

On Thursday, Tobias told ABC News he had several times called the “Pamela Martin and Associates” escort service “to have gals come over to the condo to give me a massage.” Tobias, who is married, said there had been “no sex,” and that recently he had been using another service “with Central Americans” to provide massages.

Tobias’ private cell number was among thousands of numbers listed in the telephone records provided to ABC News by Jeane Palfrey, the woman dubbed the “D.C. Madam,” who is facing the federal charges. In an interview to be broadcast on “20/20″ next Friday, Palfrey says she intends to call Tobias and a number of her other prominent D.C. clients to testify at her trial.

“I’m sure as heck not going to be going to federal prison for one day, let alone, four to eight years, because I’m shy about bringing in the deputy secretary of whatever,” Palfrey told ABC News.

Palfrey maintains she ran a sexual fantasy business that was legal and that if any of the women who were working for her had sex, they did so in violation of her rules and without her knowledge. She says there are a number of other prominent Washington, D.C. men who will be on her witness list. “I’ll bring every last one of them in if necessary,” Palfrey said.

As the Bush administration’s so-called “AIDS czar,” Tobias was criticized by some for emphasizing faithfulness and abstinence over condom use to prevent the spread of AIDS.

In a 2004 interview, Tobias explained his approach as “A and B and C. . . Abstinence works. ‘Be faithful’ works. Condoms work. They all have a role. But it’s not a multiple choice, where there is only one answer.”

As a top official overseeing global AIDS funding to other countries, Tobias was responsible for enforcing a U.S. policy, enacted during the Bush administration, that requires recipients to swear they oppose prostitution and sex trafficking. USAID adopted a similar policy in 2004.

At an April 18 speech, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Tobias’ work. “Randy Tobias has indeed had many roles in his life, but none more important than the roles he’s played in government, where he has been someone who has been most involved in organizing America’s compassion to the world.”

A biography of Tobias was removed from the USAID Web site, but an archived version shows that before joining the State Department, Tobias had been CEO of drug manufacturer Eli Lilly Co. and AT&T Communications, and served on the board of trustees for Duke University, including three years as its chair.

In 2003, he co-wrote a book on leadership lessons with his son, Todd, entitled, “Put the Moose on the Table.” Indiana University, whose publishing arm produced the volume, is also home to the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence.

Along with his wife, Marianne, Tobias donated over $100,000 to Republican candidates and political committees, according to the campaign finance Web site OpenSecrets.org.

Tobias is the second prominent man to be identified as a customer of the Palfrey’s “sexual fantasy service.” Two weeks ago, Palfrey alleged that military strategist Harlan K. Ullman, creator of the “shock and awe” combat theory and now a scholar with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, was also a customer. Ullman has said that the claim was “beneath the dignity of comment.”

Palfrey is expected to appear in court on Monday, to request permission to replace her criminal defense attorney, currently a federal public defender.

Copyright © 2007 ABCNews Iternet Ventures

[sjbouza]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA:lol:

Ahem...sorry for that. So what is going to happen in the next two years? Is the entire Bush administration going to be caught up in some scandal or another? It isnt looking to good for our Prez. These, I am assuming at least, that these are people that he has appointed. So ultimately, it is his credibility that is coming into question.

I will be amazed if Bush dosent at some point get caught up in some big scangal himself. Well, other than the huge scandal that he calls "the war on terror". This man, and the Christian Fundamentalists, need to be taken down a huge notch. I think it is going to happen soon. These people are just usurping the law and they are starting to get caught. More and more things are going to get brought to light in the next two years. I think this country is in for a beg wake up when it comes to Bush and what he has "really" been doing. The Christian Fundamentalists have him so far in their back pocket that he just cant get away from them. He is so indebted to them because they got him elected. I think they know to much about him and are holding it over him. "If you dont do what we want...we are going to tell it all," says James Dobson. There is something big happening or has happened that Bush is involved in and they are holding it over him. It is now that things are just coming to the light.

The next two years will be interesting. Is impeachment in the future for our "wonderful" **cough...cough...choke** Prez? We can only hope. I do know this, well I think this. The Republican party has been totally screwed by Bush and the Christian Fundamentalist movement. They have lost soooooo much credibility, even with their own supporters. I will be amazed if a Republican is elected Prez in the next election. I do know I feel sorry for whomever does take the office, they are going to have a HUGE MESS to clean up.

GORE IN 2008!!!! Come on Gore...put your bid in PLEASE!!!!!!

