White House Rebukes Activists Who Flipped Off Reagan Portrait: ‘Behavior Like This Doesn’t Belong Anywhere’
- Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:39am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Matthew "Matty" Hart, left, Mark Segal, center, and Zoe Strauss, right, pose in front of portraits of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush at the White House. (Image source: Philadelphia Magazine)
The White House on Friday castigated the gay activists who posed for pictures while giving the middle finger to a portrait of former President Ronald Reagan during a recent visit.
“While the White House does not control the conduct of guests at receptions, we certainly expect that all attendees conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Most all do,” White House spokesman Shin Inouye told Fox News. “These individuals clearly did not. Behavior like this doesn’t belong anywhere, least of all in the White House.”
Matthew “Matty” Hart and Zoe Strauss were among a group of activists invited to an LGBT reception at the White House earlier this month. Photos first published in Philadelphia Magazine showed them posing in front of the Reagan portrait with their middle fingers raised. Hart, the national director of public engagement at Solutions for Progress, posted his photo on Facebook with the caption, “F–k Reagan.” Strauss, who also took a photo beneath the portrait kissing another woman, posted hers on Twitter with the caption “F–K YOU, REAGAN.”
Neither Strauss nor Hart responded to The Blaze’s requests for comment.
A third photo published in Philadelphia Magazine depicted Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal giving a “sarcastic” thumbs-up to the portrait of former President George W. Bush.
“It’s not a gesture that I would use in the White House when representing our city and our community,” Segal said of the middle finger poses.


















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Comments (352)
TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:23amLGBT Tourettes (which can be compared to Liberal Tourettes).
When Gays have a sudden outburst of acting out or saying something so Gay or so obnoxious it can only be compared to Tourettes.
Report Post »panache
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:45amI have Tourettes and I would never act like that…..but I’m not gay. These people belong on the school bus harassing old ladies.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:03amI met Reagan… and he would have laughed at this… and said somthing like… Glad it was not actually Me!
Report Post »knockered
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:10amI‘m surprised the liar in charge didn’t stand by his guests, not going along with these idiot lowlifes might cost him some votes.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:16amTolerance & diversity only applies to those that disagree with Leftist NeoLibs. The libs are above any such notion. They only spew intolerance, allow no diversity of thought and harbor dripping hate for those that disagree. And the best part, they claim to be the enlighten ones.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:18amWhat does the gay community have to say about these people?
Report Post »Brittany-Imbriaarts
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:42amKnockered… He does it all the time it just hasn‘t been seen I’m sure. Cause we know he does it to our constitution.
Report Post »Penny Posten
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:43amLike yor login name.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:57amWhy were these people invites to the WH and WHO invited them?????
Report Post »Teufel Hunden
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:04pmThese people belong on a school bus going over a cliff!
Report Post »Spiritglogal
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:25pmNo- Tourette’s is involuntary – what they did was COMPLETELY by choice. It shows how tacky and class-less they (the gay activists) are. I’ve known quite a few gay people over the years, but none of them have been this rude and obnoxious. This kind of behavior takes a pro (activist). But the White House should have known better than to invite them. Well, (hopefully) lesson learned (or maybe I’m being too optimistic).
Report Post »muffythetuffy
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:33pmIt Is What You Would Expect From This MURDERGATE White House.
Obama and Michelle encouraged this and told the White House photographer to take pictures.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:34pm.
Report Post »We better be glad they did not drop their drawers, or Obama would have given them a medal……
oneshiner
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:43pmI agree with you. I’ve know many good, decent, respectful people who are gay and none of them act as hateful and rude as these visitors to the White House. These people are probably the same ones who go dressed up like fools to the Gay Pride Parades and make arses of themselves to everyone.
Report Post »If I were gay, I’d act as an ordinary person and not draw crude attention to myself that causes people like me to feel sick and disgusted with these little devious idiots.
I don’t mind Gay, it’s their business, I mind what people like these are doing for attention.
SocialistSlayer
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:54pmThere are bad people in every group of people – I don’t believe most gays would act like this. It’s a shame that these idiots choose to act this way while representing the gay community. They should be ashamed of themselves!
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 1:36pmAnd This WH keeps making points with the American People…
Report Post »Will be a good thing when this Administration comes to an END..
I.Heart.America
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 1:48pmOMG….has a new meaning….Obama Must Go!!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 1:55pmLoyalty, faithfulness, commitment, courage patriotism, And The Difference to tell Right from Wrong_ I hope that these values are as much a part of your life as any calculus course or social science study. And so, do remember: Gratitude is a way to a deeper wisdom. Look for that deeper wisdom: believe me, there’s a greater hunger for it. And here your in luck. As AMERICANS, you have a special claim on it.
