Earlier today, Log Cabin’s National Board announced that it had selected interim organization head Patrick Sammon as its new President. While I’m delighted that someone other that Patrick Guerriero is heading up this ostensibly Republican organization, I’m concerned that the group’s new leader lacks any background in Republican politics.

While Log Cabin touts Sammon’s media experience and appearances in the biography posted on its web-site, it does not indicate that he has had any prior political experience, save his work for Log Cabin itself and its affiliated non-partisan educational foundation, the Liberty Education Forum.

Commenting on his selection, Sammon said:

Log Cabin’s mission is more important than ever before. I will provide a strong voice for those in our Party who believe the GOP can return to power by pursuing a unifying and inclusive conservative agenda that attracts voters from both the center and the right.

I hope that in coming days, he fleshes out what he believes that agenda is. I am, however, concerned that like his predecessor, he will focus more on appealing to the left-leaning gay groups in Washington, D.C. rather than to conservative and Republican organizations in our nation’s capital — and across the country.

No sooner did I receive word of Sammon’s selection that I learned that Joe Solmonese, president of the liberal Human Rights Campaign (HRC), looked forward to working with Sammon “for our community’s top legislative agenda.” To be sure, this may be just standard boilerplate, welcoming the selection of the new leader of a gay organization, but it reminds us of the past cozy relationship between Log Cabin and HRC. Let’s hope that Patrick Sammon doesn’t accept Joe Solmonese’s attempt to define our community’s legislative agenda and dares to differ from Solmonese on issues affecting gay people.

Indeed, if Patrick Sammon really wants to establish himself as a conservative leader — and to help return the GOP to its small government roots — he would distinguish Log Cabin from other gay groups by coming out against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). While he would make clear that he believes government agencies should not discriminate and that discrimination against gays is wrong, he would affirm the conservative principle that the federal government shouldn’t interfere with the personnel decisions of private companies.

Thus, by coming out against ENDA, the leader of Log Cabin would help define gay Republicans as true conservatives who don’t favor turning to the government to seek solutions to the problems our community faces. In not pushing for legislation which would ostensibly benefit our community, we can better stand up for the small-government principles which our party appears to have abandoned in recent years. Log Cabin would thus set an example for other conservative and Republican groups, encouraging them to follow suit in opposing legislation which would benefit their constituencies by expanding the size and scope of the federal government.

And Log Cabin would strengthen its case against those social conservatives who seek legislation to advance their pet causes, reminding that we seek to live our lives free or state interference and respect their rights to do so as well. Log Cabin would take the lead in promoting a true return to the vision of Ronald Reagan where individuals seek solutions in their own communities — and through private institutions — rather than in lobbying for state action.

While I am ever optimistic, I doubt Patrick Sammon will take such a bold step. But, perhaps, he will find some other way of distinguishing Log Cabin’s agenda from that of other gay groups and put forward a conservative vision on gay issues which accords with the principles of our party.

I will be paying close attention to his initial actions and statements now that he had officially taken the helm of Log Cabin. I hope that he makes an effort to reach out to Republican elected officials as well as conservatives leaders in the various think tanks and advocacy organizations in our nation’s capital.

He should approach the national gay groups with caution, recognizing that many of these groups’ leaders see their work as part of some broad “progressive” movement. While he should be ever cordial to these leaders, he must recognize that they are, by and large adversaries of Republicans, even gay ones.

Given Patrick Sammon’s media background, it seems Log Cabin’s board is more interested in playing to the media than to the GOP. I hope I’m wrong. While Patrick does seem to be an accomplished young man, his resume shows little evidence that he has the stuff to lead a Republican organization.

The test is not in his background, but in his actions. And while I am, at this point, skeptical, I will reserve judgment and wish him the best of success in his new responsibilities. I will continue to make my views known, both as a blogger and a member of Log Cabin. And will continue to hope, perhaps naively so, that Log Cabin can be a bold voice for conservative principles, the ideas of Ronald Reagan, as its new leader reaches out to his two audiences, neither particularly friendly to gay Republicans.

No wonder, in an e-mail to me, one reader commented that Log Cabin’s president has a “thankless job.” I recognize the difficulty of the task which lies ahead for Patrick Sammon. While I may be somewhat critical of the selection of Log Cabin’s new leader, I do believe Mr. Sammon is up to the challenge.

- B. Daniel Blatt (GayPatriotWest@aol.com)

ADDENDUM. Over at The Malcontent, Matt offers his thoughts on Sammon’s selections and the general thrust of his observations is similar to my own.

Via Instapundit, hat tip: GP Reader Calarato…

The March To Mecca – Greg Gutfeld, HuffingtonPost

PRESS RELEASE
EMBARGO DATE: December 15, 2006, 4 PM.

IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM AND TOLERANCE, AND IN HARMONY WITH OUR GAY MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE PROUDLY ANNOUNCE THE FIRST MARCH TO MECCA, FEBRUARY 14, 2007

Human Rights Watch, Moveon.org, ACT-UP, the Huffington Post and David Geffen are proud to present the March to Mecca, a celebration of peace that calls all gay brothers, sisters and people undergoing sex-reassignment to march to the holiest of holy cities, Mecca, the capital city of Saudi Arabia’s Makkah province on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2007.

The march, a brainchild of activists and celebrities who acknowledge that more gays are dying from Islamic fundamentalism than from the policies of George W. Bush, will begin 12 noon sharp in Jeddah, the stunning night-life friendly Saudi Arabian city located on the coast of the Red Sea.

“Not marching in these countries, in this era of terror, seems cowardly,” says event co-organizer Sharon Stone. “I’m embarrassed to say at social gatherings I even blamed the United States for everything. But I realized it’s the radical Muslims – not the US – who want gays dead, and for that I am truly sorry.”

Paris’ gay Socialist Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, who was stabbed by an immigrant Muslim, is organizing the European contingency which features Limahl, Johnny Hallyday and Ciccolina. Whoopie Goldberg, along with Robin Williams will be hosting the kick off party at the Sheraton Riyadh. There will be refreshments and karaoke, hosted by David Hyde Pierce.

Beth Ditto, lead singer of the Gossip, who will perform with the newly reformed Yaz, thinks the march is overdue. “Forget right wing Christians. They don’t hang gays for being gay. Islamofascists do. That’s why were asking moderate, non-violent Muslims across the Western Province to join hands and embrace gay people everywhere.”

“Almost half of all Muslim countries outlaw gay relations,” says Huffington Post contributor Gene Stone, “and more than 70 countries ban all homosexuality, sometimes making it punishable by death. And here I am, blogging about how bad Renew America is. LOL.”

“Think about the two teenagers convicted of homosexuality who were hanged in Iran last year,” says Harry Shearer, “It makes all the hay we made over Mark Foley at the Huffington Post seem stupid. I, for one, am tired of being part of the problem.”

The March to Mecca will snake through the sandy, sunny valley of Abraham, and it is urged that you pack sunblock and plenty of bottled water. “Don’t forget to blog!” adds co-sponsor Arianna Huffington. After the march, Rep Barney Frank of the U.S. House of Representatives will host a special VIP rave on the Queen Boat, a floating disco on the Nile. Hugh Jackman will perform hits from “The Boy From Oz.”

If only this satire were half-true, I’d have a bit more confidence that Americans…. especially liberal ones who spout faux platitudes about human rights…. truly understood the threat we all face from America’s real enemy.

Bravo, Greg!!!

-Bruce (GayPatriot)