IT SHOULD have been Condoleezza Rice’s finest hour as US secretary of state:
at last President George W Bush was hosting a Middle East peace conference
that she had been struggling to organise for months.
Yet when Rice’s photograph appeared on the front page of America’s bestselling
weekly newspaper last week, it had nothing to do with her peacemaking
efforts. She had been dragged into a National Enquirer article headlined
“Who’s Gay and Who’s Not”.
The article revived long-standing Washington gossip about Rice’s sexuality and
sparked off the usual flurry of internet chatter about her high-profile role
in a Republican administration widely regarded as hostile to gays.
It also underlined the increasing friction in American politics between a
high-minded media establishment disdainful of bedroom gossip and the
no-holds-barred, consumer-driven world of instant internet scandal. A Google
search of the words “Condoleezza” and “lesbian” last week yielded 146,000
hits.
Rice was not alone in falling victim to what the US media elite invariably
decries as corrupted journalistic standards but what the rest of America
seems to regard as the real story in Washington: who is sleeping with whom?
While most leading US newspapers were preoccupied with serious policy issues
such as Iraq and illegal immigration, New York tabloids were feasting on
startling new details about Rudolph Giuliani, the city’s former mayor, who
is alleged to have concealed the cost of the security protection he needed
while on secret trysts with his then mistress.
Giuliani dismissed the allegations as a “political hit job” and “dirty trick”
that just happened to pop up hours before a key televised debate between
Republican presidential candidates. Although it appeared that Giuliani had
done nothing illegal, the fuss refocused attention on his colourful private
life and may damage his appeal to conservative voters.
Political insiders also noted that the detailed allegations, including
documented evidence of the accounts used to hide Giuliani’s potentially
embarrassing expenses, were published not by a newspaper but by
Politico.com, an increasingly influential website.
The mainstream US media also managed to ignore one of the most read political
stories on the internet last week, an account in The Times about a
dirty-tricks campaign in South Carolina, including anonymous allegations
that Senator Hillary Clinton is having an affair with Huma Abedin, a female
member of her campaign staff. Democrat officials dismissed the allegations
as an obvious attempt to smear the frontrunning presidential candidate.
The former senator John Edwards, Clinton’s Democratic rival, felt the tabloid
lash when the Enquirer claimed he too was having an affair with a campaign
aide while his cancer-stricken wife campaigned on his behalf elsewhere.
Edwards denounced the story as “false, completely untrue, ridiculous” and
said the Enquirer had failed to produce evidence “because it’s made up”.
The steady flow of salacious and often thinly sourced sex-related stories is
causing headaches for US newspaper editors, who have been bludgeoned by
shrinking circulations and internet competition yet are still clinging to
values described by one blogger last week as “snoozy, prissy and haughty”.
The drift towards internet-fuelled sensationalism was deemed to be so serious
earlier this year that the Columbia Journalism Review, a bastion of US media
elitism, convened a panel of top editors to consider whether the government
should step in to subsidise serious newspapers as a valuable public service,
along the lines of the BBC.
The Enquirer described its article as “the ultimate guessing game among
Hollywood fans - trying to figure out which big-name stars are gay”. The
report went on: “According to the buzz among political insiders, it’s an
open secret that . . . Rice is gay.”
The piece quoted an unnamed “in-the-know” blogger as saying that during her
years as provost of Stanford University in California, Rice was “completely
out as a lesbian and it was not a scandal, just a reality”. The paper
referred to reports that in 1998 Rice bought a house with a “special
friend”, another unmarried woman, a film-maker named Randy Bean.
It was far from the first time that she had been linked to lesbian rumours. In
a recent biography of Rice, Glenn Kessler, the Washington Post’s diplomatic
correspondent, noted that Bean, described as a “liberal progressive”, was
her “closest female friend”. It was Kessler who discovered from a search of
property records that Rice and Bean owned a house together.
Rice does not comment on her private life, and she is not an elected official,
so her sexuality has never been a campaign issue. But the gay community has
long been troubled by her association with conservative Republicans opposed
to gay marriage, and with evangelical Christians who regard homosexuality as
a sin.
