Some less liberal Democrats had been casting about for an alternative to Hillary Clinton for 2016 and hit upon one of the most popular former governors in America. Brian Schweitzer served two terms as Montana's governor and appeared to be one Democrat who could actually compete with Republicans in red states. While fairly liberal on economic issues, Schweitzer is pro gun, a budget hawk (he vetoed 72 bills during his terms), and his folksy, populist personae was thought to appeal to many red state libertarians.

Alas, Governor Schwietzer was not ready for the big stage as evidenced by remarks he made in a profile published in the National Journal:

“If you were just a regular person, you turned on the TV, and you saw Eric Cantor talking, I would say—and I'm fine with gay people, that's all right—but my gaydar is 60-70 percent,” Schweitzer said in the interview.

“Don't hold this against me, but I'm going to blurt it out. How do I say this ... men in the South, they are a little effeminate," he said. "They just have effeminate mannerisms.”

Cantor, who represents central Virginia and is outgoing House Majority Leader, has been married to his wife for 25 years and has three children.

Schweitzer better not travel south of Mason-Dixon.

But that's not all. He strongly opposes NSA spying on Americans and thinks that Senator Diane Feinstein is somehing of a hypocrite on the subject:

Also in the interview, Schweitzer compares fellow Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Democratic senator from California who chairs the Intelligence Committee, to a prostitute.

"She was the woman who was standing under the streetlight with her dress pulled all the way up over her knees," he said about Feinstein’s position on intelligence gathering. “And now she says, 'I'm a nun,' when it comes to this spying. I mean, maybe that's the wrong metaphor — but she was all in!"

Democratic strategist Ben LaBolt, who was also President Barack Obama's national press secretary for his 2012 re-election campaign, said Schweitzer's comments will have consequences, “largely disqualifying” him from presidential run.

"This time the loose cannon was aimed back at the ship," he said.

Feinstein said half jokingly, “You better keep him away from my husband.”

 

"I recently made a number of stupid and insensitive remarks to a reporter from the National Journal. I am deeply sorry and sincerely apologize for my carelessness and disregard," the possible 2016 Democratic presidential candidate said Thursday on his Facebook page.