Barney Frank Calls Gay Republican Group “Uncle Toms”

Washington Examiner ^ | September 6, 2012 | Staff

[lbryce]

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., told the Huffington Post today that the gay rights group the Log Cabin Republicans model themselves after “Uncle Tom,” the servile black slave character in the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

The liberal, openly gay congressman told the website he was “appalled” by the group’s support of Republican Party:

Frank then laced into the Log Cabin Republicans, who spoke highly of the GOP last week in Tampa, with its executive director, R. Clarke Cooper, commenting that gay GOPers felt more welcome than any time in the past.

“Frankly I’ve been appalled to see the Log Cabin club, in the face of this worse and worse record on public policy by Republicans on our issues,” Frank said. “Cooper said, ‘Well at least they’re not saying bad things about us.’ That’s just extraordinary. Again, 30 years ago when we were emerging from the vice of prejudice, I understood that. But no, we shouldn’t be accepting a kind of second class citizenship, [and saying], ‘You can treat us badly as long you don’t yell at us.’”

“They’re accepted on [the GOP's] terms,” he continued. “They’re willing to be accepted with no rights — no right to marry, no right to serve in the military, no right to be protected against hate crimes, no right to be protected in employment. I’ll be honest: For 20 years now I’ve heard how the Log Cabins are going to make Republicans better, but they’ve only gotten worse. I now understand why they call themselves Log Cabin: their role model is Uncle Tom.” (emphasis added)

The Log Cabin Republicans fired back in a press release, noting that they instigated the case that resulted in the overturning of the military’s “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” policy, among other efforts at advancing gay rights.

“As far as Log Cabin Republicans are concerned, it’s a badge of honor to be attacked by a partisan hack like Barney Frank,” said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper. “We understand that Barney has earned his protected place within the Democrat Party by being their attack dog on gay rights issues, demonizing Republicans and undermining efforts at bipartisanship that would actually improve LGBT Americans lives. We expect this kind of bile from Barney, especially when it plays into the Obama campaign’s efforts to divide, distract and deceive the American people.”

Cooper continues, “Frank calls us ‘Uncle Toms’ and pretends that Log Cabin hasn’t been on the front lines of the fight for equality. The truth is, by speaking conservative to conservative about gay rights, Log Cabin Republicans are doing some of the hardest work in the movement, work that liberals like Barney are unwilling to do and couldn’t do if they tried.

[lbryce]

This is my very personal opinion and others may feel differently. The political spectrum is filled with all sorts of individuals that go from white to black and all the shades of gray in between in terms of the positions they espouse as candidates. Some of the uncommon political variants work as an acceptable political platform to run on and to vote for. A right-of-center Democrat who opposes abortion is one example of what I refer to as a political chimera. Someone who espouses certain political views that are generally not part of their own party's platform but is a socially acceptable alternative as part of the many political variants candidates run on in whatever combination of policies they espouse.

Then there are the the political chimeras, candidates who run on a platform that espouse Republican, conservative ideals on fiscal matters, taxes, crime, abortion, medical benefits, medicare, universal health care but differ in matters of gay rights regarding special privileges, matrimonial rights, others, otherwise known as Gay Republicans.

It is my firm belief that the term 'Gay Republican' is an oxymoron in the most extreme way, a contradiction in terms, politically,socially, personally that can, will never be ameliorated. In my political lexicon the political chimera of 'Gay Republican', gays who for whatever reason gravitate towards the Republican, conservative perspective, viewpoint on all issues other than their gayness may do so as they wish but as far as any gay group earning the title of 'Gay Republican', I firmly believe that such a combination of diametrically opposite points of view, Republican ideals and gay rights are mutually exclusive as a political entity, to be stillborn.

Gay rights are an utterly egregious anathema to all things Republican and yes,I absolutely agree with Barney Frank that Gay Republicans are "Uncle Toms" to the fullest extent.

[Doogle]

shut up and wipe your chin

[lbryce]

Hmm. So we agree to disagree.

[ozzymandus]

Marvelous. You admit you agree with Barney Frank. That pretty much disqualifies you from everything.

[FlingWingFlyer]

My boy lollipop!

[newnhdad]

Uncle? Aunt maybe but Uncle?

[mass55th]

So is the gay Democrap group called Auntie Mames?

