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    bdrlgion12345J.K. Trotter
    2/04/14 8:07pm

    FWIW, I personally know both individuals. A few points:
    -Lanning is not the staffer at question. That staffer has since resigned, and Lanning is still in his position.
    -The allegations are being (not so covertly) funded by his GOP primary opponent and billionaire Bruce Rauner
    -Lanning used vacation, or "comp", time while overseas. He wasn't on the clock.
    -It's Rutherford's JOB to represent the state treasury and its interests abroad, and these trips are doing just that. He's nearly universally acclaimed by the taxpayers, IL legislators and business leaders as the best treasurer in recent memory.

    Gawker is (unknowingly?) playing into the hands of a rival GOP candidate by publishing this unsubstantiated smear. But, what else could we expect from such a rag that only yesterday tried (and failed spectacularly) to smear Seinfeld as a racist?

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      bdrlgion12345bdrlgion12345
      2/04/14 8:37pm

      This whole piece just reads as homophobic dog-whistling. At least Gawker's ideological counterbalances - Fox News, World-Net Daily, Fred fucking Phelps, whoever - would have the fucking balls to just say it. If you're gonna smear the guy, then SMEAR the guy.

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      secretagentmanbdrlgion12345
      2/04/14 8:42pm

      Couple questions; who is paying for the State Treasure's trips? Does Illinois really have 'interests' in all those countries? Are they a couple? You ok with a religious hypocrite taking his buddy with him around the world?

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    LincolnLoungerJ.K. Trotter
    2/05/14 12:36am

    I don't know who JK Trotter is, but the individual must be a gossipy, sixteen year-old boy snickering at the nerd in the class and calling him "queer." The young man involved here is straight as an arrow and a father. It is common for Illinois constitutional officers to travel with staff. The man is the state treasurer and is responsible for billions of dollars. He has to be in touch all the time, and this young man used his available benefit time when Mr. Rutherford traveled on personal vacation. No taxpayer funds were used, and I'm guessing if Mr. Rutherford had anything to hide that he wouldn't paste the photos all over his Facebook page. The young man who is the subject of these clumsy insinuations by Trotter doesn't deserve this. Mr. Rutherford subjected himself, in a way, by running for office. He has served the people well, though, and regularly cut his budget. Nobody expects quality political reporting here, but this is a new low for Gawker.

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      J.K. TrotterLincolnLounger
      2/05/14 9:36am

      The thrust here is that neither Rutherford nor Lanning seem to grasp professional boundaries. It’s inappropriate for a state treasurer to be taking just one of his staffers on all of these lengthy trips—totaling 32 days—and photograph their adventures the entire time. And for that staffer to assent to these trips in the first place. That is notable and newsworthy, and it’s a bit silly not to include the fact that many people in Illinois think Rutherford is gay.

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      brandonjayeLincolnLounger
      2/05/14 9:52am

      I don't know who LincolnLounger is, but he must be the type of guy that defends a kid being called "queer" so he looks moral and upstanding to the teacher, and then join in the name calling later. How are you gonna call someone an asshole for smearing someone and then turn around and do the exact same thing? That sort of cognitive dissonance is going to lead to the end of Republican politics anyhow.

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    CharmingManJ.K. Trotter
    2/04/14 7:23pm

    J.K., I think our definitions of 'strapping' are very different.

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      J.K. TrotterCharmingMan
      2/04/14 7:23pm

      I was trying to telegraph what Rutherford thought of Lanning. Not me!

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      midwesternmomCharmingMan
      2/04/14 7:37pm

      That is "downstate strapping" at its finest.

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    twerqyJ.K. Trotter
    2/04/14 6:58pm

    Gawker one minute: Look at this intolerant asshole! Shame!

    Gawker the next minute: Haha this republican is gay and doesn't want anyone to know! LOOK AT THE GAY GUY EVERYONE.

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      j.l. mcgrathtwerqy
      2/04/14 7:05pm

      And then get out your calculator so you can figure out how much those 2 cost the taxpayers by lollygagging all over. When the previous person who had his job never went anywhere.

      Because that's what's newsworthy here.

      Now do you get it?

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      Graymyas Leightwerqy
      2/04/14 7:10pm

      Yes because this is definitely not about a politician getting payed tax-payer money to take his lover around the world, its all about him being gay as the day is long.

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    JohnMcClanesSmirkJ.K. Trotter
    2/04/14 7:14pm

    Dad Khakis + overall late 90s "guy you knew in high school" chic going on in this pic is officially the worst thing ever to happen to the Golan Heights, ever. Literally.

