Posted on 07/08/2004 1:10:40 PM PDT by Polycarp IV
Log Cabin Republicans Happy With GOP Convention Speaker Line Up
The homosexual group known as Log Cabin Republicans praised the Republican national convention for its choice of “inclusive, big-tent Republicans to speak in prime time at the convention in New York City,” reports the June 30 issue of the Advocate.com, a self-described award-winning national gay and lesbian newsmagazine web site.
“The speakers include former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona Senator John McCain, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and New York Governor George Pataki.”
“These speakers represent the future of the Republican Party,” said Patrick Guerriero, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans. “These Republicans are among the leading voices for inclusion in the GOP.”
McCain, Giuliani, Schwarzenegger, and Pataki have all been critical of what they call the “anti-gay” Federal Marriage Amendment. Each of these Republicans has a track record of running winning “inclusive” campaigns and of support for many issues critical to the gay and lesbian community, according to the Advocate.
Giuliani, Schwarzenegger and Pataki are ardently pro-abortion as well, as is New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, and former finance chairman of the Republican National Committee Lew Eisenberg, all of whom are playing a major role in financing and organizing the Convention.
Reagan conservatives are, so far, not to be found among those who will present their views to the nation in prime time during the convention. A few pro-life, pro-family, pro-marriage conservatives, who, after all, represent those of us who are the stakes that hold up the “big tent,” will probably be featured during the morning hours of the Convention, when the rest of the American people are busy with their daily duties and not watching television.
This sorry state of affairs prompted Kate O’Beirne, Washington editor of National Review, to point out in her 7/7/04 column, (http://www.nationalreview.com/kob/obeirne200407070839.asp) that the only announced Convention speaker who actually agrees with President Bush on major issues is a Democrat – Senator Zell Miller of Georgia!
“When the only Reagan Republican to enjoy a prominent supporting role at the party’s Convention is a Democrat, the GOP has a serious identity problem.”
“Given the political ambitions of some of the speakers, the party faithful should pray that Rockefeller Republicanism is not back in the future.” [Is that an echo we hear?]
Rockefeller Republicans Take Manhattan
Kate O’Beirne, Washington editor of National Review
The lineup of primetime speakers at the Republican Convention predictably reflects its New York location by giving prominent spots to the hosts, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor George Pataki. But those enjoying the coveted spotlight also pay tribute to New York's former Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Joining the hosts will be other mavericks and dissidents who represent a minority in Ronald Reagan's GOP. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona's Senator John McCain, and California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will all be at the primetime podium. The only announced speaker who actually agrees with President Bush on major issues is Democratic Senator Zell Miller of Georigia.
The decision to showcase rogue elephants as representatives of the modern Republican party is not the mark of a self-confident party establishment. If the lineup is intended to make an overwhelmingly conservative party attractive to swing voters, it does so by pretending to be something it's not. The Republican party seems to habitually internalize the criticisms of its opponents. When the only Reagan Republican to enjoy a prominent supporting role at the party's convention is a Democrat, the GOP has a serious identity problem. The Kerry-Edwards ticket is liberal. The Boston convention will not be featuring Louisiana senator John Breaux in an attempt to pretend otherwise.
At the Big Apple convention, three Kerry Catholics will be representing the millions of faithful Catholics being aggressively courted by the Bush campaign. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will likely be heard from as a congressional leader, but haven't senators who have been on point on crucial issues like abortion, cloning, same-sex marriage, and international human rights earned primetime placement alongside their tormentor John McCain? Conservative Republicans should be asking why senators like Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback aren't enjoying the same public embrace as the New York Times' favorite Republican.
While it is true that conservatives like Colorado Governor Bill Owens and Rep. Melissa Hart (Penn.) will have prominent roles on the platform committee during the week before the convention opens, they will not be spotlighted like the speakers who regularly break ranks.
Given the political ambitions of some of the speakers, the party faithful should pray that Rockefeller Republicanism is not back in the future.
Pathetic.
FYI..the reason for D'Amato's stupid comments about "dumping Cheney"..Al was given his convention seats..they're in the Bronx..
