Crutchley steps down after firestorm of bad press over his donation to McCain

• GQjock
  
  Posts: 11649
  
  
  Aug 18, 2008 5:56 PM GMT

  Gay-group founder slapped over John McCain
  By Hillary Chabot
  Boston Herald
  Saturday, August 16, 2008
  
  A simple $2,300 donation to presumptive Republican nominee John McCain from a founder of a local gay hookup Web site has gays and politicos alike recoiling from the eyebrow-raising alliance.
  
  Jonathan Crutchley, co-creator of the Cambridge-based Manhunt.net, stepped down as chairman of the company yesterday after a whirlwind of events that began with his maximum allowable donation to McCain.
  
  “Politically, it was just off-base"
  
  
  
  http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1113253

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  Aug 18, 2008 6:23 PM GMT

  Woo hoo! That is good news.
  
  It was interesting to hear that the McCain campaign gave the money back. So now he has given it to Obama. There is speculation that Obama might give it back based on the nature of the Manhunt site. (I have never heard of Manhunt before this. But by taking a brief look at the tour on the site, evidently it is a gay dating/hookup site.)
  
  I will be interesting to see if Obama has the balls to keep the money or will give it back out of fear.

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• GQjock
  
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  Aug 18, 2008 6:42 PM GMT

  I don't think it's going to even be brought up
  Unless the right makes a fuss over it
  so far it hasn't made much of a splash in the mainstream press

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  Aug 18, 2008 9:28 PM GMT

  Congratulations, you achieved your goal, stifling the freedom of expression.
  
  

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  Aug 18, 2008 9:49 PM GMT

  I still believe that this was stunt designed to embarrass McCain, where he'd have to make a statement and return the money. I don't think anyone who runs an all-gay male hook-up site could be so stupid as to think this wouldn't piss people off.
  
  

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  Aug 18, 2008 9:55 PM GMT

  John43620 saidCongratulations, you achieved your goal, stifling the freedom of expression.
  
  

  The "goal" has yet to be achieved. You sure as hell haven't been "stifled" yet.

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  Aug 18, 2008 10:02 PM GMT

  Just posted this in the other thread...
  
  An update from http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2008/08/mccain-returns.html
  
  18 August 2008
  McCain Returns $2300 Donation from Founder of Gay Sex Hookup Site Manhunt.net
  
  Since we (unfortunately) have been offline for several days, let's get up to speed with the latest on L'Affair Manhunt. Republican presidential heir nominee John McCain returns the $2300 contribution donated by Manhunt.net co-founder and chairman of Jonathan Crutchley—seen above at right with co-founder Larry Basile—who resigned over the weekend in controversy surrounding his contribution. The Boston Herald broke the latest news on the boardroom drama at the Cambridge-based gay sex hookup and PNP website:
  
  "Politically, it was just off-base, with the whole feeling over here at Manhunt," said site co-creator Larry Basile yesterday, pointing out McCain's views against adoption by gay couples and same-sex marriage.
  
  McCain's camp seemed just as eager to distance themselves from the brief alliance. McCain spokesman Jeff Grappone didn't return multiple phone calls on the subject, and Crutchley has apparently been informed that his $2,300 will be returned.
  
  "He said, 'If John is too good for my money, I'll give it to (presumptive Democratic nominee) Barack (Obama),' " Basile said yesterday.
  
  Crutchley's homocon politics and strong support for John McCain—who says he is opposed to gay marriage, adoption by gay couples or having a "pro-gay rights" running mate—was reported in an excellent feature story in the current Out by Michael Joseph Gross. Crutchley's contribution was later reported by Andy Towle at Towleroad and the backlash forced the tax cut-loving, gay sex website millionaire to "resign" as board chairman.
  
  Crutchley rationalized his support for McCain on foreign policy, arguing the quick-tempered hawkish senator would be a better CINC. "If we have an experienced, seasoned person defending the country in this dangerous age, we will be able to argue about the gay agenda later." Translation: Argue about hate crimes and employment discrinmination later, hook up on my website and help me make millions now.
  