At one point last year Rice was regarded as a possible Republican candidate in
the 2008 White House race. Yet most commentators agreed that she was
reluctant to run, and a Washington Post columnist concluded that she was
“the longest of long shots”, as it indeed turned out.
The columnist Chris Cillizza made no mention of Rice’s sexuality, and it took
an internet reader named Anne Roifes to remind the Post that high
journalistic standards sometimes miss the point.
“It is widely believed in gay circles that Condi is a lesbian,” Roifes
commented. “That could be one reason she will not run.”
I say - good for her.
she does her job wonderfuly, and if she is happy being gay, I am happy for her.
Adam, Bla,
I'm not surprised, she's got bigger balls than most men in the world.
Kverts, Glendale, AZ / USA
mmmm whether Condi is lesbian or not is her life and that does not in any way mean that her sexual life can determine how high she rises.
Guys and papalazis mind ur own sexual life and leave condi sexual life to her.
A Kenyan Lady
pol, nairobi, Kenya
Who cares? the only people interested are the other "gays" to make sure that their lifestyle choice can be validated to make sure that they are not queer or bent or stupid and selfish!
If it is normal stop talking about it!
She does her job just fine - better than her stupid alcoholic boss!
Mickey, NY, NY NY USA
Shes been in the limelight for what now....seven years? I read and keep up with current events. I've never heard this accusation before. It strikes me as an attempt to besmirch the reputation of a fine civil servant. Even more suspicious is I hear it first in a British newspaper.
Murph, Madisonville, USA/KY
Why on earth should her sexuality matter? She has proved herself as an efficient operator as Secretary of State, whatever anyone may think of this administration's disastrous foreign policy, and it is on her merits that she should be judged, not on who she says good night to last thing at night.
Martyn Henry, Nicosia, Cyprus
The irony of the Bush Administration and its gay bashing is that it has had more gays within it than any other Administration in living memory. The rumours go t
o the very top of the Bush circle. Try googling you will be surprised,
oldasiahand, Guildford, UK
'I've lived in this country 65 years and read lots of newspapers on a daily basis. I have never read this. I have read British newspapers for years though and this is a typical story. There is nothing sacred in Britian from the Queen to the Beckhams. What a great country.'
Yes and that's why the british press is alot better - we at least attempt to report most things. And why should the Beckhams be sacred?
bob, wigglesworth, UK
What Ms Rice does in her private life is her own affair.
John, Tokyo,
she had a rumored relationship with then canadian foreign affairs minister peter mackay... rumors rumors rumors, why are americans so obsessed?
james, montreal, canada
I've lived in this country 65 years and read lots of newspapers on a daily basis. I have never read this. I have read British newspapers for years though and this is a typical story. There is nothing sacred in Britian from the Queen to the Beckhams. What a great country.
Rich, San Angelo, USA
John Green thinks America needs democracy? Sorry, but democracy is five wolves and three sheep taking a vote on dinner plans. What America is supposed to be is a representative government, wherein, the voters chose their legislators and executives, but the rights of the minority are protected from mob rule.
Does political fund raising need reform? Absolutely! All limits on contributions should be eliminated, but all contributions should be posted on the Internet. This way, candidates and parties will not be financially limited, and the light of sunshine can be shone on contributors, giving the electorate the opportunity to decied which candidate (and their contributors) will win their vote.
This will provide the most Liberty to the voters and contributors, while opening up the process to inspection and scrutiny.
A win-win solution in any analysis!
Gregory Indelicato, NYC, NY, USA
"Red Tops"? "London Times"?
Oh, you know how provincial those Yanks are. And you know, they think that London to Norwich is a good day's drive. At least they don't look at a map and think that a nice day's outing would be to drive from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon, and then to Las Vegas before returning to Los Angeles for dinner.
Bob Evans, Anaheim, California
Oh the sheer joy of being able to make my hot chocolate on the way to bed, and snigger as I think of dear Ol' Condi, and her special friend Randy ('Flick to her friends') Bean....
