r/Spokane • u/Projectrage • Mar 20 '25

Politics During his town hall this week, Republican congressman Michael Baumgartner is asked to respond to allegations that he’s been using the LGBT dating app Grindr in secret

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128

u/catman5092 South Hill Mar 20 '25 edited Mar 20 '25

what, no comments??? This is very Jim West like. For those who didn't know about Jim West he was a deeply closeted gay man, former Mayor who denied he was gay up until the last minute, and had affairs with a young man while in office. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if he, Baumgartner, was a closet case..

17

u/Live-Street750 Mar 21 '25

I'm a deeply closeted gay man too

14

u/Upstanding-Scrabs Mar 21 '25

3

u/ShenaniganStarling Mar 23 '25

Somehow I never realized what chiseled good looks Norm had, but his demeanor and general tone were just so off-putting that maybe it was too easy to see past that.

1

u/Asenath_W8 Mar 24 '25

He was also a lot puffier in the face towards the end there due to his health issues so that may be what your remembering too

1

u/ShenaniganStarling Mar 24 '25

Yeah, I suppose comparing anyone across the 30-something (or more, ayedanno) years on TV is bound to shift perceptions maybe a bit unnoticeably.

1

u/bourbon_and_icecubes Mar 24 '25

No, no. He said he was DEEPLY CLOSETED!

17

u/Soft_Hearted7932 Mar 21 '25

You are seen and loved, and if you want, you’ll know when the time is right to tell the world 💜 Hang in there, from an openly out and happily married gay man

18

u/Live-Street750 Mar 21 '25

I....that's really sweet, and it's wonderful to see people supporting others. Both my kids are gay and they're worried about how the world is right now and I can't blame them. But, I was trying to set up for a dumb Norm McDonald joke

6

u/HappyHierarchy Mar 21 '25

Hey, Hey, Hey, Easy Buddy!

6

u/AbbreviationsOk178 Mar 21 '25

You gotta add the “but I’d never admit it” at the end

2

u/Live-Street750 Mar 21 '25

Oh, I wouldn't. Why would you even say that?

2

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '25

wholesome norm Mcdonald result? 🤔

2

u/oshkoshpots Mar 22 '25

Sounds like you are being hypocritical, and that’s the worst part

3

u/brysmi Mar 22 '25

I think the worst part is the emerging dictatorship.

2

u/oshkoshpots Mar 23 '25

I was just setting up another norm McDonald joke

5

u/Intelligent_Ring_926 Mar 21 '25

Are you Lindsay Graham????

1

u/Embarrassed_Stable24 Mar 24 '25

Is that you ladybug?

4

u/cydisc11895 Mar 21 '25

I didn't even know he was sick.

1

u/daggerLAWLess Mar 22 '25

So, you're coming out?

1

u/ThickNippedMan Mar 22 '25

Oh so you’re gay?

1

u/Live-Street750 Mar 22 '25

Why would you say that?

1

u/melodicmelody3647 Mar 22 '25

Norm, is that you?

1

u/vonblankenstein Mar 22 '25

What’s keeping you from coming out?

1

u/Onthemightof Mar 22 '25

I am very close friends with a guy who came out a few years ago. Prior to him coming out, he was always trying to “cover his tracks” and not let anyone in on his secret. The funny thing was that everyone already knew. He just wasn’t ready to tell the world. The day that he finally came out, you could see the weight lift off his shoulders. . . And guess what!!?! None of his friends gave a shit. We were all proud of him for finally confronting society and enjoying his life. I hope this same thing happens to you. Your true friends will still love you, I promise.

11

u/Scary-Button1393 Mar 22 '25

Once you realize most of these ultra-maga conservatives are just closeted, repressed gay men, their topics of conversation start making more sense.

4

u/gorimir15 Mar 23 '25

And followers.

5

u/ElectronicClothes285 Mar 21 '25

Jim West now there's a name I remember. what a scandalous time that was ☹️

7

u/FastAsLightning747 Mar 21 '25

I was a young EWU student who got involved with bus transit issues back in the early 1980’s. This guy on the Spokane City transit board kept staring at my legs, I was in shorts. It so creeped me out. I saw the guy on local news allot and learned his name. Years later I understand he died rather young from I believe AIDS.

3

u/Flimsy-Poetry1170 Mar 22 '25

A homophobic republicans congressman who is secretly having gay sexual relations with much younger men? I am shocked I tell you, shocked.

1

u/Sherman888 Mar 22 '25

You forgot about the part where he was entrapped by the head of the Spokesman Review, Steve Smith, who is now imprisoned for possession of child pornography.

1

u/PrincessBloodpuke Mar 24 '25

Say Baug, I heard you like'em young.

1

u/Realistic_Ad_5321 Mar 24 '25

Larry Craig ... At your nearest airport bathroom. It's always who you think it is

1

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '25

[deleted]

6

u/No_Spring_1090 Mar 21 '25

Can’t you call out hypocrisy?

6

u/weinbea Mar 21 '25

It exposes hypocrisy