Religious right chafes over GOP gay outreach

[sabra]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003311891_gopgays19.html

Religious right chafes over GOP gay outreach
Los Angeles Times


WASHINGTON — In recent years, the Republican Party has broadened its appeal with a "big tent" strategy of reaching out to voters who might typically be Democrats. But a debate is growing within the GOP about whether the tent has become too big — by including gays whose political views may conflict with the goals of the party's powerful evangelical wing.

Some conservative Christians, who are pivotal to the GOP's get-out-the-vote effort, are charging that gay Republican staffers in Congress may have thwarted their legislative agenda. There are even calls for what some have dubbed a "pink purge" of high-ranking gay Republicans on Capitol Hill — and in the administration.

The long-simmering tension between gays and the religious right within the GOP has erupted into open conflict at a sensitive time, just weeks before a midterm election that may cost Republicans control of Congress.

"The big-tent strategy could ultimately spell doom for the Republican Party," said Tom McClusky, chief lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a Christian organization that champions marriage. "All a big-tent strategy seems to be doing is attracting a bunch of clowns."

[Ian David]

1. The Republican Reach-Around? n/t

[BOSSHOG]

2. We don't want them under our big tent

we want them in the gas chambers. We are god fearing, life loving christians and we want to kill everybody we hate. Praise Jesus.

Our key to success is destroying these big tents and hunkering down in our klaverns. Can I get an Amen?

[LiberalFighter]

12. praise be to jesus

[Bill McBlueState]

3. the Family Research Council champions marriage?

Every time I hear from the Family Research Council, they're speaking out in opposition to marriage.

[superconnected]

4. hahahha, the bigots want the gay vote but are too bigoted to let

the gays in their party.

Great. Keep reaching out to minorities then losing your own you dipsh*ts.

[queerart]

5. Gay Republicans. . . . . .

To want to be accepted by people that loathe everything about your very existence.......


It just shows how much we really can hate ourselves.......

[crim son]

15. Elderly, poor and needy republicans expect to be

held in the same embrace. They don't realize how they are despised by those same people for everything they are.

[Rambis]

6. They must be just red arsed over abortion?

Hey fundies! they have the congress, they have the presidency and they have the court. Why is abortion still legal? I think choice is fundamental but this question needs to be asked especially with the book by Kuo about how they were used by the * coming out soon.

[keepCAblue]

7. "...and in the administration." Who, who, who????

a "pink purge" of high-ranking gay Republicans on Capitol Hill — and in the administration.

Oh, yes, do "out" them all. I've got my tar boiling and my feathers all plucked and ready to go.

[tanyev]

8. Big tent, my fanny.

As if the high-ranking gay Republican staffers suddenly appeared in recent years. The fundies are just now realizing they're being snookered.

[Deja Q]

9. Nice to see some honesty.

Log Cabin nitwits will finally vote Libertarian (they won't vote Dem).

[Renew Deal]

10. So these "high ranking" gay Republicans switch sides and join the Dems

if they want political careers. That's an interesting way to deal with this. We'll take some of their better people and they can wallow in mediocrity.

Gay Republicans are like Jews for Hitler.

[LeftCoast]

11. Looks like a potent wedge-issue for the repukes has just been exposed

:D

[wageslave71]

13. Amusing that they use the term "big tent"

when almost everyone is left out in the cold.

Come to think of it, "big tent" also conjures up another amusing image.

[AnneD]

14. It's a big ol tent for the GOP...

a big ol EMPTY tent.