Yet again, America, the men of the UK salute ya!
rebloodedmale, London, UK
What America desperately needs is democracy. Having lived in the USA for 6 years I know that this will be very difficult to achieve without fundamental reforms of the political system, particularly political-party funding.
John Green, High Wycombe, UK
It says that a Google search on Rice and lesbian resulted in 146,000 hits. That is meaningless. A Google search on anything will result in a hundred thousand hits and it doesn't take long to see that only the first 10 have anything to do with the subject. If I enter my name, I get hits for people with my first name and completely different last names. Ric in Wisconsin.
Ric Trexell, Berlin, WI
I don't know anyone who knows or cares what Condi's sexual orientation is, I sure don't. It's totally irrelevant, and I've never heard it discussed in the circles I move in. That includes family, friends, co-workers. And if it was, I'd change circles.
emily, nyc, usa
This could be good for Anglo-American relations if Randy Bean is related to our own Prime Minister, Mr Bean
SJH, London,
I 'googled' george bush and bigfoot and got 89,900 hits. Thats all the evidence i need.
Al, birmingham. UK,
Sex-Obsessed is a good description of our culture, worldwide. Everyone does not need or want to be in a sexual relationship. They are happy without it.
Dr T.D. Vitale, Frederick, Maryland
Hey, those of you who are prejuidiced gossip-mongers.
Condi is a woman of great intellectual and artistic achievement. She is an elegant, attractive, charming and very clever woman. Since when does being gay mean you have to hide behind closed doors ? Whether she is gay or otherwise is of no importance. She doesn't have to prove or explain anything. She does a great job in a mans world. Shame on you for trying to drag her down with your petty, bourgoise opinions.
Nuff said.
Jimmy, Nottingham, England
not at all acceptable.
It's all a social construction.
Susan, Prosser,
During a long time women have been fighting to share power with men. What result have we achieved? Look around, the majority of females who keep any authority are manly women or gays. Do you enjoy of that?
Alex S., Auckland, New Zealand
"The paper referred to reports that in 1998 Rice bought a house with a “special friendâ€, another unmarried woman, a film-maker named Randy Bean."
Come on - who is having a laugh with that name ?
Dave, Cardif,
Where have we lost the reality that some women (and men) choose to remain single and celebate for reasons of their own? I seriously doubt that she is gay and certainly wouldn't regard The National Enquirer as a reliable source for anything let alone a person's sexual orientation.
Mary Contrary, Oregon, USA
Condi rules - period - fools
david, new york city, ny
From an American's point of view, there are a handful of misconceptions in this article.
First and foremost, the National Enquirer is not considered a news magazine. It's difficult to take seriously a publication often headlining stories, with so-called "photos", such as a "bat-child" or the face of the devil in storm clouds.
No tabloids are considered to be reliable sources of news, unless one considers the movie "Men in Black" to be non-fiction.
The New York Times is well known for its liberal bent, and has in the past employed a writer who simply fabricated stories, leading to a reputation that puts it only slightly above the National Enquirer in credibility. Despite this, it is widely read, as the newspaper from the US's largest city. It is predictable that the Times would print unsubstantiated stories timed to embarrass politicians not of their liking, even when there is no wrong-doing.
As for Condi, her sexual orientation isn't an issue here. Period. Full stop.
J. Garland, San Diego, CA, USA
Liberals in the US believe Conservatives fear/hate gay people. Therefor whenever Liberals want to tear down a Conservative, they play the "Gay Card" thinking erroneously that calling someone gay will result in Conservatives running for the hills in a blind panic. As a Conservative American, I could care less what a person's sexual preferences are.
D Reid, Virginia, USA
Whether Condi's sexual preferences are for men or women it really doesn't matter. Her political beliefs are just as objectionable either way.
Neil, Gloucestershire, England
It makes no difference to this American who Condi chooses to spend her intimate time with. The corrupt American political machine rolls on, regardless of who's sleeping with whom. Our religious leaders are morally bankrupt; our political leaders are driven by greed and completely owned by the master-of-puppets-corporate-lobby that pulls its strings. We are in a no-win situation in Iraq. In America many people are facing foreclosure, our cost of living is spiraling upward as we export our jobs to foreign countries, and we are worried about who Condi Rice is sleeping with?
