Pathetic Stuff From Bill Emerson's Former COS

The Southeast Missouri has published a disgusting letter to the editor from Josh Bill, former chief of staff to the late U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson and former mayor of Sikeston. The letter, headlined "Questions about Tommy Sowers," expresses concern that Tommy Sowers' website "doesn't even say how old he is or if he's single or married" (read: Is he gay?).  He also talks at length about a recent Sowers fundraiser in Washington, DC that Bill says was held in "the notorious U Street corridor of D.C.," apparently "famous for the homosexual community and notorious for everyone else."   As evidence (I'm using that term loosely), Bill points to a website that describes Local 16, the location of Sowers' fundraiser, as one of DC's "gay clubs and bars."

I wouldn't be bothered a bit if a candidate happened to hold an event at a gay bar, any more than I'd care if a candidate happened to be gay, lesbian, transgendered or straight.  Quaint questions like, "How might a person vote?" generally guide my personal candidate selection process.

Josh Bill obviously sees things differently. The intention of the letter is obvious, and it's hard to understand why the Southeast Missourian decided to publish it.  (Note that the letter that this isn't labeled as one of the paper's user-submitted stories where we often see political press releases.) UPDATE: The paper's publisher has clarified that Bill paid to have the  letter printed.

But even in Bill's narrow worldview, his letter and accusations have problems.

Local 16 is a popular restaurant because it has a great roof deck, and sells yummy food and drinks.  It's hosted events for a lot of groups, including Oxfam, local elementary schools, UNICEF, people trying to help communities in India and candidates like Newark's Cory Bookerand Virginia Senator Jim Webb (who wants to keep DADT, btw). And, I have no doubt that it has hosted events and parties for gay customers.  It may come as a shock to Mr. Bill, but there are some business owners who don't really care about your sexual orientation.

I'll confess that this is the very first time that I've ever heard of DC's U Street neighborhood (it was probably called Shaw when Bill was Emerson's Chief of Staff) as "famous for the homosexual community." It's also worth noting that the FunMaps.com site on which Bill's relies to question Sowers' "value system" lists things like the National Zoo, Ford's Theatre and Smithsonian as attractions for the "gay and lesbian world."  It's quite possible that as Congressman Emerson's Chief of Staff, Bill visited the Zoo or Smithsonian.  What does that say about his "value system?"

Bill may also wish to inform his Republican allies -- especially his friend Jo Ann Emerson, to whom he's given at least $1,500 this cycle -- that Twitter founder Jack Dorsey was at Local 16 with Sowers this week.  Obviously, Republicans' use of Twitter raises some real questions about their values and fitness to represent people in office.

And then there's the clumsy question note about not knowing if Sowers is married.  Really?  Being a single man or woman "raises...questions" about a candidates sexuality? 

Bill's whole letter is pathetic and sad. It's the 21st Century, I'm told.