GOP NRCC Leader: Gay Republicans are OK, as long as they don't start demanding rights and stuff
TAMPA, FLA. -- Rep. Pete Sessions, Tex., heads the National Republican Congressional Committee a in role in which his top goal is electing Republicans. To that end, Sessions has worked with Log Cabin Republicans and was honored by the group with its Barry Goldwater Award in 2010 in spite of his own strongly anti-gay voting record: during the past three sessions of Congress his rating on HRCs scorecard has ranged from zero all the way to six percent and now sits at three percent. Sessions has voted repeatedly for federal constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage, and against ENDA and repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell.
At a press event in Tampa this morning, Sessions was asked about Richard Tisei, an openly gay Republican congressional nominee in Massachusetts. The questioner specifically asked how Tisei, who is pro-choice and pro-marriage equality, would fit in with the Republican caucus.
I have a litmus test and thats to be able to get elected, said Sessions, who said he is in regular communication with Tisei and will be a strategic and tactical partner in his race. Sessions did not talk about LGBT issues directly, but said it was his sense that Tisei is not on any personal crusade but wants to become a professional member of Congress. Tiseis opponent, Rep. John Tierney, has been hurt by financial scandals involving his wife and other family members. ..................(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.alternet.org/hot-news-views/gop-leader-gay-republican-welcome-house-long-he-avoids-personal-crusade