GOProud: A Press Release That Conservatives Can Believe In

I’ve been a supporter of GOProud, the group for gay conservatives that broke off from the bogus Log Cabin Republicans.

Seeing the press release GOProud put out today hammering Tom Campbell reminded me of why I supported the group in the first place even though personally, Campbell would be my second choice in the California Senate race behind Chuck DeVore (Fiorina is so politically incompetent, I tend to think she’d implode).

Here’s what the press release was titled: “National Gay Group Criticizes Tom Campbell’s Record.”

So, what do you think the release was about? Well, according to liberal gay groups, the only two issues that matter for gay Americans are gay marriage and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” GOProud on the other hand, has a much wider agenda,

Tom Campbell — Wrong on Israel, Wrong on Fighting Global Extremism, Wrong for Gay Voters

Jimmy LaSalvia, Executive Director “The greatest threat facing gay people worldwide is the spread of radical anti-gay Islam. Tom Campbell’s record makes it clear he either doesn’t understand that or is unwilling to confront it.”

(Washington, D.C.) — According to press reports, former U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell (R-CA) is courting gay voters in his current run for U.S. Senate. “Gay voters should know where Tom Campbell stands on all the issues,” said Jimmy LaSalvia, Executive Director of GOProud — the only national organization representing gay conservatives and their allies. “The greatest threat facing gay people worldwide is the spread of radical anti-gay Islam. Unfortunately, Tom Campbell’s record makes it clear he either doesn’t understand that or is unwilling to confront it.”

Campbell wrote a letter of support for convicted terrorist Sami Al-Arian, who actually raised money for Campbell’s failed run for Senate in 2000. Al-Arian was indicted in February 2003 as the North American head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In the indictment, it was revealed that in Al-Arian’s communications with his colleagues were discussions of terrorist operations. Among the victims of these operations in Israel were several Americans.

“Tom Campbell raised money from and publicly voiced support for a convicted terrorist,” continued LaSalvia. “A man who once publicly declared, ‘Jihad is our path. Victory to Islam. Death to Israel. Revolution. Revolution until victory. Rolling to Jerusalem.”

In his failed 2000 Senate bid, Campbell called for the creation of an independent Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem, argued that Israel received too much U.S. aid, and attacked former President Bill Clinton for being too pro-Israel.

While in Congress, Campbell was one of only a handful of Representatives to vote against both a resolution expressing support for Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and against the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.

“Israel is one of the United States most important and loyal allies, and quite frankly Tom Campbell’s record and rhetoric look more like Pat Buchanan’s then Ronald Reagan’s,” said LaSalvia. “Israel is a beacon of freedom and tolerance in a sea of radically anti-gay regimes in the Middle East. You simply cannot claim to support equality of opportunity for gays and lesbians while at the same time seeking to undermine the only country in the Middle East that treats gay people with dignity and respect.”

In 2000, Campbell supported easing sanctions on the anti-gay regime of Saddam Hussein, and in 2004, Campbell called for the complete withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.

“GOProud is a vocal supporter of Israel, and as an organization, we believe strongly in the need to elect leaders who will stand up for Israel and will fight the spread of radical anti-gay Islam. Sadly, Tom Campbell’s rhetoric and record make it clear he is not one of those leaders,” concluded LaSalvia.

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GOProud represents gay conservatives and their allies. GOProud is committed to a traditional conservative agenda that emphasizes limited government, individual liberty, free markets and a confident foreign policy. GOProud promotes our traditional conservative agenda by influencing politics and policy.

As I’ve said before about GOProud,

Yes, like most conservatives, I am not ever going to see eye-to-eye with GOProud on gay marriage. Of course, I am probably not ever going to see eye-to-eye with Paleocons on trade, diehard social conservatives on banning pornography, Libertarians on foreign policy, and Sarah Palin on her endorsement of John McCain. So what? Are we all going to splinter off now? Yes, it’s important to stick to our principles, but there also has to be some room for disagreement as well. We do need to be able to say, “Yeah, we may disagree sometimes, but we’re still on the same side and can work together on a lot of issues.”

With that in mind, I was glad to see GOProud at CPAC, I’m glad to have them in the Republican Party, and I’m glad to have them in the conservative movement. I hope other conservatives will have the same attitude and I also hope any remaining gay conservatives who might still be lingering in the Log Cabin Republicans will abandon that phony group and migrate over to GOProud instead.

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