Posted on 10/08/2008 10:29:43 AM PDT by Calpernia
Log Cabin Republicans Proudly Endorses Sen. John McCain for President
Log Cabin Republicans recently announced its endorsement of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) for President of the United States. The decision was announced at Log Cabin's "Big Tent Event" at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, MN. Read Log Cabin's news release announcing the endorsement.
At the event, McCain Campaign National Political Director Michael DuHaime spoke to Log Cabin Republicans and formally accepted the endorsement. Also, McCain Campaign Senior Adviser Steve Schmidt addressed gay Republicans gathered at the party's convention. Schmidt, who has served as tjhe day-to-day campaign manager since early July, 2008, also expressed the McCain campaign's gratitude for the endorsement. In his remarks, Schmidt said, "Your organization [Log Cabin Republicans] is an important one in the fabric of our party." Read more about Schmidt's remaks.
Sen. McCain has had a long relationship with Log Cabin Republicans dating back to the opening of our organization's national office in the mid 1990s. Log Cabin endorsed Sen. McCain's re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. Log Cabin's national board of directors voted 12-2 to endorse Sen. McCain's presidential bid. Here's a summary of his record on issues of importance to LGBT voters.
A Long History with Log Cabin Republicans
Sen. McCain has had a long and friendly association with Log Cabin Republicans, dating back to the organization's opening of a national office in the mid-1990s. McCain has spoken before gay and lesbian Republicans, has met with gay and lesbian Republicans, and by all public accounts, has a personal comfort level with LGBT people that will prove promising to many fair-minded Americans.
During his previous run for the White House, McCain met with Log Cabin Republicans in 1999 during the heat of the Republican presidential primary season (which, at the time, no other Republican nominee for president had done). Eager to show his support for the gay and lesbian community, McCain told then-Log Cabin Executive Director Richard Tafel, "I just want you to know, Rich, that I am unashamed, unembarrassed and proud to work with you."
Sen. McCain has remained friendly with the organization, particularly as he stood with the gay and lesbian community in opposition to the anti-gay federal marriage amendment. Log Cabin endorsed McCain's Senate re-election bid in 2004.
Promising Signs for Independent Voters, including Gays & Lesbians
It is has become clear throughout the general election that Sen. McCain recognizes where this election will be won—independents. This is another promising sign for gay and lesbian Americans.
Polls show a close race between Senators McCain and Obama. McCain is polling well in traditionally blue states such as Michigan, Oregon, and Washington and has indicated his desire to compete in "blue" states and areas where Republicans have traditionally not competed.
Sen. McCain's Record on Gay Issues
On issues of concern to Log Cabin, Sen. McCain has a mixed record. But, on the most important issue the LGBT community has faced in the last decade, the federal marriage amendment, McCain stood with us and was on the right side of history. He consistently voted against the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment. He voted against the proposal in both 2004 and 2006, saying the matter should be left to the states. Watch Sen. McCain's 2004 speech opposing the FMA.
He supported Arizona's 2006 effort to ban marriage equality and roll back domestic partner benefits offered by some municipalities in the state. McCain opposes hate crime legislation and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). He supports continuation of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, which prevents gays and lesbians from serving openly and honestly in the U.S. military.
Marriage in California
Like Sen. Obama and most Democratic lawmakers, Sen. McCain opposes marriage for gay and lesbian Americans. He has expressed support for allowing gay couples access to some benefits short of a civil marriage license. When the California Supreme Court affirmed the state legislature in May 2008 and paved the way for marriage equality in the Golden State, Sen. McCain issued a statement saying that the people of California should decide the issue.
Sen. McCain's strongest California supporter, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), issued a statement immediately following the California Supreme Court's ruling saying: "I respect the Court's decision and as Governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling." Gov. Schwarzenegger is a strong ally to the LGBT community, having signed more pro-gay bills than any governor (Republican or Democrat) in American history. He has also since spoken favorably of marriage for gay couples in California.
On the Right Side of History: The Federal Marriage Amendment
Some in the LGBT community have unfairly dismissed Sen. McCain's votes against the federal marriage amendment. But this is disingenuous, to say the least. It took enormous political courage for a Republican Senator from red-state Arizona to buck his own party leadership and President Bush on this hot-button issue. And it's important to remember that Sen. McCain didn't just vote "no" on the marriage amendment. He took to the floor of the U.S. Senate and delivered one of the most impassioned speeches against the anti-gay measure, calling it "antithetical in every way to the core philosophy of Republicans."
