Betting on John McCain (to Get More than 30% of Gay Vote)
Back during the 2004 presidential campaign, the gay media, indeed all media, all but ignored gay Republicans (indeed all gay Americans) intending to vote for President Bush. I guess they assumed the number would be small because Log Cabin had failed to endorse the Republican nominee that year. All were surprised to see exit polls showing Bush receiving 23% of the gay vote that year.
This year, Pajamas Media is showing itself to me ahead of the curve, leaving the mainstream media in the dust, by posting my piece on a phenomenon other media (except blogs) have ignored, that of gay Democrats backing the presumptive Republican nominee in the current presidential contest.
Herewith a taste of my post:
Back in February while discussing the housing market with a relator active in the Los Angeles gay community, the conversation turned to politics. I learned that this friend who had helped raise money for Hillary Clinton’s White House bid intended to support John McCain should his candidate lose the Democratic presidential nomination to Barack Obama.
At the time, I thought little of this exchange, assuming my friend’s opposition to his party’s then-frontrunner was an aberration, just one gay man who didn’t trust the junior Senator from Illinois. But, about a month later, in an Instant Message conversation a gay friend from New York who usually votes Democratic and then supported his own junior Senator’s presidential campaign, suggested he might vote for the Republican nominee that fall should Obama win.
He wouldn’t be the last. In the next month, I would talk to and overhear additional gay Democrats inclined to support John McCain in a fall match against Barack Obama.
Now that I’ve whet your appetite, click here to read the rest.
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I wish we could count on 100%. I am afraid that this is not going to be a pretty election evening. The word “change” is going to do the Republicans in.
Comment by PatriotMom — June 22, 2008 @ 6:36 am - June 22, 2008
Mom: have faith that Obama does not know how to run in a hotly contested election campaign. he never had serious opposition before.
There will be multiple times where he can’t hide his incompetence when challenged by McCain.
Comment by Vince P — June 22, 2008 @ 6:56 am - June 22, 2008
GPW: Good article, btw.
Comment by Vince P — June 22, 2008 @ 7:37 am - June 22, 2008
When McCain clinched the GOP nomination with delegates, I told everyone that I’d be willing to switch to supporting Hillary because I felt that she was the most right leaning of the 3 remaining candidates.
Obviously, McCain not my GOP choice (I didn’t have a vote in that race.)and obviously I was a bit upset causing a bit of irrational thinking.
I am very certain that many Democrats (as I am) will support Senator McCain over Senator Obama as your article indicates. I am very confident that Senator McCain will be the next POTUS regardless of how much Obama spends the season. That is barring a McCain melt down of some sort.
http://democrats-against-obama.org/
I can’t bring myself to switch Party, been Democrat for 34 years now. I will volunteer for the McCain campaign here in Florida and I’ve contributed $1065 to the campaign thus far.
Comment by EDinTampa — June 22, 2008 @ 8:40 am - June 22, 2008
ROFLOL
I suspect that Obama’s percentage of the gay vote will be about the same 75% give or take 2-3% that Democrats have gotten over the last 20 years or so. Other than some mouthing from sore losers, nothing has changed on the issue. McCain isn’t Giuliani who had a good record with gays in NYC. McCain’s positions are openly hostile to gays. The numbers aren’t going to move outside the margin of error for polling.
[Wanna bet? --Dan]
Comment by Houndentenor — June 22, 2008 @ 10:05 am - June 22, 2008
Obama has his own problems with the gay community, which Obama supporters seem to be unaware of. Barney Frank came out and said that if Obama picks Sam Nunn as his running mate that he would have a hard time voting for that ticket…and Barney Frank is not a moderate at all. http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/06/barney-frank-definite-no-to-nunn.html
I don’t know where you get McCain being openly hostile to gays either…
Comment by darkeyedresolve — June 22, 2008 @ 11:36 am - June 22, 2008
He has an R after his name and he doesn’t support gay marriage.
Comment by Leah — June 22, 2008 @ 11:38 am - June 22, 2008
I do not expect him to support marriage equality, but I would want him to support ENDA and the Local Law Enforcement Act at least. I am leaning towards Bob Baar at the moment. I think it will probally be slightly lower than Bush because we got bamboozled by Bush in 2000 and 2004. Where he said he would be fair and compassionate to the LGBT Americans in 2000, then in 2004 he decided to suck up to the evangelical community.
California is going to lean towards Obama, so my vote for McCain does not really matter.
Comment by Matt from California — June 22, 2008 @ 12:46 pm - June 22, 2008
#7: “He has an R after his name and he doesn’t support gay marriage.”
Thank you, Leah. But I think even your edition of the gay left’s dictionary is slightly out of date. A newer edition has been released since the California Supreme Court’s decision. The expression “openly hostile” is now defined as “showed up at our wedding with a gift that wasn’t on our registry.”
Comment by Sean A — June 22, 2008 @ 3:01 pm - June 22, 2008
Usually GOP can count on a 1/5 to 1/4 of the gay vote. Bush got that amount, both times-which is hard to believe.
Comment by LCRW — June 22, 2008 @ 3:03 pm - June 22, 2008
EDinTampa: I been trying to get Hillary supporters to have Hillary call McCain and be his running mate
.
Comment by Vince P — June 22, 2008 @ 4:21 pm - June 22, 2008
Thank you for your website! I honestly thought I was the only gay republican out there.
Comment by Thankful — June 22, 2008 @ 9:13 pm - June 22, 2008
Nevermind all of that bullshit, why are you a member of a party that sees you as an abomination in the eyes of their specific God?
Comment by Red — June 22, 2008 @ 9:47 pm - June 22, 2008
it’s a landslide.
Comment by markie — June 22, 2008 @ 10:07 pm - June 22, 2008
Because being a member of a party which uses you for votes and cash and then PISSES on you when it really matters is far worse.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — June 23, 2008 @ 12:36 am - June 23, 2008
I’m independent conservative. I dont belong to any party.
Comment by Vince P — June 23, 2008 @ 8:12 am - June 23, 2008
#13: Your comments make no sense. I am not a Democrat, and I am probably an abomination in the eyes of their god Barry “Barack Obama” Dunham for being white, and not believing that the oil companies should be robbed at gunpoint, and believing that victory in Iraq is worth the cost.
Comment by Attmay — June 23, 2008 @ 8:48 am - June 23, 2008
I’ve had the same experience. I thought my lesbian sister and her partner would be die hard Obamites, but whey I started to explain to them some of McCain’s plans, they were interested. They both think Obama is a lightweight. These are women who thought Hillary was too conservative, and my sister actually, and actively, supported Kucinich.
Comment by Hunter — June 23, 2008 @ 12:20 pm - June 23, 2008
#13 you are stereotyping Republicans.
I am a straight conservative republican and have no problem with gays, I would have no problem voting for a gay conservative for president if he or she were the GOP nominee.
Comment by Andrew — June 23, 2008 @ 7:50 pm - June 23, 2008
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