Well, but the revelations about both Westerwelle and von Beust came after Wowi's self-outing, and I do think that the presence and acceptance of the first openly gay major politician 'prepared the ground' for the public reaction on the latter two.

But, was it political advertising? Definitely. Pre-empting the disclosure while turning it into one's advantage - hence, clever. Then again, I think it wouldn't have had the effect without "Das ist auch gut so", which seemed spontaneous.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}