Ronald Reagan June 16th 1988
Some people have seemed to forgotten.
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 2:03pmI don’t see any difference between these people and your average democrat.
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 2:33pm“You can dress THEM up, but you can’t take THEM out” !!!
Report Post »HKS
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 3:15pmJust what kind of care is being given to the peoples house by this administration. The crowds they are drawing are mostly undesirables with no respect for the country or its history. I think its another gotcha at the American people. This is how this administration allows our house to be treated?
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 4:01pmOh ok, everythings better now, I am so relieved.
bs.
Report Post »lilybell
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 5:29pmIf Obama’s sons were gay… I think, the portrait acted stupidly.
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 6:07pmAnd it looks as though MSNBC is going to feature these heathens on their Sunday talk shows!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are the kind of ‘stuff’ Obama invites to OUR White House for special events??????
Report Post »DisgruntledInClinton
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 6:19pmThey should be arrested for indecency in a public place. The White House, no matter what Bams says or thinks (”my White House) belongs to the American people.
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 6:39pmThese people are disgusting. Some say it’s a gay thing, I think it kinda q****
Report Post »Sunnyy
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:51pmDidn’t the WH give these people chaperones?…does a pic leave the WH if the WH doesn’t want it to?
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:15amReagan was right!
Report Post »IIIcorp
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:35pmFunny that they didn’t have any problem with this until the pictures came out.
Report Post »scrooge
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 6:39pm“The mind that alters alters all” William Blake
Report Post »tmarends
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:03pm@GETLIFE
Report Post »As a gay man, I do not approve of this behavior… and as much as I dislike Obama, I would never do something like this… I might role my eyes at his portrait though.
blaaaaackwoman
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:20amSome people would say their immature behavior is probably a result of those gays having syphilis of the brain, gonorrhea in their joints, AIDS rotting their brains from all their deviant behavior.
Report Post »eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:52amAnd – some people are probably RIGHT! :)
Report Post »Roberto G. Vasquez
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:03amThee people at fault are those that allowed/invited pervs to visit the WH!
Report Post »muffythetuffy
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:37pmAnything New About Murder-gate?
This White House photo session was planned. Now they are all over the Earth on every front page.
Obama cannot wait for Congress so he makes his own LAWs.
We cannot wait for the November election so our US Armed Forces should be ordered by Congress to remove Obama from office. The US Constitution no longer exists so lets remove him now.
Report Post »muffythetuffy
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:40pmWhich of those people will receive Recess appointments next week. There are several Cabinet openings and these people would be excellent choices.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:19amWhat took so long for the re-puke…. I mean re-buke…
Report Post »Gorp
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:36amWhat took so long is that they had to have a few different meetings as to how to respond to this. They also had to wait to see which way the wind was blowing before they made their statement. If more people were in favor of this kind of action then so would have the White House. But more people are outraged by this so the White House “had to” come out against it. That’s what took so long. Meetings. Committees. Committees. Meetings. That’s why.
Report Post »sinsay7
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:13amthe white house’s actual response was “Behavior like this does not belong anywhere, but we’d like to count on your vote (wink)”
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:52pmThis has not been a good week for the current administration.
Several key Democratic representatives announced that they would not be attending the DNC. The list is growing. (Ouch!!!)
Mrs. B.O. writes a letter proclaiming that her man is everyone’s husband. (Guess again, Ma’am.)
The administration suggests (after attending a staffer’s family wedding) that future newlyweds have their guest contribute to his re-election campaign. (That trial balloon came down so hard and fast it actually registered on the Reichter scale.)
The Secret Service actually confiscated the forks following a fund raising dinner before B.O. entered the room to give a speech in Florida. (If I’d been at the dinner, I’d have asked for my money back.)
And now, this. They let a bunch of 8 year olds posing as activists into the White House. It was bad enough when a former President was charging for the opportunity to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom, but this is even lower than that. If I was gay and saw people who claimed to be representing me act like this, I’d be ashamed and very angry. And I would let those activists know.
Report Post »lwillis59
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 12:43pmit really wasn’t a rebuke… there was no outrage because they are not outraged… they felt the pressure coming, and they have been in defence mode. The last couple weeks now..I still say that this would be a great time for the superPACS to make a commercial about this…
Report Post »momrules
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:18amThese people did what they did because they knew it was acceptable in the Obama White House, him being the first homosexual President and all. They felt comfortable in their surroundings and acted accordingly.
The rebuke came because the American public was genuinely outraged and the Obama team had to do a PR cover-up. I do not think there is a single member of the current administration who really feels a rebuke is deserved.
Report Post »edcoil
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:23amWell, at the very least, their chaperone thought it acceptable. No one walks around the white house without an escort.
