Why Are Log Cabin Republicans Defending McCain's Gay Bashing?

Posted by Pam Spaulding, Pam's House Blend at 11:00 AM on January 31, 2008.

Oh my. There's a really poorly-thought-out post on the Log Cabinette blog defending John McCain's use of an anti-gay robocall in Florida chastising Mitt Romney wavering on social issues. First, let's take a look at that call again, which was first reported on The Politico, hardly a lefty site.

"I'm calling with an urgent Mitt Romney [unintelligible]"

"We care deeply about traditional values and protecting families. And we need someone who will not waver in the White House: Ending abortion, preserving the sanctity of marriage, stopping the trash on the airwaves and attempts to ban God from every corner of society. These issues are core to our being.

"Mitt Romney thinks he can fool us. He supported abortion on demand, even allowed a law mandating taxpayer-funding for abortion. He says he changed his mind, but he still hasn't changed the law. He told gay organizers in Massachusetts he would be a stronger advocate for special rights than even Ted Kennedy. Now, it's something different.

"Unfortunately, on issue after issue Mitt Romney has treated social issues voters as fools, thinking we won't catch on. Sorry, Mitt, we know you aren't trustworthy on the most important issue and you aren't a conservative

"Paid for by John McCain 2008."

Log Cabinettes' defense is so weak, considering we're speaking about Mr. "Straight Talk". They say he didn't know about the script and didn't approve it.

Had anyone bothered to reach out to the McCain Campaign, they would have realized Sen. McCain immediately stopped the calls. The campaign told us Sen. McCain never saw the script and never approved it, which is why he stopped the calls ASAP.

Of course, those facts won't satisfy the left-wing who pounces on these kinds of things.

Oh really? Eva at Lloydletta unloaded this:

Did the campaign go on the record with Log Cabin Republicans? Or was this going on background. The robocall said "Prepared and Paid for by McCain for President." Does that mean there are other robocalls by the McCain campaign that don't get approved by John McCain? How many of these are they by Mr Campaign Finance Reform? Log Cabin Republicans didn't get a named McCain spokesperson saying these calls had been pulled. The Atlantic found out from an unnamed McCain spokesperson that the calls had been pulled. So there is still a question: why won't a named McCain spokesperson go on the record on this?

The whole matter was sleazy because, of course, by the time the call was pulled, how many homes were dialed up and delivered that message? Please. You have to own it when your candidate craps on you.

The next passage of the LCR post is unbelievably laughable. More after the jump.

Scott Tucker @ BlogCabin.net:

Of course, those facts won't satisfy the left-wing who pounces on these kinds of things. But where were these same left-wingers when Democrat Barack Obama, who has never introduced a single piece of pro-gay legislation in his Senate career, paraded around on stage with an anti-gay religious leader who believes in so-called "conversion therapy"?

I know there may not be a lot of Log Cabinettes reading the Blend, but they can't say I haven't repeatedly blasted Obama and his campaign for sidling up to McClurkin. Heck, I even chose that topic when I reached a much larger audience guest blogging for Glenn Greenwald at Salon, saying heads should roll. Nor can they say I didn't blast Clinton and Obama for being slow to respond to General Peter Pace's anti-gay remarks last year -- another charge made against the "gay left" on the LCR blog. So sad.

The defensiveness of the LCR post begs the question -- is this all about frustration that they have such slim pickins this cycle? After BushCo turning on the ignition, putting the bus into drive and running over them, backing up and gunning it over them again, the entire 2008 Clown Car slate showed zero progress on LGBT neutrality, let alone advocacy. All the ones with fairly moderate issues on the issues abandoned LCRs to court the Base.

What it means for a Log Cabin Republican that wants to vote for the principles the organization stands for is that they are placed again in the position of justifying support for a candidate, in this case John McCain, who is willing to pull out the homo strawman.

A better for the LCR (not that they'd take my advice) is that if they truly believe McCain didn't know anything about the robocalls to call for him to fire his renegade homophobic staffers -- after all, Mr. Straight Talk and the LCR allegedly believe in the merits of personal responsibility.

UPDATE: Andy at Towleroad adds this fun to the mix:

Aside from the robo-call incident, that a gay group would rush to the defense of a man who until a few months ago never heard the acronym LGBT before,supports Don't Ask, Don't Tell, is not sure if condoms stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, thinks gays should be able to marry (just not legally), and worries about his 'gay' clothing choices, is laughable.

Tagged as: mccain, romney, homosexuality, homophobia, log cabin republicans

Pam Spaulding blogs at Pam's House Blend.