Last month, we reported that Bob Casey's campaign had cashed the $2000 donation from Dan Savage, funded by the sale of Savage's ITMFA paraphenalia.  We also reported that Savage had tacitly endorsed Casey as the real choice to Rick Santorum, telling us to swallow hard and accept him.

Well,  Dan is having to follow his own advice.  Because the Casey campaign returned his donation. 

Jake Perry, finance director for Bob Casey, just called to tell me that Bob Casey is returning my check.

Here’s Jake: “We appreciate your willingness to support Bob, but my higher ups… people above me… they think that we may wind up spending more, you know, money then the contribution is worth. But we appreciate your willingness to support us.”

Uh… you’re welcome, I guess.

The Casey folks seem to think that if Santorumites spots the Savage name, it will distract from real issues and force Casey to defend himself.  Huh.  There's a nice dose of the pragmatism Dan mentioned.

The Savage response?

So I’m going to have to swallow hard and support Bob Casey whether he wants me to or not. So Bob Casey doesn’t want to take my dirty money—or doesn’t want to be seen taking my dirty money. So what? I still want Casey to see him beat the lube-and-fecal-matter-splattered pants off Rick Santorum this November. So I’m sending the $2100 Casey spurned to Philadelphians Against Santorum.

So Savage's rightful place is working against Santorum, not on behalf of Bob Casey.  The Casey people are happy to have his money in a behind the scenes PAC way and probably ecstatic that he's encouraging his overwhelmingly pro-choice readers to support Casey. 

There's no way to justify this as anything other than cowardice.  Pragmatic cowardice, but nonetheless part of the ongoing decline of the political process as anything other than an exercise in non-leadership and pandering.  Things we women and homosexuals are sadly used to experiencing.  Casey comes off lucky because we all know that Santorum probably would use this contribution to further distract voters from real issues. 

I suppose we should be grateful Casey hasn't appeared on the 700 Club  ....

Political Junkie Maria has the scoop on this exciting Pgh opportunity ...

I think my brain is still on Chicago time.  Here are some interesting tidbits for your LGBTQ news ....

First, intrepid Post-Gazette columnist and all around ace-homosupportive dude Tony Norman contemplates Mel Gibson's homophobia in a little online chat vis a vis the PG.  Homophobe, anti-semite -- surprised?  Guess which one he's going to "repent" to save his career?  Let's just agree that his hairdresser shouldn't expect a mea culpa anytime soon ...

Yes, Mel is terribly sexist. He's definitely homophobic. Remember an interview he gave to Playboy roughly 10 years ago or so in which he went on and on about being mistaken for "gay" simply because he's an actor? What hogwash! He went out of his way to say "Hey, I don't walk like them. I don't have a limp wrist like those guys and I'm macho." When told he was hurting the feelings of his gay fans, he responded with a profanity or two or three. It was pure Mel. I don't know if he was overcompensating, but he was definitely expressing some less than charitable feelings for a whole segment of movie ticket buyers.

Moving west to the Ohio/Kentucky border, the Creation Museum just received a $1 million donation.  Creation museum, you ask?  Yes, lezzies and queers, you and your beloved will soon take a guided tour through biblical history. (h/t Pam's House Blend) 

The Creation Museum is a 55,000-square-foot center that will take future visitors on a walk through the history of the Bible. They will be treated to animatronic dinosaurs, a planetarium (nearly finished), a special effects theater, 55 videos and high-tech, family-friendly exhibits that will show that the Bible, including its creation account, is the true history of the world. It will also present the gospel in many parts of the museum.

Be sure to visit the Mel Gibson snack bar.  Rumor has it that they will have a live-action reeducation camp panorama so visitors can witness firsthand the salvation of the homosexuals who renounce their filthy ways.  There will also be plenty of nearby hotels for those who feel compelled to exorcise/exercise those filthy ways. 

Moving on .... the spokesman for the National Republica Senatorial Committee is <gasp> - a flaming queer!  Mike Rogers has the whole scoop on Brian Walters and his self-loathing attacks on Pittsburgh's very own Steel-City Stonewall Democrats.

And, finally, San Diego police have arrested three men in connection with a gay bashing incident involving a group of gay men leaving the local Pride celebration this past weekend.  The attackers wielded a baseball bat and knives, injuring one man so seriously that he made need facial reconstruction surgery.  Average age of the assailants?  15.