One the complaints of gay conservatives (myself included) is that gay liberals tend to support Democrats even when they don't fully support us (ie: Clinton signing the Defense of Marriage Act) and that they tend to have a laundry list of issues that have nothing to do with gay rights.
Stephen Miller is one such person. However, after he's done attacking the Left, he then decides to do the exact same thing that he condemns the Left of doing.
Since the election, Miller has had some not-so-kind words for Log Cabin Republicans concerning their choice of opposing the President. He thinks now that the election is over, Log Cabin should basically say "no hard feelings" and support the President's agenda. In his recent entry he comments that Log Cabin should be talking to the President since 23 percent of gays and lesbians voted for Bush.
Hogwash.
First, Miller seems to forget that gay conservatives did try and reach out to Bush in 2000. Remember the Austin 12? Bush seemed to listen and did make some appointment of gays to high posts. But as the election got closer, he ditched us and courted the far right. He supported a constitutional amendment that would not only ban gay marriage but civil unions as well. Bush, in essence, betrayed us. Log Cabin had no choice but to not endorse the President. Log Cabin has principles, most importantly, to work for inclusion within the GOP and the wider society. We can't be true to those principles if we are supporting someone who did not support gays.
Miller also has it wrong when it comes to equating gay Bush voters as a message to Log Cabin to play nice. I know gays who voted for Bush. They did so, for a number of reasons, such as national security. However, they also disagreed with the President on the Federal Marriage Amendment and also praised Log Cabin for doing what they did. There are a lot of gays and lesbians who vote on issues like taxes or national security, or even abortion. They may detest the President's stand on gay marriage, but they aren't planning to vote for the Democrat either. Again, Log Cabin has to stand on principle. Individuals are free to vote for whomever they want. But Log Cabin doesn't have to be a slave to how fellow Republicans vote. As I said, a vote for Bush doesn't necessisairly mean support the President. Sometimes a cigar ain't a cigar.
What is irksome is that Miller wants Log Cabin to do what he would criticize gay Democrats of doing; continue supporting a politician even when they treat us like crap. I don't see how we can make progress in gay rights if we are basically whoring ourselves to political leaders.
Log Cabin continues to support fair-minded Republicans in House and Senate races. As for the President, well as the saying goes, fool me once....
I think it's high time for the President to make the first step. Log Cabin and gay conservatives in general should not be made the fool again. I have no intention of being an "Auntie Tom."
Gay conservatives? Damn! You guys must be the chickens lining up to vote for Colonel Sanders.
What's your take on Bush's answer to the gay marriage thing? The one about 'ditch the death tax and the gays won't need to get married anyway?'
I thought 'compassionate conservative' was weird enough...
Posted by: Fried Wire at February 3, 2005 07:01 PMwe need to just move on. Without constitutional rights this liberal democracy that we live in sees us as nothing. Frankly it is tyrrany by majority rule.
Posted by: Matt Stark at February 3, 2005 05:21 PMThe Republican party SHOULD be the party that is overwhelmingly supported by the gay movement. For a moment let's forget about how the likes of George W. Bush and Jerry Falwell have hijacked the Republican party and turned it into something its founders would have cringed at.
Both the gay movement and the Republican party of Lincoln advocated that government should stay out of people's lives as much as possible. Similarily both groups would advocate that Americans are autonomous beings that do not need the government defining who they are, but are defined by the choices they make, and the degree that one lives up to their full potential.
I agree with Dennis that LCR should not embrace Bush. This is not a statement made out wavering support for the conservativism that has made this nation what it is, but in honor of conservativism and the Republican Party. George W. Bush is bringing the Republican party in the same direction that the likes of Michael Moore is bringing the Democratic Party-- in the WRONG one.
Posted by: John Burrell at January 12, 2005 10:56 PM