April 19, 2010
Mike Huether a step toward Sioux Falls becoming a haven for gays nationwide?
A fascinating, and only recently disclosed "detail," is that former Obama campaign genius Steve Hildebrand is Sioux Falls Mayoral candidate Mike Huether's campaign manager. Who are we kidding, Hildebrand has never even hinted that he gives a rip about Sioux Falls economics. To quote the Washington Post a few weeks ago… "[Hildebrand] is especially frustrated about the lack of progress on gay rights". It's well established that he's all about gay rights and gay marriage and now gay adoption. And, good for him. I wish him well. Yet, friends tell me he's been heard on a conference call to have said something to the effect that he aims to see Sioux Falls become a gay-friendly mecca. Maybe he didn't use the word mecca, but the idea was that our city would become a place where homosexuals nationwide could come and live openly.
Also curious is the Democratic Party's interest in this race. Mike needs to explain this to the voters… Mike, based on your dialog with them, can you explain the Democratic Party's interest in your supposed non-partisan race? Voters need to know the full agenda of those who are propelling Mike forward. In a non-partisan municipal race, when the full weight of Steve Hildebrand and the Democratic Party are behind you, you have some explaining to do. So, 'splain this to me… Mrs. Sandlin is too conservative for Hildebrand but Huether is not? The only difference between the two right now is that Sandlin broke her promise to Hildebrand to support gay issues. What promises has Huether made to Hildebrand to garnish his support?
Mike Huether needs to address this issue fully and answer these two questions: 1) Do you support your campaign manager's mission that Sioux Falls would become a haven for the gay community? If so, 2) what does a gay-friendly community look like, specifically?
Surely some of you reading this want Sioux Falls to be a gay-friendly haven. Well then it looks like Mike Huether is your guy. Vote for him and encourage everyone you know to do the same. Others reading this perhaps don't want Sioux Falls to be a gay-friendly mecca. Then obviously Kermit Staggers is your guy. And you need to use every means you have available (including forwarding this link to those you know, using facebook, volunteer time, and sending money, etc.) to get the Stagger's message out as he doesn't have a fraction of the money or campaign muscle that Huether is able to exert. We have eight days to sort this out.
Now, let's talk phobias. Those behind Huether are benefiting from fears that Kermit Staggers is a tightwad (as if that is a bad thing in this ecomony.) It's just the propagation of false fears! (Kermit is FOR an events center, he just wants to know how it will be paid for apart from the answer… tax payer dollars.) Referring to Staggers as "Dr. NO" and to Huether as "The Heat", my liberal friend and gay-agenda supporting lawyer Todd Epp paints the choice before us this way:
A return to a sleepy, 1953 Sioux Falls with Dr. No as mayor or a look ahead to a prosperous, progressive Sioux Falls in 2023 made possible by The Heat?
Todd, it is just as ridiculous for you to say Staggers plans to revert the city back to the days of Ozzie and Harriet as it is for me to say Huether plans to make Sioux Falls the Sturgis of Gay Pride Parades, have San Francisco's Sisters of Perpetual Indulgance take over the annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast and transform Phillips to the Falls into a gay district and gayborhood.
But, here's the thing. Maybe there is a little bit of truth in what Todd is saying and some truth in what I'm saying. That's the point of this post and voters need to be informed. Maybe we are both right in that Staggers would preserve something that a Huether administration would not - - decency. Mike, please fully address this issue and concern so voters in Sioux Falls can choose the direction they want this city going. I think Todd Epp will confirm our recent conversation that though I've felt a strong calling to contend for the rights of the unborn I have stated publicly that hammering on the gay community isn't my next battle. I don't sense that changing here even as I challenge Mike Huether on this issue.
I do want an explanation from Mike on what "progressive" means to him in the context of Sioux Falls becoming even more of a family-friendly city. You can't have strong communities without strong families.
Mike Huether skipped the Pastor's Mayoral Forum (because of a scheduling conflict) which I co-hosted a couple weeks ago. He got off easy because I was prepared to ask him these questions. (Just like I asked Pat Costello the hard questions - like, Pat, what do I tell a parishioner who likes you but is having trouble voting for a guy who owns a bar that has wet t-shirt contests?) Many in Sioux Falls have chosen to live here because it's a family-friendly place. It is a legitimate concern to ask Mike Huether if he has plans to change that in the direction of open homosexuality, whatever that means.
Comments on Mike Huether a step toward Sioux Falls becoming a haven for gays nationwide? »
Nancy @ 1:51 pm
The people I know in the gay community would probably consider Provincetown, Mass., a family friendly gay mecca in the sense that lesbian and gay couples are able to live there openly, parent their kids there without feeling they have to hide the nature of their family, and get married and have the community respect their marital status. I would guess that's the concept of a "gay haven" that is "family friendly." Yes there are bars in Provincetown but kiddie menus in every restaurant, clean streets, family fun centers with air hockey and skeeball, etc. Saugatuck, Michigan is another place that I think of as gay friendly and family friendly–again, not exactly a strip of bars and "adult novelty stores" like you find in sections of Greenwich Village (which come to think of it is pretty family friendly except for those strips near Christopher Street).
