St. Petersburg Times

Brian Blair's "Checkers speech" at the County Center Thursday hinted ominously at legal action against his opponent, Commissioner-elect Kevin Beckner. Without taking any personal responsibility for his 50,000 vote loss, Blair blamed "slanderous and libelous" ads and gave credit only to Beckner's campaign manager for outsmarting his campaign manager.  Nice. In arguing that Beckner crossed the line of truth and integrity in the campaign, Blair busted out this astonishing analogy about his loss to an openly gay opponent.

 "There's got to be rules for everything. I mean how far can you go?  Could I say that, you know, that his boyfriend gave him AIDS or something like that? I certainly know that's not true."

There were audible gasps in the room while Blair went on to explain that he would never say that... immediately after just saying that.

It might be reasonable to chalk up such a clumsy gaffe to  Blair's frustration and his lack of tact. But it's also a statement that explains Blair's defeat.  Blair's support of a ban on gay pride displays in Hillsborough County and his blustery defense of Judeo Christian observances in the public schools no doubt pleased his most conservative supporters, but a majority of county residents apparently decided their public servants should spend more time addressing issues of growth, transportation and environment and less time on moral crusades. 

Kevin Beckner reluctantly addressed his sexual orientation during the campaign and only when asked. Some of his ads against Blair were unfair, but his campaign  focused on the boring, bread and butter issues most important to the majority of voters. That's why he won.