First, a lesson in how Republicans lose national elections:
The Centennial Institute, a Christian-based “think tank” , is holding something called The Western Conservative Summit in Denver this June. It will attract thousands of conservative activists, and, according to the Associated Press article I just read, will feature at least two likely Republican presidential hopefuls – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and former two-time Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum; probably more.
A gay Republican group, The Log Cabin Republicans, sent in its $250 deposit for a booth at this convention.
But, because Log Cabin Republicans, not surprisingly, support gay marriage, the money was sent back. The Centennial Institute\’s President, John Andrews explained by saying:
“We\’d love to have them attend the summit and be in the discussion. But we have to draw the line at a formal relationship between two organizations with diametrically opposed policy beliefs”.
In other words, you can show up. But you can\’t have a booth unless you agree with our position on gay marriage.
Point of order: Andrews\’ sanitized version of the refusal as being based, generically, on “policy beliefs” is pure BS, and everyone knows it. Unless you can show me that every other group had to swear it believes in everything the Western Conservative Summit people believes in, let\’s be honest enough to say that Log Cabin Republicans are being banned from booth space specifically because of their support for that one issue.
And anyone who believes that the same guy who sent back their deposit would “love to have them attend the summit”, is in need of a brain transplant. Neither John Andrews nor his group want gay people – Republicans or otherwise – anywhere near there.
Is a religious Christian group entitled to make it clear that gay people are not welcome at their event. Yes, they are. It is a private event and the group has a right to its beliefs.
But if the Republican Party – the national party – says nothing about this, even as two or more presidential candidates speak at the event, it is telling gay people exactly the same thing that the Western Conservative Summit people are.
And unless the Republican candidates make it clear that they accept the fact that gay people have a different perspective on marriage which should be respected, they are doing the same thing.
Is the Republican Party – even as poll after poll shows dramatic increases in tolerance and acceptance of gay marriage – still intent on telling gay voters to get lost, and take their straight supporters along with them…and losing millions of votes in the process?
Put another way, is the Republican Party still willing to lose national elections, for the “privilege” of being seen – correctly – as a bunch of bigoted, intolerant “my way or the highway” puritans?
Why would they do this? Because gay people want the right to get married? SO WHAT?
This is the USA. People are entitled to any beliefs they care to have, as long as those beliefs do not limit other people\’s freedoms…which is exactly what opposing gay marriage does.
I have never heard any gay person say that only gay people should be able to marry and heterosexual marriages should be banned. Have you? But I certainly have heard straight people say that only heteros should marry, not gays.
Which of these two positions celebrates free choice, and which says “you cannot have the right to live your own life, you have to live the way I believe you should? Think about it.
Now, what would a sensible Republican reaction be to this incident – one that would give gay voters and their supporters some basis for considering the Republican Party?
How about issuing a statement saying something like this – and MEANING it:
“While the Republican Party joins many Democrats in opposing gay marriage – including President Obama and the Clintons until they decided it was politically advantageous to claim otherwise – it also recognizes, and respects the fact that, people disagree with our position.
We understand, and accept that gay Americans, and many straight Americans, feel differently. And we want to make it clear that they are fully welcome in our party – just as we understand and accept that there are differences of opinion for every other issue and welcome people of those differing beliefs as well.
You don\’t have to agree with everything we believe in to be welcome under our big tent. This country was founded on the premise of personal freedom, and we are fully committed to that premise.
We may not agree on this one issue, but please look at our entire platform. We think you\’ll see that we share a great deal of common ground on other issues, which means there are very good reasons for you to join with us.
That is how you fix this problem.
Any questions?
