Bill McCollum Paid Antigay Activist $120,000; How Many "Long Strokes" Does That Buy?

bill mccollum official.jpg
Photo: wikipedia commons
McCollum
Try tho' he might, Bill McCollum can't shake the scandal over the $120,000 his Attorney General's Office paid to George Alan Rekers, the antigay activist who was outed by New Times writers Penn Bullock and Brandon K. Thorp last week.

McCollum tried to pin it on the Florida Department of Children and Families. But then these letters surfaced showing McCollum himself forcefully insisting that Rekers' testimony be heard in the state's effort to prevent adoption of children by gay people.

Knowing what we now know about Rekers and his affinity for sensual massages from young men, did he defraud McCollum?

George Rekers.jpg
Rekers
Maybe not in the strict legal sense: Rekers' "expertise" on gay people's behavior was academic in nature -- admittedly, a dubious academic nature -- and so his personal conduct wouldn't necessarily affect those qualifications. It's not like he lied on his résumé.

By the same token, there's little doubt at this point that Rekers himself is a fraud on a personal level -- and that activities in his private life annihilate whatever credibility he may have on a professional level.

Unfortunately for Florida taxpayers -- and for a McCollum campaign that would sure like to get that money back -- this fraud appears to have made a clean getaway.

But from a political standpoint, the episode displays an appalling lack of judgment on McCollum's part. Even had Rekers not been exposed, it was foolish and wasteful for McCollum to seek the doctor's "expert" testimony.

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Privacy Policy
Sign up for free stuff, news info & more!

Tools

General

Services

Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places

    Voice Places

    Discover restaurants, nightlife, travel, shopping...

  • VOICE Daily Deals

    VOICE Daily Deals

    Get 50 to 90% off every day on restaurants, movies, massages...

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    More than 10,000 of the BEST things to eat, drink, and experience

  • My Voice Nation

    My Voice Nation

    Join the Village Voice community and get exclusive deals and info

  • Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Your local Happy Hour guide at your fingertips

or

Log in or Sign up

Social Connect:

Use your favorite account to access My Voice Nation.


Use your My Voice Nation account to log in:





Forgot password?
or

Sign Up or Log in

Social Connect:

Sign up for My Voice Nation with your preferred network.


Sign up for a My Voice Nation account:



Privacy policy