Vaggo the Slacker, Tampa, FL
This is completely a non-issue in the US.
David Null, Claremont, CA, USA
Sir,
The rumour that Condi is gay is only important IF it affects her decision-making processes.
"Randy Bean" and Condi, surely not?
SC, London, United Kingdom
Condi is gay. Condi is having an affair with President Bush. Condi is the love child of Ronald Reagan and Lena Horne. Condi has an incredible IQ and may well have never yet found a man that she wanted anything to do with outside of the bedroom. Condi may well have some outlets that she uses and is understandably reluctant to feed the yellow dog liberal press by letting them have a hint of who she sleeps with or when. As to her buying a house, it was a good investment strategy at the time. She lived there and likely needed a place to stay, so she made a business deal.
Jim, Spokane, USA
Condi Rice Gay?
As ineffective as she is and such a powerless Secretary of State, who cares if she is Gay but if she is I hope she's better at being Gay than Secretary of State!
She's a smart woman that got where she got because of the George Bush 'Fema' type selection process he uses to pick staff members. She's no more qualified to hold her position than George Bush or Tony Blair were to look for Weapons of Mass Destruction and start an Iraq War.
It's a shame we are all so easily destracted by such meaningless issues while George on his Puppy Tony Blair create wars in the name of Democracy.
Will, seattle, us/washington
Sigh! Does it really matter what she does in the bedroom? The majority of this woman's brain is an order of magnitude more capable than most of those who seem to want to make something dark of her sexuality.
Let's grow up please and put the politics of the jungle behind us. This IS the 21st century and we've been around for about 3 million years which is far longer than any of the evangelists can claim they've been around for.
Derrick, MK, UK
Who cares ? I prefer peace in stead of a straight president.
vandommele, hasselt, belgium
Oh, for crying out loud, when will this so-called "civilised" world stop looking at labels and look at what people actually DO?! If mother Theresa turns out to have been a lesbian, would she have been a lesser human being?
Star, Lancaster,
"The problem with her being gay is that she works for an anti-gay administration"
Indeed. Which means she should stay, and do something about it.
star, Lancaster,
Ms. Rice's job performance would have been 'nil' had she openly declared her orientation. The President is pandering to the voters, by trying to encapsulate all 'walks' of life into his administration. Especially, that crap of embracing the actions of the last administration.
I don't believe conservative Islamic Leaders and Clerics would have conferred with her for any reason; as in their culture it's a death-sentence type of offense. This may cause some to lose serious face and feel betrayed. The rumor presents Ms. Rice as two-faced, and a thief of trust. I personally, would not trust her to make sound descisions with the lives of 340 million Americans, if she can't figure out her gender.
Pleasure be damned; Ms. Rice and the President, may have just betrayed the entire nation, globally. Add to that, national bankruptcy and global war with the smallest miltary in US History.
gerald mckenney, kent, usa/wa
How ridiculous! Not the notion Condi is gay (she is obviously a lesbian, or she'd be all over the electric George Bush), but that the Enquirer is portrayed as a legitimate source of anything but lies, fluff, and obvious slander. I can't believe this article even gives it the legitimacy of being anything more than the scrap of paper we look at in the grocery store checkout line. I haven't picked one up in decades, and I had no idea any else even reads it still.
This has to be a joke article for the Times - I did get here via the Bugle podcast site, after all. This is a joke, right?
Cory, Kennesaw, GA, USA
I'm a political and economic conservative and a Christian and I could care less if Condi is gay. I do care that she acts with decorum, which she has done. The media should leave it alone. Unless she wants to flaunt it, they should drop it. I have issues with Condi and the Bush administration, but my concerns have to do with their policies, not who is sleeping with who. I think the world would be a better place if people kept their noses out of other peoples' bedrooms.