[RM260boy]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA:lol:


The next two years will be interesting. Is impeachment in the future for our "wonderful" **cough...cough...choke** Prez? We can only hope. I do know this, well I think this. The Republican party has been totally screwed by Bush and the Christian Fundamentalist movement. They have lost soooooo much credibility, even with their own supporters. I will be amazed if a Republican is elected Prez in the next election. I do know I feel sorry for whomever does take the office, they are going to have a HUGE MESS to clean up.

GORE IN 2008!!!! Come on Gore...put your bid in PLEASE!!!!!!

personaly i am glad that these things are coming to light... my (perverted) mind wants to know who jeff gannon was going to see.
i would prefer that the country not have to go through the specter of another impeachment. could he and vp cheney show the dignity that agnew and nixon had... and step down?

[Emproph]

Video (http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/28/ross-white-house-madam/):

ABC’s Ross: DC Madam’s List Includes White House & Pentagon Officials, Prominent Lawyers

ROSS: There are thousands of names, tens of thousands of phone numbers, and there are people there at the Pentagon, lobbyists, others at the White House, prominent lawyers — a long, long list, and as well, the women who work for the service, David, include university professors, legal secretaries, scientists, military officers.

--
And todays Washington Post article:

'I Abhor Injustice,' Alleged Madam Says (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/28/AR2007042801192.html?nav=rss_politics)

[Emproph]

Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

From The Raw Story (http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Senator_Vitter_admits_number_on_DC_0709.html), via Pam's House Blend (http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2256):

Senator Vitter admits number on 'DC Madam' phone records

http://www.rawstory.com/images/other/070907vitter.jpg

First term Senator David Vitter (R-LA) admitted Monday night that his phone number was on the phone records of the so-called "DC Madam."

In 2004, Vitter campaigned with a promise (http://www.vitter2004.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=20) of "protecting the sanctity of marriage," and was a co-author of the "Federal Marriage Act" that sought to prohibit courts from interpreting same-sex marriage laws.

I was so with him when he criticized the Bush administration after hurricane Katrina, until I heard his decidedly anti-gay diatribe in support of the marriage amendment. But I'm not vitter.

Some humorous takes on it:
Jon Swift:
David Vitter: Another Victim of Gay Marriage (http://jonswift.blogspot.com/2007/07/david-vitter-another-victim-of-gay.html)

Good As You:
The sanctity of...madams? (http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2007/07/the-sanctity-of.html)

[Dash]

You know, just when you think you've made some spiritual progress, suddenly you find yourself laughing out loud and clapping your hands in glee over another politician's foolishness. :o

Bad Dash!! Bad Dash!!!

[u-dog]

You know, just when you think you've made some spiritual progress, suddenly you find yourself laughing out loud and clapping your hands in glee over another politician's foolishness. :o

Bad Dash!! Bad Dash!!!


I know JUST what you mean Dash! but what usually sobers me up is thinking what this kind of across the board scandal will do to the health of the body politic.

On the other hand if a bunch of right wing politicians and their rightwing neo con Christian handlers are exposed for what they are... it might be worth it.

[revtj]

As a friend of mine used to say, "Men would be OK if they could just learn where to put their things" ;)

I wish someone would compile a list of the sexual misconduct of all these anti-gay folks. Seems like the Shakespearean rule of 'methinks thou dost protest too much' is infallible, inerrant wisdom here...

[revtj]

http://www.towleroad.com/2007/07/gop-florida-sta.html

This guy authored a bill against lewd conduct. What is UP with this BLATANT HYPOCRISY? :eek:

[Emproph]

Actually this is a pretty good recording - and Queen to boot. (When it ironies it pours..)

Another One Bites The Dust
rNQRfBAzSzo

To be clear, and I'm sure many of you feel this way too, my relish is tempered with guilt.

-But the glass is half relish.

[paul]

Emproph

:rofl::smashy::rofl:

I knew I liked you from the start...I love double entendre.

[sjbouza]

Here is the link to download all the phone records of “Pamela Martin & Associates”. The link will take you to the page, just scroll down and they are broken down by years, the range from Jan 98 to Dec 02. It might be an interesting little thing to see. I havent downloaded them but I do have it marked in my favorites...;)

Anywho...here is the link

Phone records of the DC Madam...ready to download (http://deborahjeanepalfrey.com/Jeane10c.html)

Have fun. I love this...just goes to show you all the "holier than thou" crap is just a big pile of stinking shit. These guys have no clue, but what is worse is the American public just buys it hook line and sinker. I dont know which is worse them for being so hypocritical or the public in general for being so damn stupid!!!???

[revtj]

Not sure my computer has that many gigabytes!!

Anybody here remember Vicky Morgan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicki_Morgan)?

