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» Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon Steps Down
"After five years at this organization and more than two years leading Log Cabin, I am ready to tackle new challenges. I'll be doing documentary filmmaking, which is what I did before joining Log Cabin's staff", announced LCR President Patrick Sammon in a release today. He counts a successful "Republicans Against 8" campaign, encouraging inclusiveness in John McCain's campaign and calling out Gov. Mitt Romney for using gays and lesbians as a wedge issue during the primaries among his accomplishments. The board does not have an immediate replacement. |
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We know the Log Cabin Republicans get a lot of shit from the more liberal lavender set and it probably hurts their feelings, but the group's reaction resembles that of the far-right. Echoing language employed by the likes of Focus on the Family, LCR president Patrick Sammon today sent out an email entitled "The Intolerant Left" in which he gripes about all the homos who hate on him and his fellow Republicans. Writes Sammon: As we enter the election's homestretch, gay and lesbian Republicans have come under intense fire from the gay community for daring to speak our minds about this campaign. Instead of arguing the merits of their candidate, too many on the left resort to name calling. After writing about "the most pro-gay GOP presidential nominee in American history," John McCain, Sammon goes on to cite criticism from liberal journos like Wayne Besen and Alex Blade, all of which leads up to his desperate, sad plea: Whatever you can contribute—$25, $50, $100, or more—will help us fight back against the divisive rhetoric from the gay left. "Will you be silenced?" Didn't Tony Perkins use the same argument when fighting hate crime laws, which the right claims will muzzle anti-gay pastors. Just replace "Republicans" with "Christians" - it's eerie. Sammon, we implore you, don't go down that panic-inducing route. It's not becoming on you. Read Sammon's entire letter, after the jump. Be sure to note his post-script, which is perhaps the most disturbing detail of all! |
» ("Right") Words…
"We disagree with Gov. Palin on this issue, but we're glad that Sen. McCain agrees with us. The president sets the policy for the administration. Sen. McCain twice voted against the federal marriage amendment and continues to believe the states should decide this issue." - Log Cabin Republican president Patrick Sammon on Republican running mate Sarah Palin's support for a federal gay marriage ban. [Rod 2.0] |
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» Queer Failure (Amended).
The Log Cabin Republicans got some flack this week for not sending out a message congratulating Connecticut on its gay marriage win. Spokesman Scott Schmidt informs us, however, that California's No on 8 asked supporters not to send out individual releases. Schmidt also directed us to the Republicans Against 8's message, which isn't congratulatory, but informative. |
» Queer Failure.
"Log Cabin Republicans – the gay Republicans – have failed to congratulate Connecticut on becoming the third state in the United States to recognize the right of gay couples to marry… As of Tuesday morning, even as the Log Cabin Republican website ushered visitors to the group's pro gay marriage Republicans Against 8 website, which features quotes, bios and interviews of prominent Republicans who oppose Proposition 8 – the November ballot initiative that seeks to forbid gay marriage in California, neither the group's website nor blog mentioned Connecticut's historic decision." [On Top] |
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The Log Cabin Republicans - a gay group that endorsed John McCain and described running mate Sarah Palin as "inclusive" - today defended Palin, who last night said being gay is a choice. Comparing Palin's "non-judgement" to that of other Americans, communications director Scott Tucker released the following statement: In this interview, Gov. Palin expressed her support for a gay friend of 30 years and reiterated that she doesn’t judge people. She said she’s ‘not going to judge Americans and the decisions they make in their adult personal relationships.’ Frankly, I think that’s where most Americans are in their attitude toward gay and lesbian people. Nice work citing a previous interview, Tucker. Palin's remarks last night make clear she's given the topic more thought - but not enough - and has chosen to rely on tried-and-true right-wing ideology. We understand that some gay people identify more with the GOP, but don't just bend over and take it for the sake of party inclusion. Stand up and defend yourself! You do know what the solution step to the gay "choice," right? Correction. |
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Once the fiercest of the culture warriors, Republicans have a long history of railing against the gays, but remained relatively mum during the events in St. Paul, Kirchick credits to multiple factors, not least of all John McCain… |
» Turn Around?
