LAT: Simmering tension between GOP gays, religious Right has erupted

[DeepModem Mom]

Religious Right Finds GOP's 'Big Tent' May Be Too Roomy
By Johanna Neuman, Times Staff Writer
October 17, 2006

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 now 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."

Now the GOP is facing a hard choice -- risk losing the social conservatives who are legendary for turning out the vote, or risk alienating the moderate voters who are critical to this year's midterm outcome....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gaygop18oct18,0,1580146.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[SharonAnn]

1. I love it! A GOP circular firing squad! Let the shooting begin!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

4. A good reason not to ban guns

n/t

[Lexingtonian]

6. Praise the Lord

and pass the ammunition!

[silverweb]

2. Good.

May it all come crashing down on their heads.

[Erika]

3. Karl Rove got the radical right to turn out on gay issues

to vote against the gays or any rights whatsoever for the gays. He made that a pinnacle issue. How the Republican Log Cabin members can stand this scathing hatred is beyond my comprehension.

The Religious right would have the gays fed to the lions, and cheered (while collecting a good fee for the entertainment-they are GOP).

[Straight Shooter]

5. Hasn't Tom McClusky noticed all the clowns in the Family Research Council?

:eyes:

[Odin2005]

7. Let them distroy themselves.

If my knowlwdge of American political and historical cycles serves me right I'm willing to bet that the Pukes will be crushed in the next two elections and will be out of power for a generation.

[Erika]

8. It would be interesting to see a gay GOP defend voting GOP

Mary Cheney, Mary Cheney. Where are you?

[calimary]

9. Or TWO generations. Or more.

I'd love to see them out of power PERMANENTLY. Because it's probably going to take forever to fix, or undo, all the damage they've done.

[Odin2005]

10. Amen!

[Eugene]

11. New LAT title: Some Seek 'Pink Purge' in the GOP

The Repug message changes with the constituency they are trying to court.
It is good to see their hypocrisy finally catching up with them.

[Supersedeas]

12. I really don't see how Gays can reconcile the positions & rhetoric of the

Party. It befuddles me.