What Provincetown and Saugatuck have in common, however, is tourists… the gay community overall has a lot of money to spend in towns that are gay friendly. Is this pol's idea to make Sioux City a gay friendly, family friendly tourist town where Heather and her two mommies come for vacation to enjoy themselves as well as a place where gay families come to settle because they feel comfortable in the community? That'd be my question. I'm going to guess that's what he's envisioning.
Bob @ 6:45 pm
Partisan is spelled p-a-r-t-i-s-a-n.
caheidelberger @ 1:20 pm
Grab the gold ring! Draw those tourists and tax dollars! Sioux Falls started as the divorce mecca of America; it could get back to its roots — maybe even redeem itself — by becoming the gay marriage capital of America, bringing couples together instead of helping them bust apart. Open some chapels, make lots of money on wedding planning services — what's not to love?
Not that Mike Huether has advocated anything like this. Not that Pastor hickey has anything to offer in this story but gross speculation and stretched supposition. Not one word supports the headline masquerading as a question or the implication carefully couched behind "looks like".
"What promises has Huether made to Hildebrand to garnish his support?" the good pastor asks. I'll bet the answer is quite simple: the same promises he would have made to anyone else he might have hired as campaign manager — a good salary for work well done.
You can hire a homosexual to do work for you without making promises to advance homosexual causes… just as people can hire me without promising to advance atheism… just as the state of South Dakota can hire thousands of Christians without promising to advance Christianity.
Steve @ 2:10 pm
Thanks for the spellcheck Bob. It is not working on my blog software anymore- tells me I have a script error every time I run spell check. Frustrating.
Interesting stuff Nancy!
Cory - very true that you can hire someone without hiring their agenda. But, come on, we both know we are talking HILDEBRAND here. He does nothing that isn't central to the advancement of gay issues. And therefore it becomes a legitimate question for a pastor in this city to raise. And that is what I did.
Also I agree it certainly would bring in some $$ into the state to get some gay-friendly tourism going here. We'd lose a hundred times more as traditional families venture off elsewhere. Hollywood has figured out they can cash in big catering to families and Christians and their far left movies are avoided. If money and a prosperous city is our main concern, we won't cater to that crowd.
Giant Fireball over Sioux Falls @ 7:26 am
"Once homosexuals get into power they are not too tolerant toward other people."
"They make life miserable for anyone who espouses traditional values."
They're Coming to Your Town.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiVg0TIuzA0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKFY5X_rxKg&NR=1
Eureka Springs, AK is case in point. It changed in 3 short years after the election of a new mayor.
"They promoted the city as a gay-sex tourism destination."
"And to base your marketing on and economy on 1.7% while you alienate 85% is economic stupidity and suicide. Tourism is down 23% this year while tourism in Arkansas is up 17%. And if you add those to percentages together, Eureka Springs was down 40% in one year."
"The gay invasion of this town is destroying tourism here."
"It can happen anywhere."
Steve Sibson @ 7:38 am
Cory,
You should understand "gross speculation and stretched supposition", that is about all you do. Not a good trait for a "fair and balanced" teacher.
Pastor Steve,
I think Sioux Falls should welcome the gay community and all who suffer from all kinds of sexual immorality (including fornication and adultery) and invite them to find peace with the Lord. Sadly, it is our government education systems that seem to be promoting sexual immorality (without providing the Biblical side to the issue), which is destroying the family, America, and our liberties. How can the Progressive left consider it "social justice" for Christians to fund those government schools while their schools are not taxpayer funded? Seems to be another form of transformational redistribution that is fostered by the Progressive leader that slightly over 50% of voters put into the White House.
I hope I partially answered, what is the true definition of "Progressive", when used by Democrat or Republican politicians. It is now time to restore Truth and freedom in America.
Joe @ 8:45 am
Whether or not one has an opinion on this issue, these legitimate questions that need to be asked. (Although I have serious doubts on whether they'll be answered before the election).
Another question that needs to be asked is: "What is the significance of the over $3000.00 dollars in union contributions that were made to the Huether campaign ?"
Can we really reasonably expect him to be an strong advocate for the taxpayers and citizens of Sioux Falls when he is at the same time financially beholden to big unions ?
Anne Beal @ 10:02 am
I have nothing against lots of gay tourists coming through here as long as they ride American-made motorcycles and shoot deer.
Steve @ 1:55 pm
Giant Fireball over Sioux Falls.
A giant fireball is a prophetic warning. We won't be able to say we weren't warned. The warning came right here.
rradical @ 10:18 pm
Oh my God. Unions.
The people that brought you Saturday.
Fireball indeed.
rradical @ 10:22 pm
I know this was just crazy speculation on your part, but I think it is good press for Huether. Huether, Huether, Huether!