Right-wing leader James Dobson recently inched closer to backing John McCain's presidential dreams. The McCain camp's talks with the Log Cabin Republicans, however, have journalist Steve Benen wondering if the GOP's base will end up retreating: "I'm going to assume that the James Dobson crowd…will not be at all pleased to hear any of this. McCain's campaign manager is not, according to GOP base, supposed to 'encourage' gay group to ;keep fighting.' The religious right also doesn't want to hear [Steve] Schmidt promise that equality for gays 'will be reached.'" [CBS News] |
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Political director Mike DuHaime popped in on the group, which transplanted itself to St. Paul for the party's convention. This is the first year the Cabinites have been official RNC guests. Additionally, McCain strategist Steve Schmidt swung by a Log Cabin lunch today and described the group's involvement as "important," reports The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld: I just wanted to take a second to come by and pay my respect and the campaign’s respect to your organization and to your group,” said Schmidt, who many view as the new architect of the Republican Party. “Your organization is an important one in the fabric of our party.” Unlike some of his party peers, Schmidt supports gay marriage and in 2007 asked California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to back inclusive legislation. |
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HRC, LCR and NSD, Oh My!
A website called Boycott HRC last week reported that a "reliable source" told them HRC had donated $10,000 to the LCR, while giving none to the National Stonewall Democrats. TransAdvocate, meanwhile, published an email purportedly sent from NSD co-chair Steve Driscoll to executive director Jon Hoadley, among others. In this email, Driscoll derides HRC for their "high-handedness" at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and gripes that the organization had been stonewalling discussions on a possible 2008 collaboration. |
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We were mad, of course, and then Chris Crain piped up, and now Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese has come out swinging: John McCain claims to be a maverick who breaks with his party, but on matters of LGBT equality, he's shown that he's anything but. He actively campaigned for a constitutional amendment that would have banned marriage and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples in his home state of Arizona. On another note, if Solmonese and Log Cabin leader Patrick Sammon were to get into a fight, who would win? |
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Here's but a taste: It’s as if our gay Republican friends forgot the basic politics of the carrot and the stick. Now that McCain and Palin are happily chomping away on the endorsement carrot that Log Cabin could have kept dangling in front of them, all they’re left with is the stick. With apologies to my friends among their number, including my beloved co-blogger Kevin, gay Republicans aren’t exactly known for carrying a big stick. Crain also quite rightly points out that McCain's opposition to |
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While the gay group's all about McCain's efforts to block a gay marriage amendment - a vote motivated more by federalism than equality - communications director Scott Tucker's not entirely pleased with his party's lackluster support for same-sex marriage. The party, however, may be more open to progress than some think: "Clearly, the tide is turning," said Scott Tucker, communications director for the Log Cabin Republicans. "It's important for the Republican Party to be inclusive on this issue, because we are risk of being on the wrong side of history." Those numbers sure are reassuring, but many of the GOP's leaders continue to come out against inclusive anti-discrimination laws, gay adoption and expansive hate crime legislation. Such decisions, we think, are even more important than marriage. And the party's positions are not "right." |
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Just this morning the blogs began talking about the GOP's platform, which takes no uncertain stand against gay right, and now you've gone and endorsed John McCain. And, what's more, President Patrick Sammon declared, "On the most important issue that LGBT Americans faced in the last decade - the federal marriage amendment - Sen. John McCain stood with us. Now we stand with him." Um, Cabinites, McCain didn't stand by you because he likes the gays. It's because he likes federalism! C'mon! Plus, marriage is hardly the "most important" issue. It's spectacularly eye-catching, yes, but what about hate crimes legislation, employment discrimination legislation, and adoption legislation? Are we living on the same planet? Sammon goes on to say that he expects McCain will get a lot of gay votes. With 68% of polled gay voters loving up on Obama? Not likely… We've included the press release after the jump. |
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Alaska Governor Sarah Palin can help Sen. McCain win this election by appealing to independent and young voters. She’s a mainstream Republican who will unite the Party and serve John McCain well as Vice President. Gov. Palin is an inclusive Republican who will help Sen. McCain appeal to gay and lesbian voters. The Cabinites' website also directs viewers to 365Gay's report on the veep selection. Why? Because of this specific line: "Palin has a scant record on LGBT rights but is considered a moderate." |