RNC Insider: Lesbian Rumors Killed Condoleezza Rice's Veep Chances

Reporter Ian Alperin is quoting an unnamed Republican National Committee insider as saying that those pesky lesbian rumors killed any chance of Condoleezza Rice being selected as John McCain's running mate.

“Once Obama selected Biden instead of Hillary,” said the source, ” they had this theory that Condi was the perfect candidate to put up against him. She’s tough, conservative and a hawk, not to mention a football fanatic, which would be more than enough for white men. They never expected traditionally Democratic Blacks and women to vote for her in large numbers, but argued that if she could just sway 5-10% of Blacks and 10% of women to defect, it could be enough to tilt the election towards McCain in a number of crucial swing states. At this point, Palin still wasn’t on anybody’s radar screen.”

So what went wrong? “It was the persistent rumors about her sexuality that ultimately killed her chances and removed her from the list,” says the mid-level RNC official. “In Washington circles, it’s just assumed Rice is gay and nobody really cares. But in the glare of the media spotlight, those rumors were bound to get magnified a thousandfold and the mainstream media would have had an excuse to reveal the facts that would have caused conniption fits among the Republican base.”

According to Alperin's source, Rice's name was put forward on the shortlist of candidates, but she was rejected as "unelectable." Last year it was revealed that Rice co-owns a house with longtime gal pal Randy Bean.

How would you feel have felt about a McCain/Rice ticket? Would having a closeted lesbian "one heartbeat from the White House" have made you reconsider your vote? Certainly Rice is infinitely more qualified.