From Andrew Sullivan:
It looks like David Catania, an openly gay DC Councilman, has formally left the Republican Party and is now a registered independent.
Catania did much to build up the GOP in DC as well as the Log Cabin Chapter. He was also a top money-raiser for Bush.
His thanks was the Federal Marriage Amendment which the President supported and being booted off the DC delagation to the Republican National Convention because of his opposition and his waning support for Bush.
Catania could have represented the future of the GOP: young, hip and energetic. Instead, the party is becoming a place that looks backward instead of foward; becoming more hostile towards anyone who appears different.
I plan to stay in the GOP and work for change from the inside as long as I can. However, I can understand Mr. Catania's sorrow. One wonders if the party will ever change. I pray it can.
Posted by Dennis at September 29, 2004 11:47 PMI think that both the republican party and democratic party have both gotten so carried away with their petty domestic postitions that they have lost all credibility.
I agree with the spirt of your comment Mike. I'd phrase it differently myself, though I'm not quite sure how.
Posted by: dorsano at October 3, 2004 09:04 PMI think that both the republican party and democratic party have both gotten so carried away with their petty domestic postitions that they have lost all credibility.
i dont see how banning gay marriage, supporting faith based funding for "treatment" of addiction, leaving the 10 commandments in public buildings can be taken so seriously.
at the same time I dont see the aclu helping nader get on ballots and fail to see how planned parenthood promoting abortion through t-shirts advertising makes any sense.
Posted by: mike at October 3, 2004 08:56 PMGay Patriot is pretty bitchy about all this.....
http://gaypatriot.blogspot.com/2004/09/david-one-issue-catania-leaves-gop.html
Same guy who is furious at LCR for not endorsing Bush.
Posted by: Eva Young at October 1, 2004 12:22 AMIt's the Republican Party's loss that David Catania has left.
I still think it's not the answer to leave the Republican Party. I think you CAN work for change within the party - but it's often going to be lonely, and certainly is a quixotic quest.
Posted by: Eva Young at October 1, 2004 12:13 AMJust a quick question for those who choose to remain in the Republican party w/ the hope of changing it. I was once registered a Republican and now I am liberal (socially I have always been extremely liberal). In a weird way I thank President Bush for that. It has been his policies that helped me to look at what I truly believe in and which party better matches my beliefs (I am now registered independent). Anyway getting back to what I was trying to ask, is there a point that perhaps it might actually be easier (more effective) to change parties and lead the other party to change?
Posted by: Optimus Paul at September 30, 2004 04:02 PMVery much the same reaction that I had to John Eisenhower leaving the party and registering indie. That's a harsh blow to the party, given his legacy. But I'll stick around and try to help steer things back to traditional GOP values from his father's time.
Posted by: Jazz Shaw at September 30, 2004 11:00 AM