Log Cabin Republicans: GOP Position On Gay Marriage A Liability

[ProSense]

Log Cabin Republicans: GOP Position On Gay Marriage A Liability

The Log Cabin Republicans, a group of Republicans who support gay marriage, issued a statement Thursday warning both Mitt Romney and Republicans in general to change their tune on the issue of gay marriage and civil unions so as to not alienate key portions of the electorate such as young people, independents and women.

Here’s the statement:

“Marriage equality has captured the nation’s attention, and the response to President Obama’s announcement is evidence of the tide turning in favor of equality for all. Log Cabin Republicans have long believed that supporting the freedom to marry is the right thing to do and the president’s joining this effort is in the nation’s best interest. That said, Americans can be certain that the president would not have made this decision at this time if it were not in his best political interests. In addition to energizing his base and distracting attention from a failed economic record, the trap is laid for any Republican who responds with intolerance,” said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans executive director. “Already some in the GOP are taking the bait with former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie bringing up the twice-failed Federal Marriage Amendment and the unfortunate vote on Rep. Heulskamp’s (R-KS) amendment re-affirming DOMA last night. Democrats are eager to fundraise off of this issue. It is in the best interests of Republican candidates to be measured and disciplined in response, recognizing that a generational shift has occurred.”

“Gov. Mitt Romney’s statement in opposition to not just marriage but civil unions jeopardizes his ability to win moderates, women and younger voters, especially as a large majority of Americans favor some form of relationship recognition for their LGBT friends and neighbors. Ultimately, the response of the Republican candidates this election cycle will determine not just endorsements by Log Cabin Republicans, but the votes of millions of Americans who are simply tired of the culture wars.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/log-cabin-republicans-gop-position-on-gay-marriage

What a difference a day makes!


http://thinkprogress.org/take-action/thank-obama-lgbt-b/

[emulatorloo]

1. Their reaction to Obama yesterday was full of bizarre misplaced hatred.

Appears somebody sobered up. Too bad they didn't save any of yesterday's heat for Romney, because he is the one who deserves it.

Prediction: this will fall on deaf ears.

[Rex]

2. And ya know what? The GOP ignores them at the parties risk.

I LOVE our POTUS's smile!

[Kalidurga]

3. They need to go farther

they need to denounce Rmoney. He battered a peer in high school because he perceived him as being gay. He supported bullies of gay youth as a governor. He will defend DOMA if he feels that is what his base wants.

[Zorra]

4. Gay and lesbian republicans.

That's just wrong.

It makes no sense. Don't they understand what they are doing to the entire LGBT community, the oppressed minority that they are part of, a minority victimized by the republican party?

The image I have in my mind, of smiling gay and lesbian couples chattering excitedly as they are on their way to vote for Mitt Romney afflicts me with vertigo. Slightly dizzy, nauseous, and unbalanced.

It feels so wrong, so off...

[sabrina 1]

6. It's always seemed so contradictory to me, but then I guess they really do support

Conservative policies and in some ways, by remaining in the Republican Party they have not left it to the extremists. They have been very activist on Gay Rights, and I haven't seen them take much flack from the far right.

The question I always have, regarding the Log Cabin Republicans, Minorities such as African Americans and women, who remain in the Republican Party, 'is it better to stay and fight from within the party for their rights, or to leave the party to the bigots and leave us with two parties, one that is 100% bigoted and the other fighting them all the time. Some gains have been made, such as Republicans finally being dragged, kicking and screaming yes, but to accepting women in powerful political positions, along with minorities. Would that have happened if there were no minorities in the party?

Still can't answer that question. But minorities like everyone else, do have different political viewpoints and some apparently are not willing to be forced out of one of the only two political parties by the bigots.

Now maybe it's near time for Republicans to accept openly Gay policians, as they have women and minorities.
,
Otoh, it's possible that if all minorities had left the party, they might have moved faster to stop denying rights to all Americans. I really do not know.

[Zorra]

8. IMO, no reason for being a republican trumps the fact that they are hurting the

LGBT community with their support of the republican party and all those putrid bigots.

One Log Cabin republican told me he was a republican because he was a christian. That ended the conversation for me.

It boggles my mind. Any minority member that belongs to the republican party really offends me, makes me feel betrayed.

They align themselves the forces of oppression.

[sabrina 1]

9. I agree not just about minorities, but anyone who claims to care

about this country who belongs to today's Republican Party is harming this country. My point mainly is that we have to accept that those minorities who are members of the Republican Party are Republicans with all that means. To think that just because someone belongs to a minority they have better judgement has been proven wrong.

I was attempting to give them the benefit of the doubt I guess, that maybe they believed they could change the party. That's probably giving them too much credit. Clearly their minority status is trumped by selfishness, looking out for interests they obviously feel are more personally important. Every single person I have spoken to who is a Republican AND a member of some minority, explains their reasons mostly in financial terms. They want 'fiscal responsibilty' they say. So for them, it is about money. And even there they are wrong. But they do not support Social Programs eg, agreeing with Republicans 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' philosophy.

They do not identify with members of their minority groups. They identify with the oppressors. I know a lot of research has been done on this. But imo, it's pretty simple. Some people are just plain selfish, and incapable of caring about others.

[longship]

5. Log Cabins flip-flop on marriage equality!

'nuf said?

[tanyev]

7. Dudes, the Republican Party left you behind a long time ago.

Give it up, already.