AUDIO, VIDEO: Kevin Cotter condemns anti-gay attacks on opponent Toni Sessoms

The (Central Michigan) Morning Sun ^ | 10/25/10 | Mark Ranzenberger

[Tea Roll]

The Republican candidate for 99th District Michigan House has condemned an independent robocall attacking his Democratic opponent for the fact that she's gay.

"A phone call funded by the American Family Association went too far, in condemning the personal life of my opponent," said GOP candidate Kevin Cotter. "This type of behavior disgusts me, and I cannot denounce it strongly enough."

A recorded telephone call from a man identifying himself as Gary Glenn, who is the president of the Midland-based American Family Association of Michigan and the chairman of the Campaign for Michigan Families political action committee, was made to numerous households in the 99th District. The district comprises Isabella County, and 12 rural and suburban townships in Midland County....

The call repeatedly uses the word "homosexual" and attacks Democrat Toni Sessoms for her sexual orientation....

Cotter said he does not want support from Glenn or the American Family Association.

"I don't want his help. I wish he would stay out of this race," Cotter said. "I do not condone the independent spending by these organizations, I do not control their message and for the most part, do not support the methods in which they are attempting to support my campaign."...

[Tea Roll]

This is the sort of class act you just don't see on the other side. They befoul the political debate with appeals to hate all the time, instead of refudiating and denouncing it like Cotter did in this case.

(Admittedly, there is also a pragmatic calculation. Presumably, Cotter wants the support of the Tea Party, which is leery of social issues -- based on bitter experience over the past generation, they know that a "Republican" candidate who tries to change the subject by dragging that stuff in is just laying a smoke screen to conceal big-spending RINOtude.

[muawiyah]

Amazingly the public does not tolerate homosexual Republicans ~ but has been easier on the Democrats.

Could be due to the fact Republicans usually don't campaign against them, but the Democrats always work something in there like sex in public restrooms, or kids, or whatever in a criticism against Republicans in general.

We'll see if this works. If it does it'll be all the rage in 2012 for both parties.

[Bigg Red]

...attacking his Democratic opponent for the fact that she’s gay.

***
The description of the calls mentions “homosexuality”; I doubt they criticized her for being happy.

[Elwood P. Doud]

Sounds like Cotter definitely owes an apology... to the values voters who he’s slimed and attacked for their beliefs.

[ansel12]

Hey troll, the tea party is social conservatives, just like the rest of conservatism.

Anti-social conservatives make up the liberal side of politics.