Log Cabin Gay Republicans Endorse Sen. John McCain for President

(Minneapolis, MN)‹Log Cabin Republicans today announced its endorsement of
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) for President of the United States. Log Cabin¹s
national board of directors voted 12-2 to endorse the Republican nominees
for President and Vice President. Log Cabin announced the decision at its
"Big Tent Event" during the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.

"On the most important issue that LGBT Americans faced in the last
decade‹the federal marriage amendment‹Sen. John McCain stood with us. Now
we stand with him," said Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Sammon.
³Sen. McCain is an inclusive Republican who is focusing the GOP on unifying
core principles that appeal to independent voters."

"Sen. McCain showed courage by bucking his own party¹s leadership and the
president‹twice voting against the amendment. He gave an impassioned speech
on the Senate floor, calling the amendment 'antithetical in every way to the
core philosophy of Republicans.' He paid a political price for his vote,"
said Sammon.

"Log Cabin Republicans is a grassroots organization and our membership
overwhelmingly supports endorsing Sen. McCain,² said Log Cabin Board
Chairman Pete Kingma. "Our board and staff members have spent recent months
getting input and feedback from our members. The consensus among our members
is strongly in favor of an endorsement because of his inclusive record. Our
members also support him because he¹s a maverick; a trait most recently on
display with his decision to select Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate."

"In recent years, too many Republican politicians have used divisive social
issues in an effort to win elections. Sen. McCain is a different kind of
Republican. He understands the GOP lost its majority in Congress in 2006
largely because the Party focused on divisive social issues. Sen. McCain
knows the politics of fear and division will damage our Party and our nation
so he¹s focusing the GOP on unifying core principles such as limited
government, fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense," said
Sammon.

"We have honest disagreements with Sen. McCain on a number of gay rights
issues. Log Cabin will continue our conversation with him and other
Republican leaders about issues affecting gay and lesbian Americans. We
will speak out when there¹s disagreement‹either during the upcoming campaign
or when John McCain is President," said Sammon.

Sen. McCain has had a long and friendly association with Log Cabin
Republicans, dating back to the organization¹s opening of a national office
in the mid-1990s. "Sen. McCain has always shown a willingness to reach out
and engage in dialogue with Log Cabin, while considering all sides of an
issue," said Sammon. "We know that will continue when he is President."

"Progress in the fight for LGBT equality requires support from both
Republicans and Democrats," said Sammon. "Log Cabin¹s endorsement of Sen.
McCain will ensure our community has a strong voice making the case for gay
rights to John McCain when he is President."

According to the organization's bylaws, Log Cabin endorses only Republican
candidates. Log Cabin Republicans endorsed then-Governor George W. Bush in
2000, but declined to endorse President Bush in 2004‹largely over the
president¹s push for a federal anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment
and his decision to use gay people as a wedge issue in winning re-election.






http://www.logcabin.org




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