  Sort of foolish for Crutchley to pretend Obama's positions are now closer to his own, and, as Michelangelo Signorile notes, "Are we really to believe that Basile, when he went into business with Crutchley years ago, had no idea he was hooking up with a homocon? Surely he's much better at due diligence than that." There is more than enough denial to go around.

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  Aug 18, 2008 10:07 PM GMT

  Crutchley has since written a “touching” letter to the employees at Manhunt, according to Basile, and is now committed to supporting Obama.
  
  “Someone had a reality check,” Basile said.
  
  

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  Aug 18, 2008 11:05 PM GMT

  1969er said; "Crutchley rationalized his support for McCain on foreign policy, arguing the quick-tempered hawkish senator would be a better CINC. "If we have an experienced, seasoned person defending the country in this dangerous age, we will be able to argue about the gay agenda later." Translation: Argue about hate crimes and employment discrinmination later, hook up on my website and help me make millions now."
  
  It isn't rationalization, patriotism is alive and well among some of us queers. The Democrats own you, they make promises and don't keep them but you stay loyal none the less. Face it, your vote and your loyalty is bought and paid for and all you get is lip service in return.
  
  

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  Aug 18, 2008 11:21 PM GMT

  John43620 saidCongratulations, you achieved your goal, stifling the freedom of expression.
  
  

  
  
  Stifling whose freedom John?
  
  The site is still up, people can still express themselves. Had McCain kept the money and then set his sites on shutting down manhunt, we would have seen the stifling of freedom of expression.
  
  

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• kinetic
  
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  Aug 18, 2008 11:31 PM GMT

  I hate that this is coming from the Herald.. I can't stand that paper, -its trash!
  Very conservative and always slags off anything that isn't...grrr...hate the herald....
  
  

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• GQjock
  
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  Aug 19, 2008 1:33 AM GMT

  John43620 saidCongratulations, you achieved your goal, stifling the freedom of expression.
  
  

  
  
  Then call the McCain campaign and tell them to KEEP Crutchley's money
  If donating to the McCain camp was his freedom of expression why did they give it back?

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  Aug 19, 2008 2:03 AM GMT

  John43620 saidCongratulations, you achieved your goal, stifling the freedom of expression.
  
  

  
  
  Freedom of expression is emailing Manhunt and the McCain campaign and letting them know how you feel. It was their individual choice to return/take back the money.
  
  Your ideas about freedom are questionable at best. It seems to be an empty jingoistic word to you.

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  Aug 19, 2008 3:05 AM GMT

  I feel sorry for the man...especially as someone who has moderate views...
  
  I believe that if it is his money to donate, and that he should not have had to step down from his position.
  
  People need to be more open about those with differences.

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  Aug 19, 2008 3:16 AM GMT

  John43620 - while no political party is perfect, your statement that the "Democrats own their voters and are full of empty lies and promises" is quite off base and overly simplistic....but then it does not surprise me that you made this statement b/c in a previous topic/post you stated that for the last eight years we've had the best "fabulous Republican" President.

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• SkyMiles
  
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  Aug 19, 2008 3:25 AM GMT

  This is just about freedom of speech. Crutchley excercised his, supporting a candidate who vehemently opposes gay civil and human rights. A whole lot of other people excercised their freedom too and called him out on it as is their right.
  
  The system works.

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  Aug 19, 2008 3:36 AM GMT

  I've just been discussing this with my boyfriend, and he made a really good point.
  
  Instead of attacking someone because he disagrees with us; instead of trying to shut down someone just because he happens to have a different point of view; why not do something constructive?
  
  If every member of manhunt that was outraged simply donated $1 to Obama's campaign, it would WAY OUTSTRIP Crutchley's contribution to McCain.
  
  And it would have been a lot more mature. It would have been a way of saying, "I respect your right to have a different opinion than me; but I am going to forward my own opinion."
  