As far as religion - to paraphrase Elizabeth I of England - we should not be concerned with opening windows into men's souls. A person's faith is also a private affair, and should not be a topic of public debate.
Shefali, Austin, Texas
In the United States, the National Enquirer is the tabloid that publishes articles about alien abduction. Nobody believes anything in it. It really is a journalistic joke -- like professional wrestling for the news media.
If Ms Rice is gay, it is nobody's business. She is apparently a good woman, smart, talented, and using her talents for the US and the world. That is all I or anyone else needs to know about her.
Chris, Glenwood, NJ, United States
Which is more important, that someone is 'GAY' or that he or she tries to be a good person and does the best he or she can for society.
Pat De Bruyn, ANtwerp, Belgium
Trial by gossip!
Tarni, London, UK
I think the press is acting in a very irresponsible way and violating several aspects of politicians' private life that should be respected. The fact they're exposed to lights and cameras doesn't mean everybody has right to know about their personal aspects.
I'm neither for nor against gays, I just think they exist everywhere and nobody has ever been able to give the world a reasonable response to the gay phenomenon, so as far as we know it is inevitable.
And if someone who is gay wants their sexuality to be kept as a secret they are within their right.
Politicians are here to govern, not to satisfy our gossiping needs.
And you may be wondering why I'm sure the press is irresponsible: just because they may not have created the rumours but they spread them around the world.
Rodrigo Caselli, Mendoza, Argentina
Frankly, as a Republican, I believe if she is gay she should leave the Republican party. Way to many people with divided allegences and agendas are taking high positions within the Republican party. Why would she or anyone who is gay want anything to do with a conservative agenda? If she is gay, she should be true to herself and become a Democrat (socialist). I do not want individuals in government representing me when even they so not believe in the values and objectives that are being pursued.
Paul T Gibson, Prescott Valley, AZ
Paul, are gay people not tax-paying citizens? What about infertile couples? What about an elderly couple or a couple who simply dont want children? Are they not entitled to the 'privilege' of marriage? If marriage is that great an institute than why do half of Americans get divorced?
Miss Rice's sexuality has no bearing on her job and so it shouldnt be an issue but unfortunately she works in a party that regular demonises and berates gays and denies them their rights so i suspect thats why itgs probably a bigger issue!
Mark, Manchester,
I thought she was Jack Straw’s girl-friend and I believe so did he.
Brian Christley, Abergele, UK
"A Google search of the words “Condoleezza†and “lesbian†last week yielded 146,000 hits. "
I bet someone had to contact IT about that one.
And I also bet 145,999 of those hits were for lesbian.
chris, Worthing, england
And ? What's the problem ? Private life... is private.
nicole, obernai, france
"With *heterosexual* marriage there is a quid pro quo for society: In return for producing and bringing up the next generation of taxpaying citizens"
Dear God above. Do you really feel this way?! Did you even stop to think about this for even 2 seconds?? Did you stop to consider that you are implying that a heterosexual married couple that does not produce offspring is therefore not entitled to the legal benefits of marriage?
Get a clue.
Eoin, Dublin, Ireland
If people didn't buy, or buy into these publications, all these allegations would go nowhere. In any case, we should be adult enough in our Modern age to accept people for what they are, and just because they are not blabbing openly about their sex life, doesn't mean they are in denial about what their predilection is. We all know whatever it is, it is not going to interfere with their professional work - unless of course they are one of those emotional types who has not come to grips with their sexuality and wants to parade it in your face.
Clementina Filosa- Morton, West Liberty, IA., USA
Maybe she just has better things to do with her time than go out on the pull...?
Rhiannon, Manchester,
Who's gay? Who cares?
Sue B, Pontypridd, Wales
^^^What is a Red Top?
I'm not sure if that question is being posed ironically.
If it is not, then "red top" is used for tabloid newspapers such as "The Sun". Given that most British newspapers are printed in tabloid form, then a new term has been created to distinguish from those which consider themselves serious and used to be known as broadsheets.
John Peters, Swansea,
The problem with her being gay is that she works for an anti-gay administration, one that says that people like her can't be in the military or have rights like everyone else.
