I have many friends who are Log Cabin Republican members. I truly admire what they are trying to accomplish within the GOP. As a Libertarian I share some of their political ideologies but disagree on others. However, if their goal, since their inception in 1978, has been to work within the Republican Party to promote GLBT inclusion and gay positive representation and legislation, then they have been a miserable failure. The Republican Party has become increasingly anti-gay EVERY year since 1978. For the life of me I can’t put my finger on a single positive thing that the LCR has accomplished within the Grand Old Party. Though I have my doubts about their effectiveness, I have been stubbornly supportive of my friends and their mission.

Then I heard about this situation in New York State. I was blown away and my respect for the LCR mission evaporated. This could cause a major rift within the LCR and should, at the very least, call into question the true mission of the organization. From what I've heard from my local LCR friends, this official position from the national chapter is surprising and contrary to their understanding of the LCR’s national charter. They feel that if the national chapter does not reverse its position the LCR will be seen as a partisan lap dog organization with no credibility, willing to trade its principals and its mission for party loyalty. I have to say that I agree with them. I can’t imagine such loyalty to a party that has consistently been so dismissive and even hostile to the LCR. Never mind the fact they have scapegoated GLBTs by declaring them “Enemy One” in their culture war, craftily designed to distract Americans from their failed policies.

Frankly I think most gay people who claim to be Republicans (as I used to) are actually Libertarians (small government, personal responsibility, individual freedom, fiscally conservative and socially progressive) I find it amusing when my friends tell me that they are Republicans because they are Conservative. HA! There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING politically conservative about today’s Republican Party (puritan moralizing notwithstanding).

I would be interested in hearing the opinions of Log Cabin members on Outsports concerning the non-endorsement of one of their own in New York.

[ February 18, 2006, 07:52 AM: Message edited by: UMRebel/Bucfan ]

Dude, what is "the situation in NY state?" Hard to comment when I don't know what you're referring to.....

Ranks (and I do mean ranks) with the Dems abandonment of Hackett.

I still don't see proof that the national organization has put any pressure on the local Hudson Valley chapter to not support Jeff. Jeff seems to still get lots of support from LCR from all that I have seen, but I may not be "in" on all the politics. Jeff continues to get mentions during LCR chapter leader conference calls.

Ohhh - thats not the funniest political story in NY.

How about an openly gay mayor whom Log Cabin has refused to support even after he got elected?

Dan Stewart received endorsements from Governor Pataki, the Advocate, the Empire State Pride Agenda, and almost every major R or gay political group - but again not Log Cabin.

How about a registered R who got elected three times on the Democratic ticket before his own party acknowledged him and put him up for Mayor?

Plattsburgh, NY's Dan Stewart has come under criticism for not having gay rights at the forefront of his political agenda. To him, gay issues are the same as straight issues — crime, jobs, taxes — things that affect everyone. That doesn't mean gay community issues have fallen by the wayside. With a gay population of slightly less than 10 percent, Plattsburgh was one of the first cities in the country to pass domestic partnership benefits. The City has also passed hate crime legislation, worked on sexual orientation non-discrimination legislation... though in many cases, federal law has over-ridden the local laws.

Dan and his long time partner Jon Recor attend St Peters - the Local Catholic Church regularly.

When anti gay demonstrators - like Fred Phelps group, have appeared to protest him; Cops have had to be called in - to protect the protestors from the local citizens! The local's have occasionally been known to throw water balloons; and several times to turn their water hoses on the protesters(Dan is very popular).

Dan had been in office just six months when he was one of a dozen gay and lesbian leaders invited to meet with then-presidential candidate George Bush in 2000. During a four-hour meeting, Bush was quoted as saying, "We judge people based on their heart and soul. That's what this campaign is all about... I'm mindful that we're all God's children."

Log Cabin is a bad joke.

Rob

PS - Beside all that Stewart is definately easy on the eyes too, and his partner is absolutely hot!

ed for PS

[ February 18, 2006, 07:20 AM: Message edited by: ITJock ]

buccoman, did you read the link that I provided?

Absolutely! The Dems dumping of Hackett was equally, if not more shameful and a great example of why the ball-less Democrats can't, and often don't deserve to, get elected to local dogcatcher.

I'm not coming down on the LCR because I am a Democrat or even a Liberal. I am neither. I am equally disgusted by the political maneuvering of both parties. Both of them have become so partisan, polarized, and dictated by the extreme wings of their respective parties that they no longer even consider the best interests of the people they represent. It's all about pushing the particular sound bite that will best ignite their base's "righteous" indignation and drive them to the polls. It's 100% about winning elections, by hook or by crook. Forget about the damage done to our international reputation, the environment, minority rights or our Constitution. Neither major party has an ounce of integrity or credibility left at this point. The Republican Party has totally lost its way. They have sacrificed ALL of their conservative values to whore themselves to the religious right and the corporate elite. The Democrats on the other hand seem to have no clear and specific alternative policies to offer. All we hear from them is incessant whining about Bush and the Republicans. Stop pointing out the friggen obvious and start offering some SPECIFIC alternative policies. It's not enough to run on the "At least I'm not a Republican" and/or "I hate Bush" platforms. Of course it's hard convince America, with any level of credibility, that you have legitimate disagreements with, and alternatives to, the current administration when you've been Bush's and the Republican’s bitch for the last five years. Find some balls already.

How's that for alienating myself from people on both sides of the aisle? I'll get hate mail from Republicans calling me a left wing, pinko, anti-American Communist and from Democrats calling me a right wing, pro-Bush, anti-American Nazi. I hope it has become obvious that I am not beholden to either party based on their name. I am partisan to specific policies not to specific parties. I support some policies that are associated with the Republicans and others that are associated with the Democrats but I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. Some of the principles that I hold are not represented in either of the two major party's platforms. I just want to make it clear that my arguments do not come from a left wing vs. right wing partisan pissing match. When I see a policy I like, I say so, regardless of party affiliation. But when I see a policy, political maneuver or legislative action that I don't like I speak out about that too, again regardless of the offending political party. In my opinion, if you're not equally offended by the antics within both parties then you are either not paying attention or you are an apologist partisan hack. I know I'm still not winning a lot of friends here but it's just how I truly feel. I think there are actually a lot of people who feel this way but few are willing to stick their necks out and risk being attacked from both sides. I'm simply not concerned with or threatened by that.

Ironically I think that if those followers of the Republican and Democratic parties who actually have Libertarian values were to break away and vote Libertarian, it would be THE dominant party in American politics. The Republicans AND the Democrats spend a lot of time, energy and money to ensure that NO third party becomes a viable option at the national level.

Our country and its people are not well served by a two party system. The more politicized and polarized we become the more poorly served we become. Cook and Hackett are just two of the many examples of victims of this corrupt, two party, political system. Sadly, the American people are the big losers in the end.

[ February 20, 2006, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: UMRebel/Bucfan ]

I feel ITJock should provide us with a link to a photo of the mayor and his hot partner if he is going to edit his post to provide the comment in a PS.

Sorry GB - all I can find quickly online are some press pics of Dan...



R

Uncle Tom's Log Cabin is a joke. Period.
No one takes them seriously.

Thanks ITjock for the photo.

My partner and I have a close friend that belongs to the LCR and we once tried to talk politics with him when shrub was running for re-election. We soon found out we could not discuss politics with him because we found out very quickly he became someone totally different when he turned on his LCR switch. It was an ugly, scary thing he changed into. Much like a Dr. Heckle & Mr. Hyde kind of thing. I lost a lot of respect for him that day and it has taken me months to gain it back. I am afraid our relation was changed forever. frown