Posted on 02/22/2005 12:58:57 PM PST by areafiftyone
The Log Cabin Republicans, a lobbying group for gay Republicans, is regrouping after an election proved a national consensus against gay marriage has broadened its legislative goals this year. The group is reaching out to conservative organizations and vowing to be a partner with the Bush administration.
The group, which claims thousands of dues-paying members, paid $3,000 to co-sponsor the Conservative Political Action Conference, marking the first time a gay rights group has been officially recognized by the nation's annual gathering of conservative activists. They've also begun to lobby members of Congress about Social Security reform, changes to the tax code and immigration.
Both Vice President Dick Cheney and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove addressed the conservative conference last week.
Last year, the Log Cabin Republicans declined to endorse Bush's re-election because the president had campaigned to amend the Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages. They lobbied hard to have the GOP remove the amendment from its platform before the Republican National Convention, but lost that battle as well.
The group formed an informal public affairs partnership with the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's leading liberal gay rights group, and spent heavily on advertisements criticizing the administration's position on the amendment.
"Now the election of 2004 is over," said Christopher Barron, the Log Cabin Republicans' political director. "And we think there are opportunities to work with this president. The fact is the gay and lesbian community has to realize that the president won."
At CPAC, Barron was a featured speaker on a panel promoting personal retirement accounts for Social Security.
Barron said the Log Cabin members are "incredibly conservative" about taxes, national defense and Social Security. The group's Washington office keeps in close contact with the White House and the Republican National Committee.
On Friday, the Log Cabin Republicans sent out a press statement praising Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Bill Nelson, D-Fla., for introducing a proposal to permanently rescind estate taxes. In the release, Barron wrote that "[a] majority of Americans support permanent repeal of the economically unsound death tax which unfairly penalizes gay and lesbian families." Both Kyl and Nelson oppose same-sex marriage.
The Log Cabins' liberal counterpart, the Human Rights Campaign, most recently condemned Bush for renominating conservative judge William Pryor to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and urged Democratic allies on the Hill to block his confirmation. On Thursday, the HRC called on Congress to investigate the Department of Health and Human Services for changing the name of a study panel on suicide among gay populations.
Unlike in previous years, however, when an ideological gulf and simmering acrimony between the two gay groups prevented them from cooperating, spokesmen for both groups use identical language to describe their relationship. The two groups say they will be close allies on legislation of mutual interest and respectful adversaries when necessary.
"Their approach is to work with Republicans to expand support for our issues within the Republican Party, and they are doing a very good job at that and should be supported 100 percent," said David Smith, the HRC's vice president for policy and strategy.
"Where we find common ground, we will work with them," Barron agreed.
Barron said that the American Conservative Union, which coordinated CPAC, was very accommodating and was eager to put the group's willingness to participate to use. The ACU wanted to schedule a debate between Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Guerriero and Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, a leading socially conservative public policy organization.
Upon learning that the ACU wanted Perkins to debate Guerrero face to face, the Family Research Council told CPAC it would not participate and hinted it might withdraw its co-sponsorship unless the panel was canceled, according to a conservative familiar with the dispute. The FRC reasoned that last year's election had decisively settled the debate over marriage within the conservative movement, according to the source.
Connie Mackey, the family group's vice president of government relations, told ABC News that as a sponsor, they had the right to assemble their own panel.
"We simply said, look, this is not going to fit with our panel," she said of the proposed debate. She said the FRC never threatened to leave the conference.
Asked about the dispute, Ian Walters, the ACU's communications director, declined to comment.
The Log Cabin Republicans did not protest, and the debate panel was changed to a discussion about the political efficacy of campaigns against same-sex marriage. All panelists favored the Federal Marriage Amendment.
Guerriero was added to a later panel about disagreements within the conservative movement about marriage. He debated Kevin Blier of the Center for American Cultural Renewal, an organization with no Washington presence and little clout with social conservatives outside Vermont where it is based.
Barron downplayed the panel controversy and said, "We are perfectly happy with the way the panels are set up now."
Even still, the Log Cabin's fit with the conservative group was loose. Several organizations distributed literature condemning gay political activism and efforts by gay rights groups to promote pro-gay legislation. One self-published book being hawked at a $10 discounted price included statistics purporting to show a correlation between homosexuality and pedophilia.
CPAC's convention has always featured a mix of organizations dedicated to a wide range of conservative causes. Prominent presenters included the Libertarian Party, the American Civil Liberties Union and Walt Disney World, the parent company of ABC News, which was recruiting conservatives to help them defend intellectual property protections.
Oxy-Moron Alert!
So they're "re-grouping" huh? For what? They voted for demoncRAT sKerry.
I assume this is about how these issues affect gays? Are they looking to get something out of the SS Reform package?
I used to think so what about them. Now I see why Bush should have never met with them in the first place. It seemed harmless, but it is never harmless when someone's reason for existing is contrary to your core values.
Actually they didn't endorse Kerry - they didn't endorse Bush either. But its the same thing as endorsing Kerry in my opinion!
I think these guys actually disagree on only one issue..they are fiscally sound, pro gun, small gov't, blah blah blah.....we can disagree on the issue of gay marriage and still except their views and support on issues we agree upon.......can't we?
Queerdom is a cancer that once tolerated will certainly destroy it's host. The Republican party will go down in the "Anals" (yep, that's the word I want) of history to demonstrate how disasterous Political Correctness can become. It's the "camel's nose under the tent" syndrome and the rest will surely follow.
What the hell is wrong with these spineless Republicans?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this the same group that supported Kerry and bashed Bush during the election? They are interested in one issue. Gay marriage. They split with the President when it counted, proving they are not dedicated to conservatism but their one pet issue. I believe they even ostracized some that didn't go along with the leadership against Bush in Florida?
Tammy Bruce is a woman I respect. I don't respect this group.
I have looked it up and they did not back Kerry but they did withhold their support for Bush. In otherwords they didn't back either candidate.
I was thinking the same:
Gay: Ones who like it up the a**
Conservative: Favoring traditional views and values
or
Gay: Showing or characterized by cheerfulness and lighthearted excitement; merry
Conservative: Favoring traditional views and values
The least conservative homosexuals could do is admit they co-opted the word gay, avoid its use, and call themselves "Homosexual Conservatives" -- that would be a much more conservative label.
Tammy Bruce holds pretty much the same views as the Log Cabin guys.....you are right in that gay marriage is very important to them, but they are also very strong fiscal conservatives. I of course don't agree at all on their lifestyle but they have supported Repubs before....I say use any ally you can when appropriate without compromsing your principles......
-Eric
Not backing G.W. is the same as backing kerry essentially.
What the hell were the Log Cabin pervs and the ACLU doing at CPAC?????
TAIL BETWEEN THEIR LEGS BUMP! (Something they're used to)
Gay conservatives are less than 1% of the population. Why do they get so much attention?
If you want on/off the ping list see my profile page.
No, Tammy bruce did not withhold support from the president over ONE issue. Tammy Bruce did not accuse the president of using Dick Cheney's daughter to advance a political agenda. They did.
In practice Tammy Bruce is a true Republican with character. This group isn't.
They are activists interested in one issue and when it is denied to them they part ways.
you are right....she didn't and that is why I admire her, I just meant that their issues are the same but I guess their priorities are different.....I tend to embrace (LOL, not literally) people who ally on alot of issues.....I don't want them at my family values seminar, but I would illicit their help if it meets a certain ends (no pun intended)
i have nothing against Homos for Bush.
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