Blogcabin California

We’ve known some Democrats to deride the term as an oxymoron. But for years now, openly gay Republicans not only have stayed the course in the party, but sought to raise their profile through the Log Cabin organization. And today, that group reveled in a visit from John McCain’s campaign manager, Steve Schmidt (below, next to a cutout of his boss).

Schmidt spoke at a luncheon in Minneapolis hosted by Log Cabin and, according to a release quickly sent out by Scott Tucker, its communications director, he said, “I admire your organization.”

Other quotes from Schmidt, as related by Tucker: “Keep fighting for what you believe because the day is going to come,” and, “We are the party of freedom. We will keep fighting as a party to reach it in full.”

Schmidt’s interest in the group’s efforts may be more than academic; a recent Washington Post profile of him noted that his lone sibling is a lesbian.

Tucker said in his release the luncheon was held to honor the openly gay delegates at the Republican National Convention in neighboring St. Paul. We tracked him down by phone to ask how many that would be among the confab’s total of 2,380.

Tucker told us that although the party “doesn’t keep those demographics,” he estimated the number at about two dozen.

Log Cabin did not actually get around to endorsing McCain until Tuesday (a little shy of seven months after he effectively locked down the presidential nomination). But in its statement of support, the group lavished praise on the Arizona senator …