bakersfield.com – By Christine Bedell, Californian government editor
The sexual orientation and voting record of state Sen. Roy Ashburn exploded into national news Thursday, the day after he was arrested on misdemeanor drunk driving charges in Sacramento.
Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, did not return calls again Thursday seeking an explanation of the events leading up to his arrest and the Sacramento television report that launched nationwide speculation that the veteran lawmaker is gay and therefore a hypocrite for voting against gay-rights bills.