Following a recent report by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) heavily criticizing McCain's record on gay and lesbian issues, a McCain campaign spokesperson said: "Sen. McCain is seeking support from all Americans this November, based on his vision for moving America forward and his long record of treating people with respect and dignity. He was proud to receive an endorsement from the Log Cabin Republicans in his 2004 re-election campaign, and we’re confident he’ll win strong support this fall.”
Wide-Ranging Appeal
While we respect those who believe that only traditional "scorecard" LGBT issues such as hate crimes and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) should matter to gay people, we disagree. The vast majority of LGBT Americans are not one-issue voters. Like all Americans, gays and lesbians have wide-ranging concerns—from foreign policy to the environment to soaring gas prices to the size of the federal government and more.
McCain's positions on these and many issues will attract independents, including gays and lesbians. Sen. McCain supports taking an aggressive posture against totalitarian regimes—regimes that threaten, imprison, and kill gay and lesbian people. By contrast, Sen. Obama has received harsh criticism (and even some skepticism from his fellow Democrats) for indicating he would meet with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad without conditions.
Additionally, Sen. McCain's philosophy on other issues will attract gay and lesbian voters. He supports measures that will benefit gay and lesbian business people. His views on the proper role and scope of the federal government, as well as taxes and spending, energy and the environment may also have wide appeal. He also supports social security reform that may provide for private retirement accounts, which will directly benefit non-married LGBT Americans.
Sen. McCain is undoubtedly running a campaign to reach out to independent voters, including gay Americans. We believe he stands a significant chance of receiving more gay votes than George W. Bush did in 2004.
Taking the Republican Party Back to Its Core Principles
Sen. John McCain's nomination is an historic one for many reasons. But most significant is the opportunity his candidacy provides for the Republican Party to return to its core, unifying principles—bread and butter issues that brought conservatives to power in the 1990s like limited government, accountability, and restrained spending.
The last eight years have seen the GOP in a deep struggle for the soul of the party—a fight between so-called social conservatives whose worldview largely ignores and excludes gay and lesbian Americans versus fair-minded Republicans who want to move the party back to the issues that Americans care about. Sen. McCain has won the GOP nomination with no help (and with outright hostility) from many social conservatives, including prominent anti-gay crusader Dr. James Dobson of "Focus on the Family." Dobson earlier proclaimed he would "never" vote for Sen. McCain.
A John McCain presidency has the potential to move the GOP back to its roots of limited government and resistance to intruding into the private lives of citizens. Despite differences on social issues such as gay rights, the GOP under John McCain's leadership can return to an agenda that, in the words of Ronald Reagan, "appeals to your best hopes, not your worst fears."
When the final chapter is written, that may do more for gay and lesbian rights than any single policy issue either party can advocate in the next four years.
Campaign Web Site: http://www.johnmccain.com
A magnesium supplement tablet each day helps keep the logs from getting too big in the cabin.
LCR’s Previous Endorsement:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1831372/posts
2004 - Log Cabin Congratulates Our Victorious Candidates (McCain)
Wow! That took me by surprise.
They must’ve come in through the back door.
Now I can pull the lever with confidence.
I knew the would do it in the end...
It doesn’t matter, in the end.............
has a personal comfort level with LGBT people that will prove promising to many fair-minded Americans.
..
Inclusive.. heh.
maybe he can pose in a shower setting with a few LGBT folk,, we had a Mayor in SF that did that some years back, FRank Jordan.
That’s fine, but didn’t they endorse Kerry last time? I guess they decided they were making their Trojan Horse status a little too obvious.
LCR? No, that was the VictoryFund that endorsed Kerry. But both the LCR and Victoryfund are affiliates anyway.
Hello, sailor!
I think there are two members of this group, and I don’t think they will be making any more of them.
Hey, Bud. :)
Good.
Frankly, I don’t care what group votes for McCain, as long as they do.
“No, please! Allow me to push in your stool . . . !”
Steve Schmidt, long haul trucker & the Indian chief
past masters of mud slinging
Works for me. I’m happy for their support.
Heh.
Once again proving Republicans are not necessarily conservatives, and conservatives are not necessarily Republicans.
But, hey. Better than Obama.
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