Kenneth Brian "Ken" Mehlman (born August 21, 1966, Baltimore, Maryland) is an American businessman, attorney, and political figure who held several national posts in the Republican Party and the George W. Bush Administration. Mehlman managed Bush's 2004 re-election campaign and subsequently chaired the Republican National Committee from 2005–07.After leaving the RNC, Mehlman worked for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and, in 2008, subsequently joined Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, a multinational private equity firm, as Global Head of Public Affairs. In 2007, Mehlman was appointed by Bush to a five-year term on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council . In 2013, Mehlman joined the Mt. Sinai Hospital Board of Trustees in New York.In 2010, Mehlman came out as gay, making him one of the few prominent openly gay figures in the Republican Party. Mehlman came out in an interview with journalist Marc Ambinder, who noted that Mehlman's roles with the RNC and the Bush campaign "coincided with the Republican Party's attempts to exploit anti-gay prejudices and cement the allegiance of social conservatives". Since coming out, Mehlman has advocated for the recognition of same-sex marriage.
Conservatives don't need to change core convictions to embrace the growing support for equal rights for gay Americans. It is sufficient to recognize the inherent conservatism in citizens' desire to marry, to be judged on their work, and not to be singled out for higher taxes or bullying at school. These objectives can be achieved while also protecting religious liberty, as demonstrated by states enacting civil marriage with exemptions for religious institutions.
#
Fact
1
Chairman of the Republican National Committee, 2005-2007.
2
Campaign manager for George W. Bush's reelection in 2004.
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Fear of a Black Republican
2011
Documentary
Himself - Interviewee
Swing State
2008
Documentary
IFC News: 2008 Uncut
2008
TV Series
Himself
Face the Nation
2006
TV Series
Himself
...So Goes the Nation
2006
Documentary
Himself
Meet the Press
2005-2006
TV Series
Himself
Hardball with Chris Matthews
2006
TV Series
Himself
The Daily Show
2004-2006
TV Series
Himself
This Week
2006
TV Series
Himself
Summerslam
2005
TV Special
Himself (as Ken Melhman)
The Big Story
2005
TV Series
Himself
Tavis Smiley
2005
TV Series
Himself
Charlie Rose
2004
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Outrage
2009/I
Documentary
Himself
Known for movies
Summerslam (2005) as Himself
...So Goes the Nation (2006) as Himself
Swing State (2008) as Actor
Fear of a Black Republican (2011) as Himself - Interviewee
$600,000