[pnggrad79]

http://www.towleroad.com/2007/07/gop-florida-sta.html

This guy authored a bill against lewd conduct. What is UP with this BLATANT HYPOCRISY? :eek:

What is up with this hypocrisy? Well it the proverbial pointing out the speck in someone else's eye and not the log in their own.

This guy likes to point fingers at gay people, as if they are worse than he is! Deflection at its finest.:rolleyes:

[kara speltz]

You know, just when you think you've made some spiritual progress, suddenly you find yourself laughing out loud and clapping your hands in glee over another politician's foolishness. :o

Bad Dash!! Bad Dash!!!

Dear Dash: Your post reminded me of one of my favorite sayings that a friend of mine came up with, "vengence is mine, sayeth the Lord, but if you're very, very good, I'll let you watch!":D

I don't like to gloat, but once in a while it sure is nice to "watch."

kara

[ladyinred]

They don't need a rope their neck is already under the noose, they are just hanging themselves and losing credibility.Call it foot in mouth disease.

[jhager]

Not to ruin the joyous mood, and it is joyous isn't it,

I hope we can all keep this laughter and joy in mind every time we see an LGBT friend cheating on their partner or going home form a long night of clubbing and drinking with yet another sexual partner.

I know it sounds pessimistic but I think of all the fun that we are having watching this story unfold and I think to myself, gee, if Dobson wanted to enjoy this same amount of laughter and celebration all he would have to do is spend 20 minutes driving through boystown Chicago or the Castro in SF or any of the other hundreds of LGBT neighborhoods and he would see much of the same foolishness.

Lets keep in mind that as members of this forum and as members of the LGBT community our actions and the actions of our friends and relatives represent all of us. and most of the time the most difficult people to criticize are ourselves and those who are close to us. I know I'm guilty of that one.

Love and peace to all, oh and please dont think this means I want the celebration to stop, carry on Queen.

-Justin Hager

[u-dog]

Not to ruin the joyous mood, and it is joyous isn't it,

I hope we can all keep this laughter and joy in mind every time we see an LGBT friend cheating on their partner or going home form a long night of clubbing and drinking with yet another sexual partner.

I know it sounds pessimistic but I think of all the fun that we are having watching this story unfold and I think to myself, gee, if Dobson wanted to enjoy this same amount of laughter and celebration all he would have to do is spend 20 minutes driving through boystown Chicago or the Castro in SF or any of the other hundreds of LGBT neighborhoods and he would see much of the same foolishness.

Lets keep in mind that as members of this forum and as members of the LGBT community our actions and the actions of our friends and relatives represent all of us. and most of the time the most difficult people to criticize are ourselves and those who are close to us. I know I'm guilty of that one.

Love and peace to all, oh and please dont think this means I want the celebration to stop, carry on Queen.

-Justin Hager


NOt to disagree with anything that you have said Justin, since I believe it to be true, but I believe that the ironic humor in the situation stems from the hypocricy of conservative Rightwing Christians who pretend to adhere to a strict moral code and who insist on imposing that code onto others and then get caught violating that code.

[jhager]

NOt to disagree with anything that you have said Justin, since I believe it to be true, but I believe that the ironic humor in the situation stems from the hypocricy of conservative Rightwing Christians who pretend to adhere to a strict moral code and who insist on imposing that code onto others and then get caught violating that code.

absolutely U-dog, that is where the irony comes from, is the hypocricy, the only reason I eve bring it up is because of the same hypocricy I see daily in my own community. While I am more of a fan of Martin Luther King Jr than Malcolm X, Malcolm X made a very significant point when he asked black people, "How can we expect to be respected by the white man, when we do not respect ourselves." The people in this forum do respect themselves, otherwise they wouldn't be here, but we know people who don't, and I wanted to make a small plea to challenge those individuals. Challenge those who allow people like Dobson to continue to judge and condemn us, because in reality, LGBT people who do drugs, and go home with a different person every night, and don't vote, and are exclusive to ugly or fat people are enabling the James Dobson's of this world to spread their message of hate.

I mean, some of the best known images of LGBT people portrayed in this country come from Showtime's Queer as Folk, I love the show, but it doesn't exactly put a positive light on the moral or ethical values of LGBT individuals. And as much as I hate to admit it, the show is fairly accurate, at least when it comes to portraying the young gay men I know. I'm only one person, and I can't speak for everyone or all instances, I'm simply asking that we take a minute to assess how we can improve our own public image before we begin to enjoy the destruction of someone else's

[tymejumper]

What is up with this hypocrisy? Well it the proverbial pointing out the speck in someone else's eye and not the log in their own.

