Nice profile of Trevor Potter in the Washington Blade yesterday. Potter is the top lawyer for Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign. He also happens to be openly gay.
-posted by Scott Tucker
Posted: October 23rd, 2008 under In the News.
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Editors Note: This message comes from longtime Log Cabin member Ted Jackson, who is working to elect John McCain & Sarah Palin in Nevada as a coalitions director.
I have been working to elect John McCain, Sarah Palin and the GOP ticket in Nevada as a coalitions director. The stakes are high out here as the Battleborn state’s five Electoral College votes may decide the next president of the United States. Our volunteers have been great, working hard to reach every voter they can by telephone or face to face on their doorstep. Last Tuesday I came into work and was told that Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger were coming to visit our volunteers on Friday. WOW! I was a huge fan of Cheers in the 80’s and Frasier in the 90’s. The only thing missing was mine, and everyone’s, favorite character “Norm.”
Then the light bulb went off in my head. We Republicans like a challenge, and so I created a competition to recruit volunteers and make sure that “Norm” was at our Friday phone bank with his friends from Cheers. I challenged our volunteer leaders to recruit 75 new volunteers for Friday’s phone banking shift and if they reached that goal…I would dress up and play the part of “Norm.” Being a hefty guy I new I could pull off the act!
Well the volunteer leaders excelled beyond expectation and recruited 200 volunteers at 2 separate locations! The offices were packed with excitement and not just for Hollywood’s conservative elite, but with fervor for electing John McCain, Sarah Palin and the GOP ticket!
It was a lot of fun. I wore a brown curly wig, short tie in Norm’s usually style and of course carried around my mug of root beer. The best part of playing Norm was when Kelsey and John arrived. They had heard about our contest, but were expecting an over-ambitious characterature of their friend. When Kelsey saw me he doubled over laughing, and John stood speechless in the doorway. Both referred to me as “George,” meaning the actor George Wendt who played “Norm,” as they commented that I am much taller but look just like him in the face with the brown curly wig.
These guys were awesome as they greeted volunteers and thanked them for their dedication to the campaign. They both spoke eloquently about our nation’s need for financial recover and defending our freedoms and their belief that John McCain is the standard bearer that could get it done. Both got on the phones themselves, and John Ratzenberger noted important it felt to be making personal calls to voters for this important campaign. He even said he would do more when he returned home to CA.
The day was a lot of hilarious fun. By the end of the day John Ratzenberger and I joked that after the campaign I could come to Hollywood and star in his new film Son of Norm. The opening shot would be of myself on a horse atop a hill…looking like Norm…with a keg of beer strapped to my back. Kelsey would of course return as Frasier, but in this episode of the next Cheers generation Frasier would fill the plot as the Bond-like villain, working to take over the beloved tavern “Cheers” complete with an exotic tiger at his side.
All fun aside though…the goal of the day was to reach out to thousands of voters in one day, and we certainly accomplished it! Our volunteers were great and our Hollywood guests re-inforced the need for old fashioned grassroots connection with the voters to elect John McCain and Sarah Palin. I am extremely thankful to these guys, and even more so to our fantastic volunteers who rose to the challenge of making me Norm for a day!
Please take to heart the message in this story, that whatever we do in the next 20 days, make sure we do the most important work to elect our candidates, even if it means rolling up the sleeves and getting muddy in the grassroots…and have fun doing it!
-posted by Ted Jackson
Posted: October 17th, 2008 under Chapter News, Elections, From the Right, GOP Heroes, GOP Progress, In the News, Log Cabin In Focus, On the Lighter Side.
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A gay Chicago newspaper called “Outlines” published an election guide in 1996, which reveals something interesting about Democrat Barack Obama. In his ‘96 run for the Illinois State Senate, he said that he was in favor of same-sex marriage. He must have changed his mind, because he is opposed to same-sex marriage today.
This revelation comes after Obama’s campaign manager, Steve Hildebrand, said that Obama is not likely to speak out against anti-gay marriage initiatives in Florida. “He feels it might not be appropriate for him to tell Floridians how to vote since he is not a Floridian,” Hildebran told the gay political blog Bilerico.
Also, in case you missed it a while back, Obama backpedaled on his primary campaign promise to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” saying now that he won’t try to repeal the policy on his own.
Is this the “change we can believe in?” Sounds like Bill Clinton all over again.
Posted: October 10th, 2008 under Democrats, Elections, In the News, On the Lighter Side.
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It’s quite hilarious watching a few on the Gay Left try desperately to sweep Sen. John McCain’s first-ever interview with a gay publication under the rug. (“Quick! Don’t let gay people see that he’s not a homophobe or they may vote for him!”)
Indeed, that’s clearly why many of the usual suspects in the blogosphere are either poo-pooing the interview or just flat-out ignoring it. They are scared that John McCain is going to get a lot of votes from gay people. (Think about those gay Hillary Democrats)
But, luckily the mainstream media has picked it up in various outlets.
The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder says “McCain courts gay vote.”
The Politico’s Jonathan Martin says “McCain continues gay outreach.”
ABC’s Jake Tapper says “McCain gives interview to gay DC newspaper.”
Even the liberal Huffington Post, to their credit, reported the fact that McCain supports a review of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.
It was a great interview where gay Americans can, once and for all, see Sen. McCain for the man that he is: A man who knows and likes gay people and a man who has zero interest in whipping up anti-gay sentiment to win elections.
