Blogcabin California

October 2, 2008

Gay Left Tries to Sweep McCain’s Gay Interview Under the Rug

It’s quite hilarious watching a few on the Gay Left try desperately to sweep Sen. John McCain’s first-ever interview with a gay publication under the rug.  (”Quick!  Don’t let gay people see that he’s not a homophobe or they may vote for him!”)

Indeed, that’s clearly why many of the usual suspects in the blogosphere are either poo-pooing the interview or just flat-out ignoring it.  They are scared that John McCain is going to get a lot of votes from gay people.  (Think about those gay Hillary Democrats)

But, luckily the mainstream media has picked it up in various outlets. 

The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder says “McCain courts gay vote.” 

The Politico’s Jonathan Martin says “McCain continues gay outreach.” 

ABC’s Jake Tapper says “McCain gives interview to gay DC newspaper.”

Even the liberal Huffington Post, to their credit, reported the fact that McCain supports a review of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

It was a great interview where gay Americans can, once and for all, see Sen. McCain for the man that he is:  A man who knows and likes gay people and a man who has zero interest in whipping up anti-gay sentiment to win elections. 

But, more importantly, as this interview reveals, Sen. McCain is a man who:

1.) Supports a review of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law

2.) Recognizes that we need a National AIDS Strategy to combat the epidemic here at home and understands that the disease continues to disproportionately affect gay men and people of color

3.) Doesn’t discriminate in hiring gay people

4.) Publicly stands by his gay friends when religious fundamentalists want those friends to be booted out of office simply because they’re gay

5.) Would appoint an openly gay Supreme Court justice or cabinet member

6.) Is committed to a federalist approach of keeping divisive social issues at the state level

7.) Has a common sense approach to sex education

8.) Supports the concept of non-discrimination in hiring for gay and lesbian people, but has two specific concerns about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that he would want addressed before he’d sign such legislation

9.) Would give “full consideration” to any pro-gay bill that reaches his desk as president.

Does that sound like a homophobe to you?  To say that John McCain is George W. Bush on gay issues is sophomoric and laughable.  Read it in full.

-posted by Scott Tucker

September 30, 2008

Defend Freedom From Attacks - New Video from Republicans Against 8

Opponents of marriage equality have launched their first television ad–spending millions of dollars attacking the San Francisco values of Mayor Gavin Newsom, attacking activist judges, and spreading lies about what would happen if Proposition 8 loses.

Republicans Against 8

 

To counter these attacks on our freedom, Republicans Against 8 released its first campaign video–speaking to Republican voters about how ours is the party of freedom, not taking it away.

Watch the video now.

Share this video with your friends. Share it with your families. And most importantly, share it with your fellow Republicans - especially if they’re in California. We hope you’ll contribute now to help us share this video with Republican women across California.

With only five weeks before Election Day, prospects look promising in the Golden State. Three polls in as many weeks have shown double-digit leads for the ‘No on 8′ campaign.

With the other side set to spend millions on TV, we can’t take victory for granted. We’ve been working hard to gain new allies for Republicans Against 8. We need your help to continue the momentum.

For $100, we can reach 50,000 women from Republican counties of California with our message. For $500, we can get 250 readers of the Drudge Report or National Review Online to visit RepublicansAgainst8.com. With a $2,000 contribution, we can continue our viral media campaign by producing more videos like this one.

Your contribution today will help us reach Republican voters with the message that Republicans have a history of expanding rights–not taking them away.

Even if you live in Wisconsin or Texas or Georgia, the right to marry in California is your right, too. Don’t wake up on November 5 and ask yourself if you could have done more to defend marriage. Now is the time.

Sincerely,


Patrick Sammon
President
Log Cabin Republicans

&

Terry Hamilton

Chairman, California Log Cabin Republicans

September 10, 2008

Re-Cap of Log Cabin Big Tent Event at RNC

Posted by Mark Martin at 1:37 pm .
Filed under: National Politics, Republican Party, Log Cabin News

Log Cabin’s Big Tent event at the Republican National Convention featured the McCain campaign’s National Political Director.  Mike DuHaime accepted Log Cabin’s endorsement on behalf of Sen. McCain. He told the crowd of 200 people, “On behalf of Senator McCain and the campaign, thank you for this endorsement.  Sen. McCain is running an inclusive campaign and he’ll have an inclusive administration [as president].”

