Specter's 2006 amendment vote shows HRC was right to endorse Hoeffel in 04

[homaffectional]

Senator Arlen Specter, as well as the Window Media publications, run by gay right-winger Chris Crain, took issue with the fact that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) endorsed his Democratic opponent for the US Senate in 2004, Joe Hoeffel, who voted against the amendment in the House.

HRC reaffirmed their decision, even after Specter won his race against Hoeffel.

The Log Cabin Republicans, meanwhile endorsed Specter despite his vote to end cloture on the FMA in 2004. Patrick Guerriero, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, said gay voters cannot continue to abandon gay-friendly Republicans simply because they do not support every single gay issue.

Hate to break it to the Log Cabins, but isn't this the same logic many gay conservatives (and even a smattering of progressives, although usually in states that Kerry would have won with or without their vote) thought John Kerry was 'unworthy' of support, because of his stance on gay marriage? Also, I'd ask those self-same gay conservatives if by that logic, they will be registering as Democrats, so they can vote for Russ Feingold in their state's presidential primary in 2008, or if they'll find some other excuse (I know people on the left will be supporting him, for sure). Wasn't this also the reason why Chris Crain himself has attacked many Democrats, most notably Howard Dean?

After the fact, Crain cited Specter's vote on the amendment in committee as proof that HRC was wrong, but is deafeningly silent on his vote against the amendment on the floor. Perhaps Specter now realizes that, if he wants the endorsement of gay rights groups, he has to vote for gay rights!

And perhaps one day Chris Crain will realize that his double standard on Republicans vs. Democrats makes him look like a Republican apologist (luckily, I have experience dealing with those).

This proves it. Right wing gays like Crain are laden with hypocrisy.

[homaffectional]

1. Specter: A wedge for Republicans (and Dems, too!)

On an unseasonably warm day in November 2004, the Rev. Pat Mahoney, leader of the Christian Defense Coalition, stood on the sidewalk outside a Senate office building and railed against the prospect of Arlen Specter's becoming chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

His view was echoed by tens of thousands of conservatives, who jammed the phone lines and e-mail queues of Republican leaders, urging them to derail Specter's chairmanship. Specter was most definitely not their kind of Republican - a moderate, a maverick; outspokenly full of opinions that made their hair stand on end.

Mahoney acknowledged recently that his view had changed. "To say we've been pleasantly surprised would be an understatement," he said.

Nonetheless, conservatives are not lining a parade route for Specter.

In 18 months as chairman of an extremely active judiciary panel, the Pennsylvania Republican has won grudging respect from conservatives for managing two successful Supreme Court nominations - while continuing to be an antagonist on abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and other social issues.

He's also a wedge amongst Dems. there are dems who like this guy b/c of his social views, regardless of the work he does for the GOP.

Link.