Safe streets and happy people in Sioux Falls — a real threat to the killjoys on the far right side of Sioux Falls.
Anne Beal @ 8:25 am
I think the idea of scantily-dressed drag queens marching through the city in their underwear in a Gay Pride Parade would be a perfect event for February 14th. If they don't want to do this on Valentine's Day, then forget about it. South Dakota's weather is not for wimps.
Montgomery Ward @ 9:07 am
I hope Huether designates Costello's eateries and watering holes (no pun intended) as the main alternative lifestyle HQ in the area. That's what he gets for not standing up about this.
Ralph the Mouth @ 10:27 am
I guess we can expect foot tapping in bathroom stalls in the near future.
Aside from the jokes, you know nobody knows who this Huether is. I haven't heard one testimonial from a co-worker. None of my neighbors know who he is including the family with his sign in the yard. It's all a big whitewash. Just a paid ad sort of like Aspartame in diet pepsi. Seems like a OK thing but it's eating holes in the brain. You never find out the truth until it's too late.
Steve @ 2:32 pm
Very interesting stuff. Even so I sense the need to make this moderator-type comment… though I've never been considered humor-challenged, the potential is here that we digress and disparage folks so, comment away!, but let's be careful.
It is a legit question that needs to be asked at every forum in the next five days… Mr. Huether, what promises if any have you made to your campaign manager to garnish his support?
Ches @ 11:13 am
Just watched the videos. All I can say that is very much possible it could happen here. Mainly because we've seen that this Hildebrand activist is of the revengeful type as seen by his comments and actions toward Congresswomsn Herseth. This is the very type of project he wold be pressed to complete.
Incidently, My wife and I were married at one of these churches in Eureka Springs, AK in 2004. Years prior to that I lead several car clubs through the area on these driving events which one enjous a great 3 day weekend along the curvey roads and nice lodges in the area. Well we returned for another in October 2006 and already the gay activities and flags were seen all over. One could no longer enjoy the little historic natural springs situated all around the city. It was impossible to go anywhere without being witness to the groping between the couples. It's such a turnoff.
This is only one reason not to vote for Huether. Whenever you have a collectivist running, his or her quest is to open the door for outside agendas of several types. Once that door is open it's near impossible to reverse the damage.
CHesw @ 10:15 am
Just watched the videos. All I can say that is very much possible it could happen here. Mainly because we've seen that this Hildebrand activist is of the revengeful type as seen by his comments and actions toward Congresswoman
Herseth. This is the very type of project he would be pressed to complete.
Incidentally, My wife and I were married at one of these churches in Eureka Springs, AK in 2004. Years prior to that I lead several car clubs through the area on these driving events which one enjoys a great 3 day weekend along the curvy roads and nice lodges in the area. Well we returned for another in October 2006 and already the gay activities and flags were seen all over. One could no longer enjoy the little historic natural springs situated all around the city. It was impossible to go anywhere without being witness to the groping between the couples. It's such a turnoff.
This is only one reason not to vote for Huether. Whenever you have a collectivist running, his or her quest is to open the door for outside agendas of several types. Once that door is open it's near impossible to reverse the damage.
Jeff @ 7:08 am
Last I knew, the constitution allowed anyone to come to any city and openly live gay or anyother way you wanted to live. We're on the same side Steve, however, I do not see how Mike or Kermit would have the power to promote Sioux Falls as an openly gay community. Place a sign on a billboard? I do not see where partisan politics comes into play in local elections. How much power does the mayor have? That being said, I think Kermit would probably make an excellent mayor…he kind of thinks like me, but I just don't see this gay haven thing and Mike…pure speculation and I'm not pro drag anyone through the mud. Just not my style. May the Lord bless our community and I pray that He will place whomever He want into this position.
Buhl Gets DC Attention as Bright Light in SD Politics « KELOLAND.com | Issues Blogs @ 8:04 am
[…] campaign's hiring of Hildebrand Strategies signals an effort to turn Sioux Falls into a gay haven (and really, what would be wrong with that? Let's make some money!), he must see gay rights […]
Mayor Huether: My Ambivalence « KELOLAND.com | Issues Blogs @ 6:39 am
[…] Mike Huether won the Sioux Falls mayoral race yesterday. After finishing less than a percentage point behind Kermit Staggers in the main election two weeks ago, Huether beat Staggers 57% to 43% on a wave of higher than expected voter turnout (more Sioux Fallsians came out to vote in the runoff than in the first vote—what voter fatigue?). No word yet from Camp Huether on when the new mayor will conduct his first gay wedding ceremony…. […]
I left @ 10:23 pm
I left Sioux Falls because the people are small-minded and can't accept there are actually regular people in this world who happen to be gay.
Without going into detail, SD lost out on me. And, SD is losing out on a lot of other talented people who would contribute in many ways to the community.
Keep hating…you'll keep losing.