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Gay and Lesbian Republicans Seek Political Inclusion
US News and World Report ^ | August 30, 2010 | DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN

Posted on 08/30/2010 5:21:25 PM PDT by DesertRenegade

When former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman publicly acknowledged his homosexuality last week, the revelation was news because of his leadership role in a political party not known for its affirmation of gay-rights issues.

The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder, who broke the story, called Mehlman the "most powerful Republican in history to identify as gay." Aside from chairing the RNC, Mehlman also managed the successful 2004 reelection campaign of President George W. Bush, which used the issue of state bans on same-sex marriage to draw conservative voters to the polls.

As a prominent member of the GOP, Mehlman has contributed to Republican candidates and political action committees, more commonly known as PACs. In this election cycle, Mehlman has given $45,000 in political contributions. Top recipients include the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Eric Cantor's leadership PAC, the Every Republican is Crucial PAC.

Records also show that Mehlman contributed $1,900 on April 27, 2009, to Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, who famously changed parties the next day, from Republican to Democrat. Shortly thereafter, Mehlman received a refund from the campaign.

All other recipients of his money have been Republicans, and they represent a wide range of views on gay rights. Mehlman has given $2,400 each to Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt and Utah Sen. Bob Bennett , both of whom have voiced opposition to same-sex marriage. But Mehlman has also contributed to candidates who have a more liberal view on the topic, such as Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who has defended his state's legalization of same-sex marriage as "settled law." [See which industries have contributed to Scott Brown.]

Mehlman's self-outing has drawn increased attention to the political activism of gay and lesbian Republicans at a time when the Democratic Party is far more often associated with backing gay rights. The Log Cabin Republicans, a PAC that has since the late 1970s promoted "a more inclusive Republican Party for gay and lesbian Americans," has given financial support to several congressional candidates. [See who receives the most money from Republican/Conservative groups.]

Topping the list is New York State Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, who received $3,000 from the Log Cabin Republicans in late 2009 for the special election for New York's 23rd District House seat. Scozzafava withdrew just days before the election, throwing her support to Democrat Bill Owens, who won the seat in a tight race against Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. Scozzafava is a Republican known for her liberal views, including support of same-sex marriage and abortion rights.

Other top recipients include Rep. Mary Bono Mack, who is fighting off a challenge from openly gay Democrat Steven Pougnet, the mayor of Palm Springs, in California's 45th District. Bono Mack's record on same-sex issues is controversial among advocates of same-sex rights. She drew fire in May, when she voted against the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the law that prevents homosexuals from serving openly in the military. Louisiana Republican Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao, one of Democrats' main targets in House races this November, has received $1,500 from the Log Cabin Republicans. Cao was one of the five Republicans to vote for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: homosexualagenda; kenmehlman; sodomitemarriage
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I'm starting to wonder if we should just quit caring on this issue. Who will it hurt anyways if we allow homosexual militants to normalize and legitimize two males calling themselves "bride and groom" and procuring young boys to adopt into their alternative lifestyle household? Who will it hurt if we look the other way and allow gay 'marriage' to be taught in elementary schools and indoctrinate children into an unhealthy deathstyle? Who will it hurt if we allow our militiary to become infected with openly homosexual men stalking young enlistees in the showers and bunkhouses for their own sick sexual kicks? Why has the Republican Party given up on taking the high ground and supporting the traditional morality and values that helped create the greatest country on Earth?
1 posted on 08/30/2010 5:21:28 PM PDT by DesertRenegade
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To: DesertRenegade
What does "inclusion" mean? Does the GOP currently ban homosexuals from being members of the party?

Or does "inclusion" mean pandering to a group who has self identified based upon their sexual proclivities?

2 posted on 08/30/2010 5:23:11 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: DesertRenegade

Happy people are still included. What’s the problem?


3 posted on 08/30/2010 5:24:15 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (UniTea! It's not Rs vs Ds you dimwits. It's Cs vs Ls. Cut the crap & lets build for success.)
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To: skeeter
Inclusion = Stay in the closet

yitbos

4 posted on 08/30/2010 5:25:54 PM PDT by bruinbirdman ("Those who control language control minds.")
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To: DesertRenegade

homosexuals care about one thing and one thing only

the way they get off, now saying they want in the republican party is a trojan horse they only care about splitting republicans with the usual crap of”well I know one and he is nice “ crap and then they will push their agenda.

Sick to death of hearing them say they are conservative and it is just like the log cabins who were busted . Even some on here were fooled by the log cabins but now they’re busted for being Dem voters they have formed their new group .


5 posted on 08/30/2010 5:27:09 PM PDT by manc (WILL OBAMA EVER GO TO CHURCH ON A SUNDAY OR WILL HE LET THE MEDIA/LEFT BE FOOLED FOR EVER)
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To: skeeter
the latter for them. Pander to us and give us what we want while we split the republican vote on the issue. Once we have got what we want from you suckers we will then carry on voting Dem like we did with the log cabins
6 posted on 08/30/2010 5:28:27 PM PDT by manc (WILL OBAMA EVER GO TO CHURCH ON A SUNDAY OR WILL HE LET THE MEDIA/LEFT BE FOOLED FOR EVER)
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To: skeeter

BTW I was being sarc before someone thinks I am being serious with my other comment


7 posted on 08/30/2010 5:29:09 PM PDT by manc (WILL OBAMA EVER GO TO CHURCH ON A SUNDAY OR WILL HE LET THE MEDIA/LEFT BE FOOLED FOR EVER)
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To: skeeter

“What does ‘inclusion’ mean? “

It means they want a rubber stamp endorsement of their lifestyle. Notice that homosexuals have all the same rights as everyone else. But what they are really pursuing in their agenda is more visibility and indoctrination. They want to ‘openly’ practice their lifestyle in the armed forces and ‘openly’ sanctify their unholy unions in our churches. These groups like GOProud, which form their membership around a common bedroom predilection, aren’t interested in politics as much as propaganda.