Who gives a rip what these so-called "Log Cabin Republicans" think anyway? They're supporting "Flush the johns" because of their homosexuality agenda that the johns support. It's insulting that this group even thinks to call themselves Republicans. Sheesh!
I love this line: "The only announced speaker who actually agrees with President Bush on major issues is Democratic Senator Zell Miller of Georgia."
Ain't that the truth?
Amen to Kate O'Beirne's words. She's exactly right. Sigh!
Regardless of whether the "Log cabin" ones are happy, this is not good. Somebody at the GOP is reading the wrong polls.
The VP will speak in prime time, along with Zell Miller.
I didn't realize they were liberals.
This is a non-story. The platform matters, not the speakers.....the convention is in NYC to highlight terrorism, so most folks who are speaking were chosen since they could highlight this.
Pataki speaking is because, you know, he is the host governor!
There is no anti-conservative conspiracy here as best I can tell.
If they put a pro-gay plank into the platform or these speakers bring up social issues, then obviously I am wrong here.
But, they are just speakers.
BUMP!
Cough cough.....the Cheney's.
I would rather lose without them than win with them.
They should cease and desist using Republican in their name.
"voices for inclusion"? I suppose that does not include room for traditional religious believers.
Excuse me, but WTF??? "Major issues" covers a lot of ground. Isn't support for the war on terror a pretty big damn issue???. Specifically, I would imagine, this is about the abortion issue considering the source.
I've prayed and demonstrated in front of clinics, and I'm pro life. I've never voted for a single Dem in my life. I am on the board of my conservative evangelical church, and my whole household votes Republican. But politics is the art of the possible, and I would rather have a pro-choice Republican in office than a pro-choice Democrat, or even a pro-life Democrat for that matter. Why do we insist on eating our own on this issue? We act as if its our Christian duty to make Christians out of our politicians, and if they don't measure up... well, they don't belong in "our" party, do they?
One can be both basically "pro-choice" and favor reasonable restrictions on abortion. Do we know where these Republicans stand on that? Given that at this point the only act that is likely to overturn Roe v. Wade is a new Supreme Court decision, which is in itself extremely unlikely, what we are talking about is regulating abortion rather than outlawing it. Is there no room for thoughtful Republican debate on abortion regulation?
A party made up of people who believe exactly like me on every issue would have ONE member and lose every election. Gays will never be a majority of the GOP, but if fiscally conservative gays help lower taxes, I can accept them. I am not a major fan of Catholics. The majority vote Dimocrat, but the Conservative, pro-family ones are welcome in the GOP. Most athiests are Dims. But Conservative ones are welcome in the GOP.
Giuliani is not for gay marriage - never has been. he is for civil unions.
I would like more social conservatives in the lineup, but this is hardly the disaster some are trying to portray:
Monday, August 30, 2004
- Mayor Michael Bloomberg
- Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani
- Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
- First Lady Laura Bush
- Secretary of Education Rod Paige
- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
- Mrs. Lynne Cheney
- Vice President Dick Cheney
- Senator Zell Miller (D-GA)
Thursday, September 2, 2004
- Governor George Pataki
- President George W. Bush
5 or 6 social libs, 5 or 6 social conservatives (unsure about Paige).
These are the primetime speakers, not the day speakers.
I would like to have Keyes in there or Santorum frankly. I would like another STAUNCH conservative in the lineup.
But at the same time, it isn't like all the speakers are liberals.
none of these speakers is going to mention a single thing regarding the "gay agenda" at the convention. i doubt it will be mentioned at the Democratic convention either.
The "journalist" who wrote the piece forgot that Dick Cheney will be speaking in prime-time, as well as Rod Paige and Mrs. Cheney.
So..it won't be just Zell Miller.
Pataki is the missing link in this. what is he doing there just ahead of Bush? he has no national appeal, he is unknown outside NY, he is not a particularly great speaker.
We would have been better off with Powell in that slot just before Bush - nationally, he's probably got the highest favorable rating of any Republican.
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