Derek, USA, USA
Do remember, that in all her time in politics and long before then she has never been in a relationship that anyone has known about. Personally, I doubt she's gay (and I'm a lesbian myself), but it's not "she hates gays so must be gay". It's more like "she hates gays, has never been with a man, so...".
Naomi, Jerusalem, Israel
Ah, how the wheel turns...
Now, it's here turn to be "punished"....
S.Smith, N.Y.,
Randy Bean?
Andy M, Liverpool,
Is this a way to divert the US taxpayers' attention from the billions of dollar bill they have to foot to keep their troops mired in the stupid war being fought in Iraq, while being powerlessly aware of the plight of those who cannot afford to pay for a private health insurance, and sometimes have to watch their family members die. Surely those who lost family members in Iraq, or because of the lack of a national health service could not care less about Ms. Rice's bed partners. They have a few other things to "thank" her for.
Roberto R., Rome, Italy
I’m around the same age as Condi, and like her I have never married.
That does not make me a lesbian, and it does not make Condi either.
I have found my life fulfilling enough without having to be in a sexual relationship with anyone (and if I were it would have been with blokes, not girlies).
For sex-obsessed people in this society celibacy is unimaginable - but I can let you know it exists and is very enjoyable!
Merrie, London,
if it matters that rice is gay, that's an indictment of america, not her.
she just needs an interesting disability now for the full joke stereotype. she's doing quite well under the circumstances.
if you consider what she's doing to be a good thing, that is.
personally, I'm more irritated by the use of the phrase "space aliens".
jem, london, uk
"A Google search of the words “Condoleezza†and “lesbian†last week yielded 146,000 hits."
What a marvellous research method! A Google search of the words "Clinton" and "corruption" yielded 1,990,000 hits.
Red, St. Petersburg, Florida
At crucial times in world-historic developments, we get these distractions. On two memorable occasions, when the United States has sought an Israeli/Palestinian peace deal, we see these little spanners in the works. President Bill Clinton was derailed by the Lewinski scandal, Condi Rice has been taken aback by this. Is it news?. Who are the scheming monkeys behind these events?. As if we did not know.
Dirty Dick, Taunton, UK
Why should an issue that is nobody's business eclipse an issue that is everybody's (peace) ? Why should a rumour eclipse facts? These are the wonders of journalism.
Goebbels would have been proud to know how well his pupils have learned his lessons.
Ariel, La Plata, Argentina
I thought the Brits had more important things to think about than the gender preferences of the USA Sec. of State. So what if she is a lesbian? This is has nothing to do with anything. As the most respected member remaining of the Bush administration, why not leave her private life alone and let her try to do some good work while she still has the opportunity and the credibility.
Steve, Los Angeles, CA
It's distressing to see The Times become a tabloid.
David, Gent, Belgium
Ms. Rice has more accomplishments than any pretend news writer. Just another negative slant from our-always negative, anti-American Press. They are so one sided (& losing loads of readership) that they have made themselves irrevalant.
I can not understand why Media hates this Country so much.
s.winn, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Smoothe move, Times! How clever of you to couch your article as a discussion of the questionable ethics of tabloid journalism while giving the rumor "legs" for appearing in such a "legitimite" paper! Your hypocrisy is very well done!
Kathleen Egan, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
Oh, for the love of God, who cares - and how is this news?
Teri, San Francisco, CA, US
And so what??? Does it affect her ability to do the job - and probably better than any man??? I thought we were past all this rubbish
Sarah Howes , Reigate, Surrey, UK
"But the gay community has long been troubled by her association with conservative Republicans opposed to gay marriage..."
The assumption that people who are against gay marriage are also against gays is totally false. I couldn't care less about peoples' sexual orientation and who they shack up with, but I am against gay marriage for the following reasons.
With *heterosexual* marriage there is a quid pro quo for society: In return for producing and bringing up the next generation of taxpaying citizens, society will give you the special status called "marriage", with all the benefits pertaining thereto. With gay marriage, on the other hand, there would obviously be no such quid pro quo for society. Gay couples would be getting all the benefits of "marriage" without doing anything for society in return. That's not fair to the hetero couples who *are* doing the extremely hard, expensive and essential work of producing and bringing up kids in today's world.
