Mere presence of a gay group enough to make some conservatives flee
Conservative opposition to gay rights is certainly nothing new. In the minds of many on the right, a call for equal rights for gay Americans gets translated into an appeal for “special rights” that ought to be rejected, and it’s been that way since the days of Anita Bryant and before.
But I’m honestly dismayed and surprised to learn just how deep that antipathy still runs.
Earlier this year, organizers of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference agreed to open its doors to GOProud, a group of gay Republicans billing itself as a conservative alternative to the Log Cabin Republicans. The CPAC event is a highlight of the conservative political year, with thousands of activists from around the country traveling to Washington to meet and network.
GOProud is not exactly loud and proud. The group’s home page contains not a word about gay rights. Click on “About GOProud,” and there’s still no mention of a single gay-rights issue. Instead, you read that “GOProud is committed to a traditional conservative agenda that emphasizes limited government, individual liberty, free markets and a confident foreign policy. GOProud promotes our traditional conservative agenda by influencing politics and policy at the federal level.”
In other words, these are not people likely to be making out in the convention hall or waving rainbow flags.
Nonetheless, their mere presence at this year’s CPAC is causing a serious rift in conservative circles. Longtime stalwarts of the movement and the conference, including the Family Research Council, Jerry Falwall’s Liberty University and even the mainstream conservative Heritage Foundation are refusing to participate this year. Sen. Jim DeMint has also made it clear that he will not attend. As The New York Times reports, “Former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska has not responded to an invitation to speak. Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, has in the past criticized CPAC for being too “libertarian.” He declined to comment for this article but will also not attend.”
“Conservatives and homosexuals cannot coexist in a movement predicated on social values,” Family Research Council President Tony Perkins wrote last year in an e-mail to supporters. “Organizations whose whole reason for existence is to promote the forced public affirmation of homosexual conduct should not be welcomed at CPAC.”
To its credit, the American Conservative Union, which sponsors CPAC, is sticking by its decision despite the risk that attendees might be infected by gay cooties. Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, among others, still plan to attend. Mary Matalin is hosting a GOProud fundraiser at her Alexandria home.
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209 comments Add your comment
poison pen
January 28th, 2011
1:37 pm
If some of you want to talk about SIN, than please throw the first stone. Hope you got that!
No Longer Republican
January 28th, 2011
1:38 pm
PeaDawg…Jesus was the ULTIMATE liberal. I am a liberal democrat now and a Christian because Jesus was all about people and not about rules and regulations. “For God sent His son into the world, not to CONDEMN the world, but that through Him, it might be saved.” Most “christians” spend a whole lot of time condemning and not saving. The Bible also talks about judging…guess what it is not YOUR place to decide who is a Christian and who is not. Get over yourself already.
lovelyliz
January 28th, 2011
1:44 pm
What’s next? Ids the Fammily Research council going to use other Old Testament abominations to put Red Lobster (Leviticus 11:9-12; Deuteronomy 14:9-10) and McDonald’s or Fox Brothers (Leviticus 11:7-8) out of business?
Should Wal-Mart and Target fear the wrath of these guys (Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:11 )???????
What about Newt Gingrich (Leviticus 20:10)?
David in Houston
January 28th, 2011
1:51 pm
The fact that GOProud doesn’t even mention anything about “gay issues” on their website speaks volumes. They are simply ultra-conservative wealthy (self-loathing gay) white men that care more about tax breaks for themselves, than their own civil rights. What pathetic, self-centered money-grubbing sociopaths they are. They’ll fit right in with the rest of their party.
HDB
January 28th, 2011
1:56 pm
stay away from the crusty cavity
January 28th, 2011
1:26 pm
“A gay person has full protection under the constitution that a non-gay person has”
Not quite…if same-sex marriage isn’t recognized by ALL 50 states..then the Constitutional protection doesn’t exist!! In only 5 states and DC is the converse true!! Until ALL 50 states recognize same-sex marriage and the rights heretofore denied, then..you are incorrect!!
MAKO
January 28th, 2011
2:06 pm
Bookman….you’re a piece of work…why don’t you and Commie Mommie Tucker go and share a hit or 2 on the old bong. Me I’ll just sit here and sip my Laphroaig Caidreas Whiskey and laugh at you crazy liberals.
kaycee
January 28th, 2011
5:49 pm
Interesting. What about the Right’s stifling demand for group conformity????
williamw
January 28th, 2011
8:29 pm
The Republican party, I think, is about to have a major schism (I remember a great number of Handel supporters who refused to vote for Deal). When that split finally happens, you will have a Social Conservative group (who might even call themselves the “Christian Republican Party”) and a Moderate group with conservative fiscal policy. This latter and larger group will likely attract most Tea Party members, the Libertarians, and moderate Democrats (causing a schism in that camp, too). I think a three-party system is better than two, anyway.
Yes, some will continue to support liberals and their spending (but as I recall, George W. was no penny-pincher when it came to military spending). A lot of this current frustration is based on taxation with no tangible benefit. Some will also continue to spout their beliefs of a theocratic government akin to a Christian Iran (I believe such illustrious nations as Uganda are trying that, too). When you demand to legislate morality and silence other voices, you are in essence, supporting a theocracy.
However, at this time in history, people need jobs and an improved economy (just wait until gas hits $4 a gallon this summer…or egads, what if this rebellion in the Arab world shuts down production).
Whoever can help us out of this situation will win the day and the vote, and quite honestly, very few straight people will take notice when gays are allowed full citizenship in their own country — when that day comes (and it will be soon, I think), the next generation will wonder what the big deal was.
Adam
January 30th, 2011
5:31 pm
I really find it funny when conservatives can talk so easily in talking points but simply throw around questions when they are faced with a question that causes SYSTEM FAILURE. Like asking why someone can be Republican and gay, and being met with stuff like “Why can you have a brain and be a democrat OH DER HER HER ZING.” That shows nothing more than an elementary school behavior and lack of rational thought.
As for the liberals and their spending, I find that funny too. Since when the GOP was in power, they ran up the deficit a lot more. Let’s also not forget that the amount added to the deficit last year was increased substantially by allowing the GOP to have their holy grail of tax cuts for the rich.
And as for liberals needing a victim and carrots and all that, you’re being elementary school again! Liberals don’t need victims to survive. Just because your stereotype is that Republicans are strong and Democrats are not doesn’t make it true. Repeated lies are still lies.
I’m going to take a shot now for every Republican talking point lie I see repeated on here now. I had better assign a designated driver.