SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
The fallout of the American Presidential election of 2016 continues, and many are concerned about what the eventual consequences will be. One potential member of a Trump administration has many more worried than not. Observe:
As Donald Trump commences his ghastly slouch toward Washington, a coterie of sycophants snatches at his coattails: Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Chris Christie—we knew this particular trio would scurry after heightened relevance and authority. Unsurprisingly, all three have slavered their way to the president-elect's transition team, and possibly into the Cabinet. Less expected, perhaps, was billionaire PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel's recent appointment to the same advisory committee. And yet, an alliance between Trump and Thiel, however appalling, seems so fitting that hindsight renders it almost preordained.
One wonders about the temperament of the President-Elect, but even more about the basket of, um, unemployed, that swarm around him seeking positions in the new administration. Peter Thiel is well know for having bankrupted Gawker over the Hulk Hogan affair, but for personal reasons.
But Thiel did not bankroll Hogan's lawsuit in a show of fraternity. He had nurtured a grudge since December 2007, when Gawker published an article entitled, "Peter Thiel is totally gay, people." Thiel condemned Gawker for publicly outing him, though the site contended that he had already disclosed his sexuality to those in his social sphere. Although Thiel referred to Gawker as "a singularly terrible bully," he did not pursue legal action. Instead, his rancor smoldered until, nine years later, he landed a belated—but fatal—blow.
What might such vindictiveness accomplish with more than millions of dollars, but the full faith and credit of the United States, if it sought to silence criticism, whistle-blowing, truth-telling and journalism? Should Soylentils be worried?
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 21 2016, @02:46AM
> Gawker outed Thiel while he was on a business trip in Saudia Arabia,
Sounds made up. First I've heard of it. Can't find confirmation in google.
What I find is mention that Thiel was afraid of losing saudi money in his hedge fund.
And that I totally believe. Because he screwed the pooch so badly with that hedge fund that it lost over 90% going from ~$8B at its 2008 peak, shortly after Gawker published the story [gawker.com] (december 19, 2007), to ~$700M in 2010.
And guess who covered all of that in depth?
Gawker. Multiple [gawker.com] times [gawker.com]
So I think its much more likely that a man who already did not try to conceal that he was gay, he just didn't flaunt it, decided to scapegoat gawker for his own business failures because denial. Hell, maybe the saudis did pull their money out because of gawker's story. But that's Thiel's problem for taking money from people like that. It isn't like he was broke and had no other way to put food on the table. He chose to do business with homophobes. Its not Gawker's job to protect his morally bankrupt business deals.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 21 2016, @09:28AM
Thiel might be a bully, but there's no question that gawker is one as well. They've done this shit to less resourceful people too.
(Score: 1) by i286NiNJA on Monday November 21 2016, @06:44PM
I just did a google search by date and I can't find any mention of Theil's homosexuality prior to the gawker article. I hate trump and theil's politics but good on him for having revenge.
Gawker used to play favorites with who it would smear and then it would taunt it's victims. Not to mention it and shitrag huffpo constantly tag team people, gawker taking the low road and then huffpo presenting a facade of respectability. They practically got trump elected because the lazy hipsters at those shitholes couldn't a clown who gave them easy stories to write with an extra topping of virtue signaling. When you got a guy who gropes his daughter and makes fun of cripples in front of a crowd, on camera. Well a highschool freshman could manage to shit out 1000 words without writers block in a few hours.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 22 2016, @04:40AM
> I just did a google search by date and I can't find any mention of Theil's homosexuality prior to the gawker article.
You seem to be confused about the meaning of "flaunt."
Here's something to try, google marc andreessen for any mention of his heterosexuality.
Also, why don't you go actually read the gawker article in question. It is clear you haven't.