Report Post »pavnvet
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 7:13pmAbsolutely right, anyone not working in the WH is chaperoned. Cameras are also very rarely allowed inside. So what do we have another breech of security or a complacent, compliant White House? They were allowed to take the pictures, guess no one thought they would be seen on the internet. Then again, this isn‘t the worse of things that are going on in the People’s House.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:15amDon’t worry Barry, we‘re going to put someone in that house that won’t invite trash in for a visit.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:58amAmen to that … GONZO .. don’t forget Obama and his feet and butt on the Resolute Desk … January they will have to clean, restore and fumigate the White House.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:58amWait Wait
You go to the White House and are just able to wander around without guides or supervision?
LGBT’ers took these pics in front of a guide challenging them to make them stop taking the pics???
OH I GET IT
These losers are the “parents” of the dead kids on the bus screaming at the monitor.lady
Saw a nice bumper sticker yesterday
Report Post »DUH BRO HAS GOT TO GO/2012
OMG 2012
Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:13pmThis administration let a skateboarder ride down the halls, that should of been enough right there.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 3:18pmI guess when you move the ghetto in what else is one to expect.
Report Post »football lady
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:25amYou betcha!
Report Post »cristo52
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:15am“While the White House does not control the conduct of guests at receptions, we certainly expect that all attendees conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Most all do,” White House spokesman Shin Inouye.
Report Post »Another Obama lie. They don’t just open the doors and let these “attendees” roam the halls without supervision. It’s interesting to note the Gawker piece on Mr. Inouye: http://gawker.com/shin-inouye/
Psychosis
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:32amits a small world after all
so, obama’s whitehouse is connected to manning and MORE LEAKS
why am i NOT surprised
Report Post »Beckisdelusional
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:10amGreat Picture! They’re just doing the same thing Bush and Reagan did to us lol!
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:24amso its true then? All you liberal idiots were, in fact, raised by wolves!
I always supected as much.
You know I once went to an event will Bill Clinton. Somehow I managed to conduct myself with respect and dignity.
Report Post »freedomisasfreedomdoes
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:03amYou must live an angry existence filled to the brim with negativity. Sucks to be you.
Report Post »madderg
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:19amI bet you can almost feel the door knob of this country hittin’ you in the backside as its being slammed after we throw you out of it in November…good luck pal!!
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:30pmDelusional – I wish I knew what made you such an awful person so I can be sure not ever go around it.
Report Post »Hoax And Chains
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:35pmHa! Ha!… Great post! It’s always good to hear from a useful idiot like you. Obama has lots of welfare money to hand out to you and your stooges… until this November. Tell us how old you were when Reagan was president!
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 3:23pmAnd next you’re going to demand that we all “get along” “show more civility” and “respect the president of the United States.” You liberals demand an awful lot of something that you refuse to give. But I’m wasting my breath, in warped Liberal logic it makes perfect sense to treat everyone else like garbage then expect them to worship the ground President Obama walks on.
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 3:37pm@delusional
Great Picture!
Are you talking about the one with Zoe slipping the tongue to her
Report Post »girl toy ?? This is like flipping off the American People…………….
GeorgieJo
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 3:56pmSAD thing is that Reagan did ALOT for the Gays in the 80′s.
Report Post »These people are just TOO STUPID to know it.
Obummer is just playing to the Gays for their votes.
He could care less about your CAUSE.
LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG 2012
DIR
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 4:16pmOne of the funniest finger flipping events recently is when Obama symbolically flip off his admirers. The event took place when he told newlyweds to hand over the newlywed gold, so he could use it to get re-elected. Apparently he figures the newlywed wife or the other man or women, mule, dog, whatever would be getting the honeymoon shaft, while O takes the bridal gold. You newlyweds can forgo the honey moon, nice bridal gifts, the expensive wedding for his re-election bid. Its the least you can do! O needs your cash! In the mean time he and the wife jet around the world to exotic places on airforce one, he plays golf, parties hard, and they eat like king and queen, plus you would be astounded at the gitts they continuously get.
I’d say the last laugh is on you Beckisdelusional. He’s flipping you off, but you can’t see it. What a hoot. Not to worry, we goofy conservatives will fix this injustice. We won’t let O get away with it, especially come election day. You can thank us later after a long hard cry.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 8:00amYou are doing “IT” to each other,and will pay the price as Romans Chapter 1 points out. I pray you will repent of your pervsersion, Before you are given over to a repbrobate minds.
Report Post »football lady
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:29amWho is us? Grow up!
Report Post »thefutureisright
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:06amAs Obama waves goodbye for good to all those Reagan Democrat votes….
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:17amMost of the Reagan Democrats I know already fled in horror!
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 1:49pmThe only Regan democrat I know voted for Obama, and has regretted it ever since.
