Log Cabin Endorses Anti-Gay Presidential Candidate

Drama! The Log Cabin Republicans, already saddled by an ever-increasingly chorus of disparaging comments from other LGBT leaders and organizations, have decided to shred the last remnant of their credibility as an organization working for LGBT equality by announcing today they are endorsing Mitt Romney for president:

“The decision to endorse is the right one for our members, our community, and for the nation as a whole,” said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director, R. Clarke Cooper. “Despite our disagreement with Governor Romney on the issue of marriage, on balance it is clear that in today’s economic climate, concern for the future of our country must be the highest priority. We are Republicans, and we agree with Governor Romney’s vision for America in which success is a virtue, equal opportunity is ensured, and leaders recognize that it is the American people, not government, that build our nation and fuel its prosperity. On issues of particular concern to the LGBT community, we believe Governor Romney will move the ball forward compared to past Republican presidents. No matter who is in the White House, it is crucial our community always has a credible voice speaking out on behalf of LGBT Americans. Log Cabin Republicans will be that voice to President Mitt Romney.”

Other LGBT organizations were quick to point out that Log Cabin had not endorsed George W. Bush in 2004 because of his support for a federal marriage amendment (which would ban marriage equality nationwide and enshrines sexual orientation-based discrimination in the founding document of our nation) and that Mitt Romney has repeatedly reiterated his support for a similar constitutional amendment, as recently as last week. He has even signed the National Organization of Marriage's anti-gay marriage pledge:

The Stonewall Democrats sent out a blistering response to the news of Log Cabin Republicans' endorsement of a presidential candidate who in the words of Barney Frank has never endorsed a pro-gay initiative:

"The Log Cabin Republicans have proven once and for all that they are not an organization aligned with the LGBT movement. They are a Republican front group bumbling their way into fooling LGBT voters that it's OK to support a party that would legislate us back into the closet.

"Their endorsement of Mitt Romney isn't just shameful - it's insulting. Mitt Romney stands for nothing positive for LGBT people. He supports a federal marriage amendment (which was a reason for Log Cabin to refuse to endorse George W. Bush in 2004). He supports McCarthy-like investigations into our community for evidence of 'harassment of Christians'. He opposes the repeal of DOMA. He opposes ENDA. He's even said things as basic as the right to visit your sick or dying loved one in the hospital is a 'privilege' and not a right.

"On top of all of that, Mitt Romney is a liar. He has told so many untruths and changed his positions so many times throughout this campaign, how can Log Cabin - or anyone - trust a word he would say? A person with no moral compass goes whichever way the political winds blow. With Mitt Romney in charge of the ship of state, we would be a rudderless nation with nothing but luck to keep us from crashing into the rocky shore - and Log Cabin Republicans believes this is the best their party and our country can muster.

"It's a disgrace. A once venerated and decent organization has become a shell of itself blithely pandering to the least common denominator. This is politics at its worst - when a community sells out its own people for the gain of a few individuals. There is little doubt that Clarke Coooper's position on the RNC finance committee played a major role in this decision. Of course, so did their blinding fear of GOProud nipping at their heels.

This last reference to GOProud is important because most LGBT activists speculate that the reason why LCR felt compelled to endorse Romney even though he espouses more anti-gay positions than the non-endorsed  President G.W. Bush, is that there is now an organization which is even farther to the right of  LCR and they feel threatened from its extreme right flank.

It's astonishing that GOProud considers itself a gay group since there are very few positions that it supports which would actually promote or enhance LGBT equality. Now, it seems that LCR is moving in that direction as well.

Very disappointing (but nit really that surprising). There is no reason LGBT equality needs to be a partisan issue, but LCR has just made things worse, not better, in this respect.

Hat/tip to Joe.My.God.