8 posted on 08/30/2010 5:29:34 PM PDT by DesertRenegade
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To: skeeter

I think there is a place for gays and lesbians in the republican party as long as they realize that many conservatives, although they may find homosexuality in general objectionable and unnatural, that they would not be against civil unions for gays and lesbians, just do not call it marriage.


9 posted on 08/30/2010 5:30:02 PM PDT by Ev Reeman
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To: DesertRenegade
the revelation was news because of his leadership role in a political party not known for its affirmation of gay-rights issues.

Ahhm, does one have to be gay to have rights under God?

10 posted on 08/30/2010 5:31:03 PM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: DesertRenegade

“I’m starting to wonder if we should just quit caring on this issue.”

You left out the completely normal practice of genital self-mutilationism and the wonderful world of cross dressing, the BT in LGBT. And the /sarc tag. Heh heh.

Other than all of that, I agree. Why not let all hell break loose? Let’s all us conservatives get on the Sodomy and Gonorrhea train. Uh ... who’s first?


11 posted on 08/30/2010 5:31:28 PM PDT by jessduntno (Flush the Grand Old Potty. Vote Conservative.)
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To: All

The perverts already a party.. The democrat party.


12 posted on 08/30/2010 5:31:44 PM PDT by DirtyHarryY2K (The Tree of Liberty is long overdue for its natural manure)
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To: Ev Reeman

I agree. Well said.


13 posted on 08/30/2010 5:31:45 PM PDT by SuzyQue (Remember to think.)
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To: DesertRenegade

I’m a firm believe of “Don’t tell, I’m not asking”

Along with the few outed gays I know I pretty sure I know some closeted gays but I really don’t want to know for sure so don’t tell me.

We’ll all get along a lot better that way...I really, really, really do not want to know.

Vote conservative? You are cool in my book, conservatively....


14 posted on 08/30/2010 5:32:20 PM PDT by libertarian27 (Ingsoc: Department of Life, Department of Liberty, Department of Happiness)
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To: DesertRenegade

The problem is the conservative platform. Favoring homosexual marriages by the GOP would cause a desertion of the Christian base. When that happens, the GOP has no chance. Ever. Again.

A 3rd Party (Tea?) would have to fill the vacuum. And that is not in the conservative interest.

Besides, God has spoken against homosexuality, and He defined marriage. They don’t go together. Let them have their “civil unions” if it makes them feel good, but not “marriage”.


15 posted on 08/30/2010 5:33:31 PM PDT by Salvavida (The restoration of the U.S.A. starts with filling the pews at every Bible-believing church.)
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To: Ev Reeman

“not be against civil unions for gays and lesbians, just do not call it marriage.”

What exactly is the difference? Isn’t Hussein Obama for so-called ‘civil unions’ that equal marriage? The whole thing seems like a snow job to me. Either way, they want some extremely rare sexual practice to be legally recognized and protected. That is insane.


16 posted on 08/30/2010 5:33:46 PM PDT by DesertRenegade
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To: DesertRenegade

Who is excluding gays?
Homosexuals are welcome within the Republican party so long as they welcome the party’s platform, just like with any political party. But if they want the GOP to adopt some other party’s platform, they would get a lot further just joining that other party instead.

It’s just like any relationship. If you want the person you’re with to be more like someone else, then maybe you are better off being with the person you’d like them to be more like.


17 posted on 08/30/2010 5:34:09 PM PDT by counterpunch (Imam B'araq Hussein Mohammad 0bama, President of the 57 States of Islam.)
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To: DesertRenegade

I couldn’t care less if they are homosexual.

I am no more interested in discussing their sex anymore than I am in hearing about the exploits of a heterosexual.

Keep it to yourself.

The only thing of importance is the individual and their rights.

I am not interested in collective segmented rights either.

You say you are gay? Great! Nice to meet you and your partner.

Let’s work on what’s best for the individual and America.


18 posted on 08/30/2010 5:37:08 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: Ev Reeman
I think there is a place for gays and lesbians in the republican party as long as they realize that many conservatives, although they may find homosexuality in general objectionable and unnatural, that they would not be against civil unions for gays and lesbians, just do not call it marriage.

Personally, acquiesing to the Pervert lobby on any issue is a no-winner where my opinion is concerned.

As far as I am concerned, they're welcome to join the party, as long as they stay in the closet where they're perversion is concerned.

The GOP does not need to go down the slippery-slope of compromising with those who practice acts of extreme immorality.
19 posted on 08/30/2010 5:38:54 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: DesertRenegade

Obama votes present on this issue because if he came out on one side or the other, it would immediately alienate a voting bloc.

This is one of the few issues Obama is pragmatic about but his pragmatism is limited to political expediency.


20 posted on 08/30/2010 5:39:51 PM PDT by Ev Reeman
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