But, more importantly, as this interview reveals, Sen. McCain is a man who:
1.) Supports a review of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law
2.) Recognizes that we need a National AIDS Strategy to combat the epidemic here at home and understands that the disease continues to disproportionately affect gay men and people of color
3.) Doesn’t discriminate in hiring gay people
4.) Publicly stands by his gay friends when religious fundamentalists want those friends to be booted out of office simply because they’re gay
5.) Would appoint an openly gay Supreme Court justice or cabinet member
6.) Is committed to a federalist approach of keeping divisive social issues at the state level
7.) Has a common sense approach to sex education
8.) Supports the concept of non-discrimination in hiring for gay and lesbian people, but has two specific concerns about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that he would want addressed before he’d sign such legislation
9.) Would give “full consideration” to any pro-gay bill that reaches his desk as president.
Does that sound like a homophobe to you? To say that John McCain is George W. Bush on gay issues is sophomoric and laughable. Read it in full.
-posted by Scott Tucker
Posted: October 2nd, 2008 under Action Alert, Chapter News, Democrats, Elections, From the Right, GOP Heroes, GOP Progress, In the News, Log Cabin In Focus.
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The Politico’s Jonathan Martin picks up the Washington Blade interview with McCain. Under the headline, “McCain continues gay outreach”:
It’s not something McCain’s campaign would likely ever tout when asked about differences with President Bush, but one of the most notable contrasts in how the two have run their campaigns has been regarding issues relating to sexual orientation. And now McCain has given a written interview to the Washington Blade, a gay-oriented paper, in which he talks about gay friends, backs off previous support for barring same-sex couples from adoption and hopes that “gay and lesbian Americans will give full consideration to supporting me.”
Bush enjoyed a heightened turnout among conservatives in 2004 thanks in part to gay marriage measures on the ballot in some key states, including Ohio. Republicans stoked the base with mail pieces featuring two men together and with repeated reminders that Bush supported traditional marriage.
McCain almost never brings up the gay marriage issue or anything else relating to homosexuality on the campaign trail nor does his campaign.
Instead, some of his top aides, including chief strategist Steve Schmidt, met with the Log Cabin Republican group during the convention and offered a measure of inclusion.
-posted by Scott Tucker
Posted: October 1st, 2008 under Action Alert, Chapter News, Democrats, Elections, From the Right, GOP Heroes, GOP Progress, In the News, Log Cabin In Focus.
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It’s a first for a Republican presidential nominee. Sen. John McCain participated in a Q&A with the Washington Blade, a leading gay newspaper. In the historic interview, Sen. McCain reiterated his longstanding support for gay and lesbian Americans and spoke movingly of his friendships with gay people, including former Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe.
McCain: When he came out in 1996, there was no question that I would stand by him. He’s a friend and a patriot and has been an admirable public servant, and a good example of why someone’s sexuality should not be relevant in public life.
On openly gay 9/11 hero Mark Bingham, who tried to retake control of United Flight 93:
I had the humbling experience of speaking at Mark Bingham’s funeral after the attacks on Sept. 11. Mark had supported me during the 2000 campaign. Unfortunately, I barely knew him, but our country learned about him after 9-11. He was one of the heroes on 9-11 who tried to retake control of United Flight 93. His efforts along with the other brave patriots could have saved hundreds of lives. I honor and respect Mark. Memories of his sacrifice and the other victims from 9-11 motivate me everyday to make sure we keep our nation safe from the terrorists who want to attack our way of life because freedom is a threat to their message of hate.
On whether he’d nominate a gay Supreme Court justice, cabinet member or other official:
I have always hired the most qualified and competent people — regardless of their political party, race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
On the HIV/AIDS crisis and its disproportionate affect on gay men:
It’s important to settle on a national strategy — with input from state, local and federal government officials; along with the private sector, doctors, drug companies and AIDS advocates. Let’s roll up our sleeves and put together a National AIDS Strategy for more effectively addressing the domestic challenges.
Recent CDC statistics show that gay men continue to be strongly impacted by the disease, and the disease is disproportionately affecting people of color. Our prevention and treatment efforts must be improved to address these challenges.
On whether his administration would be willing to meet with and work with gay leaders:
I have met with leaders of Log Cabin Republicans in my campaigns. I am always willing to listen to all viewpoints and that will continue if I become President.
On Log Cabin’s endorsement of McCain for President:
I appreciate Log Cabin’s support. I’ve had a friendly relationship with the organization for almost 15 years. We don’t agree on every issue, but I respect their commitment to the GOP and I thank them for their support. Our party needs to focus on what unites us and I appreciate Log Cabin’s effort to make the GOP more inclusive. I have always been willing to discuss the important issues of the day with Log Cabin members and that will continue if I am elected. This is going to be a close election and we need support from every American.
On seeking the votes of gay and lesbian Americans in this election:
I hope gay and lesbian Americans will give full consideration to supporting me. The stakes are high in this election. I will have an inclusive administration and I will be a president for all Americans.
READ THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW. The significance of this interview by our Republican nominee for president can’t be overstated. We now, for the first time, have the two major nominees for president, Republican and Democrat, asking for gay and lesbian votes.
-posted by Scott Tucker
Posted: October 1st, 2008 under Action Alert, Chapter News, Democrats, Elections, From the Right, GOP Heroes, GOP Progress, In the News, Log Cabin In Focus.
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