Report Post »Durig
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:05amI truly find this immature behavior. Only simple minds would resort to this kind of propaganda to elevate their cause and excite their base. It would be much more pleasant to work with mature individuals who can express themselves in a civilized manner. They have simply pushed their cause further back in the line of things to change. Non gays can’t support them with activity like this. Childish, stupid and counter-productive.
Report Post »Your Name Here
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:52amThe progressive liberal mind is emotional and lacks reasoning.
Report Post »This is the behavior of children that have not grown into maturity and learned to put emotions in balance with logic.
This is why liberals always want government to take care of everything. They can‘t handle responsibility because they are still chilidish and don’t know how to behave as adults.
Bowlingkev
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:03amAfter having had the privilege of visiting the White House on several occasions, both in military uniform and civilian attire, it saddens me to see this level of disrespect occurring within these hallowed halls. Just goes to show how low we’ve sunk as a society…and now they are being treated as “victims”. Even worse.
Report Post »psychokittis
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:00pmYou’re right. It is sad.
Report Post »On another sublect, I like you “Wot me worry?” Aldred E. New’Bama avatar.
gramma b
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:55amYeah. Right. I’m sure the White House staff were laughing right along with them. People like these gay activists hate decent people. This administration hates decent people.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:54amObama likes doing what they do best- disrespecting whats good.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:53amUh, right – whatever. These are typical liberal “activists” – these are typical obama supporters. Seriously, has anyone EVER seen ANY liberal “activist” or ANY obama supporter conducting themselves in a “respectful manner”. Liberals are mentally ill, obama-liberals are deranged lunatics – this is how they act – this is what they do – we see it EVERY DAY.
Report Post »subic
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:46amobama’s LGBT drug culture showing their true colors.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:51am“A third photo published in Philadelphia Magazine depicted Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal giving the thumbs-up to the portrait of former President George W. Bush.”
Report Post »That’s not a THUMBS UP.. He’s pointing at the photo with a disgusted look, like’ look at this fool or something..’ Please.
Small World
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:51amHell just blame Bush.
Report Post »randy
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:51am“While the White House does not control the conduct of guests at receptions.
Report Post »You wouldn’t have to worry about controlling guests if any of them had any class OBAMA!
Theses are your people…..
I find it truly disgisting you had a gay pride day at the White House anyway.
What’s next?
Planned Parenthood Day?
Illegal Immigration Day?
Proud to be a Commie Day?
You disgust me!
RedDirtTexas
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:08amObama was probably the photographer. What kind of sick woman would want to have sick sex with the sick bi-otch in the purplish jail jumpsuit anyway? I guess ugly and angry go hand in hand!
Report Post »ddg7
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 8:07pmAre we to believe nobody was watching these ‘guests’ in the ‘peoples house’? The Obama White House does not approve but they didn’t do anything to stop them. Obama probably charged a $3 campaign donation for each picture taken.
Report Post »Jay Gatz
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:50amWhat would the reaction be of these cretins if a few white supremacists posted their pictures in front of the Lincoln portrait doing the exact same thing?
Report Post »chickster
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:50amWell they’ve certainly gained my respect.If only they knew what Reagan did for gay rights they would and should be ashamed of themselves. But in every group, you have your ten percenters. Theirs were caught on film to be proudly shown to the country.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:49amTHESE PEOPLE didn’t belong in the WHITE HOUSE in the first place! Why are we celebrating THEM, just because of their sexual orientation? Ridiculous.
Report Post »huskered
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:56amObama is celebrating them because they know they have 3 votes. Hopefully that’s all they get.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:13amAm sure there are more votes out there for the Democrats . How About this for a new Discrimination Card angle : Votes For Felons ! Hey, they are citizens, too. Call Eric…oh,someone already did ? Ok… never mind….leave no stone unturned campaign organizers for any possible Democrat votes .
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:49amSomething from the Obama White House that I can agree with . Am sure this won’t last….
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:48amThis is why we can’t have nice things.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 11:00amrofl :)
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:46amYES, it does: Hang Up.. that picture of… Obama!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:45amActually the White House statement should read: “We are rebuking them because they got caught.”
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:15amSnow, you’re right about that. They are just in CYA mode for public consumption.
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:19ammy thoughts exactly.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 12:52pmHi RJJ,
Wait till you see the idea I gave GB yesterday.
Report Post »If I’m RIGHT, you will know it by, “deliberately LEFT”.
Hopefully, it will become a story this week.
(LEFT reply on 2 of your posts so you might see it)
showmerancher
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:45amYou can always judge a “leader” by those with whom he associates and surrounds him/herself.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:09amYou hit the nail on the head.
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:29amWhat is it my mom used to say? “Birds of a feather, flock together”. That about sums it up.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 9:42amSo what did they do, send them a strongly worded letter? Tell them they’re in time out? Or did they just tell them to not make it so public next time?
I’m guessing it would be option #3.
Report Post »