[Texas Fossil]

MS. Piggie Frank

[Drango]

Barney Frank calls Sandusky his hero and best recruiter.

[RightOnline]

I have to disagree with you. First, let’s be crystal clear: the “gay agenda” drives me mad; I’m sick of them and everything they stand (or bend over) for. Those who espouse it disgust me.

Like it or not....and you and I don’t, along with millions of others.....gays identify with each other; their identities are informed by their sexuality; their choice of sexual partners (choice, genetics, I won’t go there....).

Are there gay Republicans? Hell yes. I’ve met quite a few, many of whom you would never, EVER guess were gay unless they told you. Point is, a belief in small government, the principles of the founding fathers of this country, fealty to the Constitution.......and yes, a strong belief in God and a personal relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ....are not limited to straights, gays, whites, blacks, purples, browns, Catholics, evangelicals.....doesn’t matter whatever label one wishes to self-attach.

We can, and should, be drawn together as people who share such key, core beliefs. We can fight together, watch each others’ backs, and when we go home afterward.....who we sleep with is NONE of the others’ business, as long as those who claim to espouse the above beliefs do NOT try to follow the gay agenda mantra by shoving that garbage down my, my neighbors’, or our children’s throats (no pun intended).

So yeah, I’ll take ‘em and welcome them to the fold of God loving, America loving, freedom loving, Constitution loving Americans.

[Joan Kerrey]

I would suggest that those who don’t agree with most of a parties plank become independent voters.

Why would a gay be republican?
Why would a gay be Catholic?
Why would a fiscal conservative gay be republican?
Why would a fiscal conservative be a Democrat?
Why would a pro-lifer be a Democrat?
Why would anyone who believes in our system of government be Democrat?

It never ends.

[HereInTheHeartland]

Barney is such a normal guy:

http://charlotte.johnlocke.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/barney-2012.gif

[blueunicorn6]

Barney is recalling the good old days when a gerbil would do the trick. Now, he’s sticking cats up his ass and I’m pretty sure I saw a sad looking porcupine being delivered to his room.

[Bob]

Couldn't he have been the least bit original and called them "Uncle Thteves" or "Uncle Bruthes"?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Sounds like Barbara Frank has been hitting the cocaine pretty hard.

[dragonblustar]

Barney Frank Calls Gay Republican Group “Uncle Toms”

I'm sure the GOP gays think Frank is nothing more than a boorish, fat, uncultured homosexual.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

For my third same comment in 5 minutes,,,,,,
Barney Fag is an infected, suppurating butt wart!

[manc]

the man is mentally sick just as he and his ilk and supporters are.

[pallis]

Using homosexuality as an excuse to belong to a socially aggrieved minority looking for political sanctuary is bad enough without pushing the gay agenda. If Log Cabin gays want to be part of conservatism and the Republican Party, get out of the cabin, and come on. No one is stopping you, and we would all love to not care about your sexual preferences, and preferably not know about them. Don’t come with a politically and demographically insignificant group, trying to twist our arms. That’s what the Democratic Party is for. Barny has a neck collar, so you can pull him around.

[zencycler]

It is my firm belief that the term 'Gay Republican' is an oxymoron in the most extreme way, a contradiction in terms...and yes,I absolutely agree with Barney Frank that Gay Republicans are "Uncle Toms"...

Is this really an issue that is so at the forefront of what it means to be a Republican, that you feel that this group must be excluded? And if you're going to exclude this group on this basis, you'd then have to argue that one cannot be an alcoholic, drug addict, convicted felon, atheist, agnostic, womanizer, adulterer, etc. etc. etc., and still be a Republican.

Here's another thought. You know the group Jews for Jesus, and the fact that it greatly upsets many in the group that these folks try to continue to identify themselves as being Jewish, despite the fact that ONE on their fundamental beleifs runs contrary to what almost every other Jew believes (sound familiar). However, if every other way they follow the traditions of Judaism.

Would you argue that these Jews should not be able to call themselves Jewish ... that they should be forced, by the majority who rejects this one belief, to cast aside their affiliations with the traditions, associations, and identity of being Jewish?

And, just as a practical matter, when some group, whether it be homosexuals, libertarians (fiscally conservative, socially liberal), or even constitutional atheists, support most of the Republican platform, and therefore want to align themselves with and vote Republican, then why on earth would you want to alienate those voters?