This is a cross-post from Mark Ciavola which was originally published at RightPride.org on June 11.
Back in April I wrote an article for GayConservative.org titled “The Cabin is On Fire,” outlining the downfall of the longest-running organization representing the Gay Right – the Log Cabin Republicans. I mentioned their spotty past of placating to liberal groups such as Human Rights Campaign, and their refusal to endorse the only Republican in the Presidential Election of 2004. I feel as though I laid out a pretty convincing case for their impending demise.
After fourteen months without an executive director, Log Cabin sent out a press release announcing their new E.D. as R. Clarke Cooper, a “former diplomat and veteran.” According to the release, Cooper is an “eight-year veteran of the George W. Bush Administration,” an administration Log Cabin opposed in 2004, even going so far as to attack Bush and Cheney in a series of web ads.
Does this spell new life for the lame-duck organization? Not quite. In fact, what I suspected was a lame-duck organization, is actually just lame.
This past week two very interesting news items came to light, which show Log Cabin’s true colors:
First, they supported the pro-choice, anti-gay Iraq War veteran Patrick Murray in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District over the pro-life, conservative, former FCC lawyer Matthew Berry. Oh, did I mention that Berry is a gay conservative? Matthew Berry believes each state should choose its own same-sex marriage laws, and that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell should be repealed. These are reasons Murray used to sway voters away from the gay conservative. So why would Log Cabin support Murray, over a gay conservative who is pro-life, and stands up for state’s rights and the repeal of DADT? Simple: Log Cabin no longer has the best interests of the Gay Right at heart – and hasn’t for some time. They raised money for Murray, who won the primary against Berry last Tuesday. Good job R. Clarke Cooper!
The other tidbit pertains to Log Cabin’s plans for Gay Pride in Los Angeles. Their booth will include a “Tea Bag Toss,” where people can buy tea bags to throw through the “mouths” of three politicians: Jerry Brown, Democratic candidate for Governor; Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House; And…
Sarah Palin.
Why Sarah Palin, you ask? To give the game a more bipartisan feel. Not only is this a vulgar way to “do something that is engaging and somewhat amusing,” but clearly is intended to earn favor with the heavily liberal gay audience in L.A.
Still don’t think Log Cabin panders to liberals in the gay community? I say GUILTY as CHARGED.
Log Cabin Chairman Terry Hamilton and newly-appointed Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper need to take a good, long look in the mirror. Log Cabin used to be a place where right-of-center gays could find a home. Today, the organization is being driven into the ground by liberal appeasers who barely have any Republican values left.
It is time for all Gay Conservatives, Republicans and even Independents, to disavow this corrupt and misguided organization. Not only does it lie to its members to raise funds for its non-Republican activities, but it gives the REAL Gay Right a bad name.
Perhaps Terry Hamilton and R. Clarke Cooper should be the ones getting teabagged at Gay Pride this weekend.
*The views expressed in this blog are the author’s, and do not necessarily represent the views of Right Pride or GOProud.
I was a strong supporter of Matthew Berry in the 8th Cong. District primary against Patrick Murray, but I can’t believe all the misinformation on this thread about LCR’s involvement, or lack of it, in this primary fight. Log Cabin never endorsed Murray, period. Clarke Cooper held a fundraiser for Murray back in March because they were friends and colleagues together at the State Department. Murray presented himself at that time as pro-gay, pro-ENDA, and for repeal of DADT. This was before Clarke became e.d. of Log Cabin. Furthermore, I’m told that Berry did not seek LCR’s support during the primary, for whateer reason, and his positions on gay issues were not very different from Murray’s. It was only near the end of the campaign that Murray began playing the gay card, and Clarke and other Log Cabin members who had been supporting him dropped their support; everybody associated with the national office that I know of were hoping for a Berry victory on election night. So this idea that Log Cabin as an organization actively supported an anti-gay candidate against a gay Republican is simply a lie.
And to call Log Cabin a fringe left organization should really destroy your credibility for good. What a ridiculous statement to make.
Both Log Cabin and GOPround have important, and different, roles to play, and we would all be better served without this silly and embarassing bitchiness that passes for political analysis.
David-
You are incorrect. Murray put out an anti-gay mailer against Berry in the final days of the campaign.
And Cooper was Murray’s right hand man from the beginning to the end of the campaign.
You cannot have it both ways and separate the snake’s head (Cooper) from the snake organization (Log Cabin).
To say that Log Cabin supported Mr. Murray in any way, shape, or form is simply one big fat lie. To smear an organization based on rumors from those with ulterior motives is intellectually dishonest.
Of course Mr. Murray put out anti-gay material in the last two weeks: I received it via email. What has that got to do with Mr. Clarke? They’ve been colleagues at the State Dept. for years, along with John Bolton, a neocon favorite. That is why Mr. Cooper initially supported Murray; is that really so hard to understand when the two candidates had few policy differences and Berry specifically declined Log Cabin support? Do facts matter to you? We get it: you hate Log Cabin, for whatever irrational reasons you have. But stop lyinig about this issue.