Subscribe to Breaking NewsLowenstein: The new faces of the Republican Party
This past weekend, Washington, DC welcomed the national convention of a group I haven’t had a lot of nice things to say about in the past. The Log Cabin Republicans took my fair city by storm, with a series of sessions and speeches that have had serious reverberations around the gay blogosphere.
What made this year’s conference interesting were the surprising faces that headlined the event. Could the strong show of support from more moderate parts of the Republican Party indicate a sea change? Is this the beginning of a new GOP?
I’m not willing to concede my long-held belief that the very existence of the Log Cabin Republicans validates the discriminatory and hateful positions of the GOP.
But I am impressed that the Log Cabin Republicans were able to draw such interesting, and diverse, allies from their party to speak to their conference. The top three appearances of the weekend, in order of surprise-factor and significance:
3. Meghan McCain
Meghan McCain’s appearance at the Log Cabin convention has certainly drawn the most headlines, but not because it was particularly surprising. Her relatively progressive stances on most social issues, including marriage equality, keep me from being shocked at her participation. I was, however, surprised at her exuberance. She tweeted about her nervousness and excitement in the days leading up to her appearance, and delivered a thoughtful speech to the crowd.
That her mother Cindy attended the convention with Meghan was, perhaps, more interesting.
2. Christy Todd Whitman
The former governor of my former home state also spoke this past weekend to the Log Cabin Republicans, and her speech was hard-hitting about specific policies. She made three specific demands to the Republican Party: that they remove the anti-marriage equality language from their party platform, that they work to reverse DOMA, and that they oppose DADT. Those are strong positions for any former Republican governor, and she followed it up with one of the best lines of the conference:
“I am not saying to Christian conservatives, ‘There is no place for you,’ I am saying, ‘Please stop saying there is no place for us.’”
(h/t JoeMyGod)
1. Steve Schmidt
Steve Schmidt is probably the least well-known name on this list, but his appearance definitely represents something important for the Republican Party. Former advisor to Governor Arnold Schwartzeneggar and Senator John McCain, Steve Schmidt is one of the top strategists in the Republican Party. He appeared at the convention, he indicated, because he loves and supports his gay sister and his relationship with her helped shape his view on equality issues.
While Meghan McCain and Christine Whitman might have higher profiles, they’re both progressive on most social issues. Both have been tagged RINOs (Republican In Name Only) by other members of their party. But Steve Schmidt is a little different. To me, Schmidt represents the change any of us can affect just by coming out to those around us. So kudos to Steve– and his sister– for thinking outside the box.
@ Fed Up
Are you seriously equating alchoholism and being a Republican? There is not even close to a national majority on equal rights for gays/lesbians. This disparaging number cannot be soley from the Republicans. And, for the record, who screwed you over in California? Polls have shown that African American voters overwhelmingly voted “Yes on 8″, while also overwhelmingly voting Democratic. Looks like you have some work to do in your own party.
Funny how Meghan McCain is showing true leadership on LGBT issues while our President is silent! Maybe we should throw our support behind Meghan to become the next President!
@ MavsFan
I dunno, I would have to say I agree whole-heartely with Mike.
Just because an alcoholic says they will quit drinking does not make it so. To my way of thinking, just because a republican says they will quit stabbing me in the back, does NOT heal the injuries already inflicted.
The GOP has a LOOOOOOONG way to go before I will even consider believing anything they have to say.
Mike is spot on!
While there are many issues that separate Republicans and Democrats, it’s fairly clear which party has been the gay-friendlist.
I’m fairly skeptical if this type of platform will cause any waves in the Republican party. It’s too closely aligned with the religious right whether it’s a fair representation of the party or not.
So much pessimism, Mike!!! Leave it to a Democrat to take a bit of good news and turn it sour. I for one am rooting whole-heartedly for the success of organizations such as the Log Cabin Republicans and GoProud. But, bring on the criticism.
A gay-friendly GOP? Right… I’ll believe that when I see it!
I was raised in a very conservative Mormon home, and next to Mormonism, the Republican philosophy was as much a religion. They do seem to go hand in hand.
I believed that way ferverently.
When I was 18 I voted the way my parents did, for Ronald Reagan in 1980. Today I wish I had voted for President Carter – a truly great man who I admire very much. I didn’t vote in the Bush I vs. Dukakis election because I was oversees in the Air Force and didn’t know how.
By 1992 I had grown enough to think for myself and had changed my mind about both Mormonism and the Republican party. One big factor in the change of the latter was Pat Buchanan. What a nutty little twit. By the end of his speech to the Republican convention in 1992, I swore I’d never vote Republican again until that party disavowed the hold the religious looloos had on it.
Today I would’t vote for them even if they did that as there are many other areas of the conservative philosophy that I don’t agree with.
But I’d still like to see them disavow the hold those who put their allegience with their religion over their country. We need two strong political parties to move the country forward, and they won’t be taken seriously again for some time if they don’t distance themselves from the Limbaugh and Coulter faction of the party and embrace more of the Christie Todd Whitman and Meghan McCain types.
They sure lost me and I was raised for it..
I am unwilling to support the GOP when they want to take all my rights away as shown during the Bush Administration. The GOP is in the process of crumbling due to there platform of trickery, underhandedness, and lies. The conservatives have brought Republican Party to its knees. They have done it to themselves. Congradulations and Thank You!
I think this is great that these indiv. are stepping forward and making their voices heard on issues so important to us BUT it is going to take a lot of action on any Republicans part to show me that they want their party to move away from these social issues and get back to the basics of running this country include EVERONE and make it about the united States being a place of kindness without standing for the hatred of a specific group of people