 

DuHaime also said that Sen. McCain will win this election because he is the “only one who has the ability to unite the entire party.”  He went on to say that everyone supporting Sen. McCain must talk to others about why they’re voting for him.  “This is so important in the gay and lesbian community,” said DuHaime.

 

Former Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), who retired after 11 terms in the U.S. House, spoke about the day that he told his Arizona colleague, Sen. John McCain, that he was gay.  “John [McCain] is the first person in the political realm I talked to” I said, ‘John, this is going to come out.  I need you to know.’”

 

Kolbe said McCain’s response was: “Jim, it doesn’t make any difference.  You’re a great legislator today.  You’ll be a great legislator tomorrow.  And you’re my friend today.  And you’ll be my friend tomorrow.”

 

Upon taking the stage, DuHaime told the crowd, “I can’t say what’s in Senator McCain’s heart better than Jim Kolbe did.”

 

In announcing the endorsement, Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon said, “On the most important issue gay Americans faced in the last decade—the federal marriage amendment—Sen. John McCain stood with us.  Now we stand with him.” 

The Big Tent Event drew a strong presence from the news media. 

September 5, 2008

John McCain’s Campaign Manager Steve Schmidt Speaks at Log Cabin Republicans Event

Posted by Kevin Norte at 7:16 am .
Filed under: National Politics, Gay Rights, Republican Party, Log Cabin News, Log Cabin Events

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOPXOmBO0gM&eurl=http://outinsidethecabin.blogspot.com/

Gay Republican.

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).

Steve Schmidt, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate John McCain 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 …

Read more Key John McCain aide reaches out to gay Republicans »

August 15, 2008

No on Prop 8 Website

Posted by Mark Martin at 1:03 pm .
Filed under: Gay Rights, Republican Party, California Politics, Log Cabin News, Schwarzenegger, Marriage

Here is the link to the website for No on Prop 8:

 http://noonprop8.com/home

It explains everything you need to know about fighting the discriminatory Proposition 8 which threatens to take away the hard-won right of equality in marriage.  Please read it, study it and use it. 

Republicans and Conservatives may also visit and support, REPUBLICANS AGAINST 8 at:

http://www.republicansagainst8.com

Republicans Against 8 Logo

 

August 1, 2008

Introducing Republicans Against 8

Arnold & Republicans Against 8
Today, Log Cabin sent a message out to its California membership announcing the creation of Republicans Against 8, a coalition of concerned Republicans who believe in limited government and individual liberty. Our goal is to reach out to that 5-6 percent of persuadable Republican voters and convince them that, regardless of how they feel about marriage, protecting fundamental freedoms for all Californians is more important.

In 1978, when the Briggs Initiative threatened to take away the fundamental freedom for all Californians to teach in Public Schools, Governor Ronald Reagan stood up and opposed it. Today, another Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is fighting for the rights of all Californians once again.

June 11, 2008

Log Cabin is busy making preparations for the Republican National Convention

Minneapolis – St. Paul on September 1 – 4.

Are you going to the convention as a delegate or alternate delegate?  We are keeping a list of openly gay & lesbian delegates and alternate delegates.  Please let us know if you are a delegate or alternate so we can make sure not to leave anyone out.  jlasalvia@logcabin.org

We are hosting several events, including the Log Cabin Republicans  Big Tent Event  on Tuesday, September 2.  Please let us know if you are planning to be in Minneapolis – St. Paul for the convention, so that we can make sure you receive invitations to Log Cabin’s events.*  For more information please contact Jimmy LaSalvia jlasalvia@logcabin.org

Sponsorships are still available!  You can be a part of the action in the Twin Cities.  Sign on as a sponsor of Log Cabin’s convention activities.*  For more information about sponsorship levels please contact John Sinovic jsinovic@logcabin.org

 

*Space is limited for all events.  Sponsors receive first priority for ticketing and seating.