Former U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe on John McCain

Log Cabin Republicans made news Tuesday afternoon with their endorsement of John McCain for president, but the announcement wasn't the only attention grabber at the group's "Big Tent Event." Held at the elegant Downtown Clubhouse of the University Club of St. Paul, the luncheon featured remarks by numerous LCR officials as well as conservative gadfly and anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist -- introduced as a "good friend of Log Cabin" -- McCain campaign national political director Mike DuHaime, and former U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe.

McCain's "running an inclusive campaign and he's going to have an inclusive administration," declared DuHaime (who's straight), though he didn't cite any evidence for such inclusion. (Certainly McCain's VP pick of Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who's singlehandedly energized the GOP's conservative base, is the biggest sign yet that the one-time moderate has kow-towed to the divisive politics of the far right.)

DuHaime went on to say that the Obama campaign "thinks they have a lock on the [LGBT] community, but we can't allow that," and implored those gathered to promote McCain's candidacy to their friends and family. "We have our work cut out for us," he said, noting that some 40-million people watched Obama's acceptance speech on TV last Thursday.

While DuHaime didn't imbue his comments with great passion -- in marked contrast to the heartfelt plea that Obama deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand made to the LGBT caucus at the genuinely inclusive Democratic convention -- Kolbe made the personal case himself. The former Arizona congressman, who retired in 2006 after 11 terms, recalled the conversation he had with McCain as he prepared to go public about his sexuality in 1996. (Kolbe had voted for the Defense of Marriage Act that year, and The Advocate was set to out him, which forced Kolbe to hold a news conference.)

McCain was the first lawmaker he came out to, pulling him aside at a meeting of the Arizona congressional delegation. "I said, 'John, I have to tell you something,' " Kolbe told the crowd, "and he put his hand up and said, 'Jim, it doesn't make any difference. You're a great legislator today, you'll be a great legislator tomorrow. You're a friend today, you'll be a friend tomorrow. None of this matters.'

"That really touched me," Kolbe continued. "It gave me the encouragement to go and talk to other political leaderes. I will not forget that moment for anything."

For Kolbe, it was an experience that trumps McCain's less-than-stellar record on gay rights. "While he hasn't been where we would want him to be on all of our issues, I know where he is on this issue," Kolbe said, apparently referring to sexual orientation broadly. "There's not one iota of discrimination in him."

"It's a journey for all of us and it's a journey for John McCain," Kolbe concluded, "but I think we're on the right track." The gay Republicans in the room exploded with applause.

Comments

[ETJB]

I have a couple of points to make in reply this this article. I suspect I will probably not make the hardcore gay Democrats or Republicans too happy, but sometimes that is a sign that you are speaking the truth.

McCain voting record on LGBT rights issues is simply horrible. Palin's is equally as bad, no matter how much spin gay Republicans try and put on their public records.

I was hoping that McCain actually picked a VP that was not simply another nod to the, largely, anti-gay, socially conservative Christian base. He had an opportunity to really be a maverick, but he pretty much washed away that image.

Yes, Obama-Biden record is far from perfect as is the current Democratic Party Congressional "majority". Yet, we are pretty much stuck between the lessor of the two evils because -- most of the time -- we only have two viable choices.

If Obama wins and the Democrats take both Houses, the best we will probably get are some fair legislative hearings and, possibly, some decent judges on the federal bench.

I would be surprised if any major gay rights legislation is taken up in the first term.

If McCain wins and the Republicans take both Houses we can expect most gay rights bills to die in committee and some anti-gay bills being introduced and some horrific judges getting appointed.

It sort of makes you wish that electoral reform was part of the "gay agenda". But I digress.

The Log Cabin Republicans are certainly a necessarily part of the gay rights movement, and I have little patience for people who insist that if you are gay you HAVE to be a Democrat or a Republican.

Yet, the LCR have had little impact on their party. Socially liberal or libertarian minded Republican lawmakers are a rare item, especially at the federal level, and exit polls show the number of openly socially conservative, evangelical Christians, who tend to be anti0-gay, is larger the number of openly gay voters.