BREAKING NEWS-McCain Strategist Steve Schmidt Addresses Log Cabin
Just moments ago, here at the Chambers Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, McCain campaign strategist Steve Schmidt briefly addressed a Log Cabin Republicans honoring the gay delegates to the Republican National Convention.
Schmidt mentioned his sister and her partner and encouraged us to “keep fighting.”
“You are an important part of our party . . . the party of freedom.”
Perhaps, Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon had briefed Schmidt that everyone here was raving about Sarah Palin’s speech last night. Calling the recent media attacks on the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, “unlike anything I had ever seen,” he labelled her speech, “one of the great speeches in the history of political conventions.”
I don’t think he’ll find any disagreement from GayPatriot readers.
He said he expected a backlash would occur. He concluded observing, that he earlier in the campaign he didn’t think McCain campaign would be in as “great shape” as it is now. He told us to stay tuned for some polls coming out this afternoon “that will be showing the race is even.”
That Schmidt showed up today puts truth to the lie we hear all too often from our critics that gay people aren’t welcome in the GOP. This is truly a Big Tent party, with the McCain Campaign reaching out to gay Republicans as well as evangelicals.
UPDATE: The Advocate picked this up as well.
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Not to go off subject, but isn’t today the 4th anniversary of GayPatriot. If so, congratulations to Bruce for getting it started and to you Dan for adding so much to it.
Comment by Trace Phelps — September 4, 2008 @ 4:32 pm - September 4, 2008
Congrats on 4 years.
Last January I thought the only way Republicans could get internal reform and dump those sorry House and Senate leaders was to loose this November.
McCain - Palin can clean it up better and quicker than 2+ years in the wilderness.
Comment by Go Sarah — September 4, 2008 @ 5:47 pm - September 4, 2008
Schmidt was right - CBS is now calling the race even in the polls.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — September 4, 2008 @ 9:06 pm - September 4, 2008
“the party of freedom”
Freedom for who? How can you accept that statement from him given the direct assaults on LGBT people in the party platform? Or do you deny that they are there? I understand that LCR and most on here support many of the other positions of the party but do you not even feel slightly threatened by the negative attitude in the platform?
“an important part of the party” I wonder if he checked with the opponents of our existence before he said that. To them LCR is an activist group pushing the “homosexual” agenda.
Comment by Dave — September 5, 2008 @ 12:36 pm - September 5, 2008
one note, I’m not being confrontational, I just want to understand. Also, I’m not looking for statements about Dem hypocrisy concerning LGBT issues, I’m well aware of it, same goes with “liberals” and their flaws. I’m interested in how you as conservatives who are gay deal with the things mentioned in my first note. I realize that sometimes we have to vote for what we see as the lesser of too evils so I can understand why you might vote Republican, but to praise the party for being “big tent” when the tent is built on a foundation that specifically states it’s position against you confuses me. On an individual level I have no doubt that many Republicans are accepting and supportive but as a whole…
Comment by Dave — September 5, 2008 @ 1:39 pm - September 5, 2008
Can someone give Dave the URLs to the 10000x this was discussed before?
I can’t endure another one.
Comment by Vince P — September 5, 2008 @ 9:58 pm - September 5, 2008
7. It has been discussed many times before. Steve Schmidt is worthy to be lauded for his encouragement. For the balance of the system, it is very important for gay conservatives to fight within the party for total inclusion so that both parties can eventually work together for the good of the nation. Each party, I believe, has unique ideals that are very important to the vision our Founding Fathers had.
To Dave’s comment, the platform does need to be more inclusive of the LGBT community and its families so that we’re not enemies in public but friends in private (McCain’s and Palin’s comments to LGBT persons privately versus McCain’s quiet and Palin’s more public support of anti-gay measures). With continued to support for fair-minded individuals, that change will come.
Comment by J — September 6, 2008 @ 8:11 am - September 6, 2008