Paul, California, USA
ls not rocket science to guess who was the one who started this one ?? l'm scratching my head!!
Virginia, Brisbane, Australia
So she eats pie because she likes women? So what? All the best films have at least one lesbian scene in them.
It's when she eats pie, because she hates men, that's when it's a problem, and I see no evidence for that.
Charles, London,
Whether she is gay or not doesn't matter... what matters is that she has been in bed with the Bush Administration and not done a very good job. It's easy to go overseas and have your picture taken for the media... how about actually giving us some results. NONE! It isn't that she can't run for President because she is gay... it's because she could only lead the country to the slaughter! Vote Ron Paul 2008... stop the war and save your Freedoms.
J Malone, Greeneville, TN
None of the alternative Internet News sites I read, such as Rense or Prison Planet would ever bother with such crap stories. This sort of journalism is typical of the MSM.
You people just have a problem that it is one of your favored politicians this time. The internet is brought down by MSM sites which spread their own brand of propaganda and trivial pursuits and blogs created by the sort of people who read such crap.
I am only here, because another site directed me. The alt news sites sometimes throw the MSM a bone, and this was one.
Rabbit, Perth,, Australia
And a search of Tony Allen Mills Gay yields 1,640,000 hits. Does that make this journalist 10 times gayer than Condi?
Pythagoras, Athens, Greece
The National Enquirer is a gossip rag, but it doesn't print stories about space aliens for Elvis sightings. It covers celebrity foibles and follies, and the content often is salacious, but I would say the reporting is relatively accurate. The writing is pedestrian; then again, the readership isn't exactly looking for incisive analysis and erudition.
Brad KC, Toronto, Canada
DM, or which N0N-parties (at Annapolis)?
Hermann Burchard, Stillwater , Oklahoma
The National Enquirer is America's best selling weekly newspaper? Are they serious? It is in the supermarket check out lane for a reason. For those who haven't visited the US to know what can be found in the supermarket check out lanes, it's "newspapers" like the Enquirer that run stories of interbreeding of well known people with space aliens. Everyone points and laughs at these and some people just buy them because the crap they dream up is so idiotic that it's funny.
I can't believe they characterize the National Enquirer as if it's the Washington Post, the New York Times, or the Wall Street Journal.
Unreal.
Cristine, Grand Rapids, Mi, USA
The sexual orientation of the US Secretary of State, or that of the Foreign Minister of any nation is of absolutely no consequence or importance to the effective discharge of their duties. Whether Dr. Rice is a lesbian or not is immaterial. What is material is her ability to justify the policies of an Administration who use lies and the subversion of the same Constitution they are sworn to preserve, protect and defend as their modus operandi.
Edward B Ryder IV, Greenlawn, NY, USA
where is the glory moment ?????
eric, lucerne, switzerland
It must be the silly season - or are there no others? Condi's affairs are her own affair.
And the Giuliani story is a no-starter, too: if you elect a guy to a job that warrants round-the-clock protection then you have to cover his sleazy sleepovers as well. It makes no difference to the cost where he spends his time.
Rosemary Roberts, Germany,
Aw, come on now - she's black, she's gay, and she's probably left-handed and a vegetarian too. Shouldn't she be running for the Democrats, then?!
Sid, Abu Dhabi, UAE
The only concern about politicians and their sex life that we should be concerned about is if they spend public money for the use of prostitutes.
I would even argue that the cost the security for Giuliani's alleged affair is legitimate, as he would need 24 hour protection. Guns are legal out there.
I totally detest Condoleezza Rice for toadying up to Bush. Please don't make her a sympathetic character.
Paul Odtaa, Richmond, UK
Fernandez. What is the London Times, I've never heard of it. I have heard of The Times and the New York Times but never London Times.
If you are referring to this paper then you mean The Times, the big give away about its name is the great big banner at the top of the front page that you can't miss.