This guy likes to point fingers at gay people, as if they are worse than he is! Deflection at its finest.:rolleyes:

I was watching the whole idiotic thing on the t.v. tonight, and boy was I mad! How dare he claim "family values", take my rights away to legally marry the woman I love, and then to claim he "made a mistake" and that "God has forgiven him" ? I was really seeing red, not good for my karma either! My wife told me to calm down and stop yelling at the t.v.! LOL I get angry at those who take their marriages so flipantly and abuse the priveledges I would give my right arm for! ewwwww:mad:

[revtj]

NOt to disagree with anything that you have said Justin, since I believe it to be true, but I believe that the ironic humor in the situation stems from the hypocricy of conservative Rightwing Christians who pretend to adhere to a strict moral code and who insist on imposing that code onto others and then get caught violating that code.


Yes, dear, and I reserve the right to laugh at that because it is so much more healthy than other responses that are inside me...

Crudely put...A married guy gets sex from a prostitute during the same time he's on the floor of congress arguing against gay rights and for the sanctity of marriage. And he's one of dozens in government doing this...I can either laugh at the blatant hypocrisy or give in to a desire for vengance which I know to be outside the teachings of my sovereign Lord...BUT GOD NEVER SAID I COULDN'T HAVE A GOOD LAUGH OVER THE IRONY OF IT!!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D

I CHOOSE TO LAUGH! These people should be seen for the joke that they are...imho

[NathanATX]

Not to ruin the joyous mood, and it is joyous isn't it,

I hope we can all keep this laughter and joy in mind every time we see an LGBT friend cheating on their partner or going home form a long night of clubbing and drinking with yet another sexual partner.

I know it sounds pessimistic but I think of all the fun that we are having watching this story unfold and I think to myself, gee, if Dobson wanted to enjoy this same amount of laughter and celebration all he would have to do is spend 20 minutes driving through boystown Chicago or the Castro in SF or any of the other hundreds of LGBT neighborhoods and he would see much of the same foolishness.

Lets keep in mind that as members of this forum and as members of the LGBT community our actions and the actions of our friends and relatives represent all of us. and most of the time the most difficult people to criticize are ourselves and those who are close to us. I know I'm guilty of that one.

Love and peace to all, oh and please dont think this means I want the celebration to stop, carry on Queen.

-Justin Hager

(The following response is that of Nate Black and does not reflect the opinions, beliefs, etc., of any other person or organization.)

Justin, please don't take this personally. I want to respond to sentiment you've expressed, because it is one that I hear often.

Dobson and the like don't deserve a shame response from us. They have been the ones to abuse the hearts and minds of gay people to deepen their coffers.

There isn't anything going on in gay bars that doesn't go on in straight bars, strip clubs, brothels, swingers clubs, etc. I would rather bet that most gay bars are tame compared to what straight people can get up to.

So pardon me, but sometimes you need to call it what it is. (I edited out my own expletive... I try and save those for my blog. :) )

Are you going to fault a guy for hooking up with someone he just met? This is the same guy who has been disowned by his family and church. This is the same guy who actually believes bits of the nastiness that he's been told about how God hates him. This is the guy who is desperately looking for love and affection, but absolutely doesn't have the skills to create healthy relationships because he hasn't seen any modeled BECAUSE of bigots like Dobson who have decimated the civil rights of glbt people.

Do you get my drift?

Quit judging others. Quit judging yourself.

Don't be afraid of enjoying your God-given sexuality. And don't be afraid of looking for love.

[tymejumper]

.



Yes, unfortunately, people are the same, gay relationships are like straight relastionships. People on both sides of the rainbow lie, cheat on each other and abuse each other. The problem comes that we are held to higher standards becuase we are gay. People are so quick to point out our mistakes in an attempt to keep us in "our places" by aligning us with animals and as a way to not see us as people.

I am faithful to my partner of 2 years, just married her at Pride and have no desire for another. I cherish her and we raise my children together. We both go to work, come home, pay the bills on time and raise our kids to be just as functional(or disfunctional) as straight people. If she were a he, it would be a sucess story. People like Dobson does'nt want to hear about sucess stories, or the gay couple togheter for 35 years. That would make us to human and normal. They love to make a point of all the cheaters or abusers in the gay community, and there are the same here as in the straight community, and say that is how it is for ALL gay relationships. It makes us animals and easier to ignor and give rights to.

It is just egg on their faces if "straight, upstanding citizens" are caught in compromising situations, they can't say that "straight" couples are animals cause then they have to point out they are like us.

I feel really sorry for his wife, I've been cheated on and it hurts. But I have to laugh that the "dirty laundry" of our most upstanding citizens are coming out!