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      Thunder-LipsJohnMcClanesSmirk
      2/04/14 7:22pm

      Pleats are terrible though.

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      FrederickDouglassJohnMcClanesSmirk
      2/04/14 7:30pm

      Good catch. Those pants are so big they are practically Skidz. Yeah I said it.

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    Li'l BiscuitJ.K. Trotter
    2/04/14 7:09pm

    Oh, I'm so torn. I hate the implied outing of a public figure, because it reinforces feelings of shame. But I hate hypocritical conservatives who block progress of gay rights even more.

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      bruceismynameLi'l Biscuit
      2/04/14 7:19pm

      I share this plight with you. I would invite you, however and in this case, to lean towards the latter.

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      BananaJewLi'l Biscuit
      2/04/14 8:03pm

      Its not just about outing this particular person, its about illustrating the rank hypocrisy of so many homosexual Republicans. Joining a party whose mast head is at least partially based on hating all homosexuals in order to advance your personal career just reeks of rank careerist scumbaggary. A million humiliations for people exactly like me, as long as I get a cut! should not be a slogan any normal person accepts.

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    Leah B.J.K. Trotter
    2/05/14 10:13am

    I've never actually taken the time to post anything before, but this is just—beyond the pale. Who cares, Gawker?

    Apparently, the staffer took paid time off to take these trips with Mr. Rutherford, who may or may not be gay. And if Mr. Rutherford is gay, again, who cares?

    Gawker purports to be so progressive, yet they publish and publicize this article shaming a lawmaker and a staffer for their supposed sexuality, which is not even confirmed!

    If Fox had posted this pathetic excuse for journalism about a Democrat (or anyone for that matter), Gawker would be on the case in a heartbeat. This story is disgusting, pathetic and serves no purpose other than to be "first" to report the "news" on a Republican. Next time do your homework before publicly shaming a public official and possibly ruining the career and/or personal life of an innocent staffer. Ugh.

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      J.K. TrotterLeah B.
      2/05/14 10:46am

      Gawker purports to be so progressive, yet they publish and publicize this article shaming a lawmaker and a staffer for their supposed sexuality, which is not even confirmed!

      Good lord. There is no “shaming” for being gay going on here.

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    The Ghost of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ AKA BabyStepsJ.K. Trotter
    2/04/14 6:57pm

    To be honest he doesn't seem all that strapping to me. That said I immediately had to chortle at the title:

    "Illinois GOP Gov. Candidate Took Strapping Male Staffer on World Tour"

    Taking someone on a "world tour" sounds like the most amazing euphemism for some sort of all-encompasing sex act.

    "But one of his aides bragged to the Sun-Times that, in order to save on travel expenses on domestic trips to New York and Washington, the treasurer’s office often booked Rutherford and Lanning to a single hotel suite. When the men were sleeping in the same room, at least Illinois taxpayers were getting their money’s worth."

    All I can imagine when I read this is the "strapping young man" saying something like: "Oh Mr. Treasurer, your thrift is sooooo big!" Don't even get me started on the "hard times, really hard times" quote!

    Anyhow, this was a lot of fun.

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      HypnoCatThe Ghost of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ AKA BabySteps
      2/04/14 7:00pm

      The GOP is really extending their reach around the world!

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      notalwaysjoyfulThe Ghost of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ AKA BabySteps
      2/04/14 7:02pm

      I actually read the title as "Illinois GOP Gov Candidate Took Stripping Male Staff" and i thought to myself "kinky!"

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    wrpJ.K. Trotter
    2/05/14 10:04pm

    A. As an Illinois state employee I want to know where my trip to Israel is. It must have gotten lost in the mail.

    B. This is a gossipy piece of homophobic grossness.

    C. I am exceedingly unlikely to vote for a Republican for anything but given a choice between Dan Rutherford and Bruce Rauner I know who I'd pick and it isn't this smug union busting asshole

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      J.K. Trotterwrp
      2/05/14 11:10pm

      How is it homophobic?

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      wrpJ.K. Trotter
      2/06/14 12:28am

      It's one thing to out people using their power to advance an anti gay agenda, it's quite another to try and push out consistent allies like Dan Rutherford by suggesting he's keeping his much younger boyfriend/employee sweet by taking him on cool vacations on the tax payer dime.

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    Thunder-LipsJ.K. Trotter
    2/04/14 6:58pm

    That is a top of the line fanny pack.

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      armyjackson1Thunder-Lips
      2/04/14 7:02pm

      He does wear his pants above his belly button.
      So not a fan.

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      twerqyThunder-Lips
      2/04/14 7:05pm

      I think the fanny pack makes him a bottom, actually.

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