  Instead, having some kind of politically-motivated "ousting" comes across as bitter and closed-minded, and is hypocritical coming from a group that supposedly celebrates differences. How does it make sense for us to say "We want the right to be different" while not tolerating differences of opinion within our own community.

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  Aug 19, 2008 3:46 AM GMT

  Interesting point. On another note, if businesses aren't allowed to turn us away for being gay, straight, democrat, republican, etc etc, is it right that we can boycott them for those same reasons?

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• SkyMiles
  
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  Aug 19, 2008 3:56 AM GMT

  GregStevensTX saidI've just been discussing this with my boyfriend, and he made a really good point.
  
  Instead of attacking someone because he disagrees with us; instead of trying to shut down someone just because he happens to have a different point of view; why not do something constructive?
  
  If every member of manhunt that was outraged simply donated $1 to Obama's campaign, it would WAY OUTSTRIP Crutchley's contribution to McCain.
  
  And it would have been a lot more mature. It would have been a way of saying, "I respect your right to have a different opinion than me; but I am going to forward my own opinion."
  
  Instead, having some kind of politically-motivated "ousting" comes across as bitter and closed-minded, and is hypocritical coming from a group that supposedly celebrates differences. How does it make sense for us to say "We want the right to be different" while not tolerating differences of opinion within our own community.

  
  
  Overall I applaud the sentiment, but politics these days is SO personal. And it's about a lot more than just Coke vs. Pepsi opinions, it's a decision over this country's laws and policies -- gay civil and human rights among them. Someone can support McCain for all kinds of reasons but being that he is rabidly anti-gay rights, that's going to come up as an issue if catering to gay people is your business.
  
  But keep in mind, he wasn't fired per-se or jailed or threatened with violence for his stance. All I think this episode showed was that people also have the right NOT to support someone who supports politicians whose actions are detrimental to their existence.

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• GQjock
  
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  Aug 19, 2008 9:12 AM GMT

  This entire episode is about rights... and your freedom to use them
  
  Mr Crutchley exercised his perfect right to donate to whomever he wanted to in this campaign
  
  As a paying customer each and every man who used that site has an EQUALLY perfect right to voice their opinion of his PUBLIC statement in support of John McCain
  by withdrawing their membership
  
  Which they did in sufficient numbers to force his ouster

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  Aug 19, 2008 10:00 AM GMT

  Colbert_Nation saidThis is just about freedom of speech. Crutchley excercised his, supporting a candidate who vehemently opposes gay civil and human rights. A whole lot of other people excercised their freedom too and called him out on it as is their right.
  
  The system works.

  
  
  I agree. There was no stifling of freedom of speech.
  
  Crutchley had the right to give, others have the right to lambast him for it, and still others have the right to withhold financial support from his money-making venture, particularly when that financial support is used to work against those that supported it. That IS free speech!

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  Aug 19, 2008 1:46 PM GMT

  Crutchley is a private citizen with an opinion and you scum bags mobbed him to force him to be like you want him to be. That's hardly a show of respect for freedom. You should be ashamed of yourselves. you can rationalize it all you want but face it, your forced your opinion on another. I suggest you assholes look up the term "Tyranny of the Majority".
  
  Yes that's a bonafide personal attack, report me if you like!
  
  

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  Aug 19, 2008 2:04 PM GMT

  In actuality, Crutchley donated money to a group of people who wanted to constrain *my* freedom. He was forcing his opinion on *me*.
  
  In your language, John, we all have to act to preserve our own freedom. How is criticizing Crutchley inconsistent with this?

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  Aug 19, 2008 2:13 PM GMT

  Rationalize it all you want, you stifled a man's freedom of expression. You're a mob and you display mob rule.
  You assholes have every right to send $2,300 to Obama. That's freedom of expression.
  
  You're typical pathetic Democrat control freaks.
  
  

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  Aug 19, 2008 2:17 PM GMT

  ROTFL.
  
  You are erroneous in assuming that I am a Democrat.

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