Rob, Ross-on-Wye, UK
The problem with this story is that many people think that whether she is or isn't actually matters.
Gary Geoffrion, Cleveland, Ohio
Does it affect how she does her job? If not, who cares?
Ian Burgess, Bristol,
A gay republican? It does not make much sense....
dave, mons,
If she wanted to hide this all she had to do is get married and have a kid and lie to the media as a female minority they would'nt touch her. This sounds like dirty tricks and I wonder which canditate started this rumour and why???
Juanita, little rock, ark
First of all, Condoleezza Rice has, for the longest time, been the most vocal supporter of President Bush's failed and dangerous policies, so I was amused when you led the article proclaiming her "glory moment" which has not of yet received any noticeable results.
Second, whether true or not, the rumors of Miss Rice's sexuality have been around for years, so it is not accurate to describe her listing in The Enquirer's “Who’s Gay and Who’s Not†as some kind of political hatchet job when these rumors COULD have come out at a more profitable time (i.e. if Miss decided to run for public office).
Third, and most importantly, in this reporting and in others regarding this topic, it makes it appear that calling someone gay or lesbian is somehow a slur upon their character. It is not as if someone is accusing Miss Rice of a heinous crime. Unless you think being homosexual is something of which a person should be ashamed.
Edward Rozanski, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
It's no one's business except hers, and it shouldn't be something that people have to "fess up" to. How on earth does being gay in any way sit at odds with being an outstanding public servant?
David Masu, Zürich,
A red top is a tabloid. They don't exist in France.
Pierre B, Paris, France
Just at the moment one might reflect on which parties (at Annapolis?) might have most to gain from smearing Rice.
Cheney has a gay daughter so it's unlikely his office is implicated as h'e quite sensibl on this issue..
DM, Eastbourne,
SuzyD, a red top is a tabloid newspaper in Britain who's title is carried in a large red banner on the top of the front page, such as The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily Star, etc.
Mark, High Wycombe, England
SuzyD, to add to my previous answer, in case you didn't get the significance, Fernandez was saying that the supposedly quality reporting broadsheet The Times is becoming like the Red Tops, which are generally regarded as working class and sleazy newspapers.
Mark, High Wycombe, England
What is a Red Top?
SuzyD, Paris,
Make up your minds trash collectors.
Either she is sleeping with George Bush or she is lesbian.
Leslie Mann, houston, texas
Err, Fernandez... it does say RUMOUR, you know....
Donna, Cape Town, South Africa
There are other things to worry about and most of us know that those guessing who is or is not gay indulge in a very vulgar sort of passtime. This is an absurd piece of non-news.
mnm, los angeles, ca us
It doesn't matter, but it does, if you know what I mean. I could care less but Americans have a right to know about the things that might influence the public policy decisions of their leaders, including sexual orientation. If she wanted privacy, she should not have gone into public life.
Clahm Sider, Vegas Baby, NV USA
American libel law has a loophole for people in the public eye. If a newspaper, magazine, television or whatever prints/airs a story that is false about a public figure he/she not only has to prove that it is false but that it was done with malice. Which is a nearly impossible standard to meet.
Knowing this I doubt that I believe ten percent of the gossip I hear. (Don't tell me to avoid the gossip. It is not possible.)
Corinne, Portland , Oregon, USA
Is she human though?
Heiko Khoo, London, Uk
!
mystic, new york city,
So this ugly issue (which shouldn't be a issue) has raised its'
ugly head.
She doesn't discuss her sexual orientation nor should she
have too.
It's is not you or I or anyone else's business including the
gay community .
She is well respected for her capabilities and that's all
anyone needs to know.
Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA
And!
Terry, hull, uk
That is a small thing
shamozhihu117, pds, China
Thanks, London Times. I'm here in America and read most mainstream blogs. This is the first I've heard of it.
A rumour I've heard, and I'm sure this comment won't be published, is that the London Times is becoming a Red Top. This is the 2nd time in a week that a rumour has been printed above the fold as if it were fact.
Fernandez, San Francisco,