The Log Cabin Republicans have voted not to endorse President Bush for re-election in 2004. Despite endorsing Dole in ’96 and Bush in 2000, they are withholding their endorsement this time. From their press release:
Certain moments in history require that a belief in fairness and equality not be sacrificed in the name of partisan politics; this is one of those moments. The national board’s vote empowers Log Cabin to maintain its integrity while furthering our goal of building a more inclusive Republican Party. Log Cabin is more committed than ever to its core mission to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party. There is a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party, and that fight is bigger than one platform, one convention, or even one President,” said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Patrick Guerriero.
In 2000, exit polls showed that more than a million gay and lesbian Americans voted for Bush, including nearly 50,000 in Florida alone. But those numbers don’t draw the whole picture: “Throughout this challenging year Log Cabin has doubled in size and launched new chapters where none existed.” And more than that:
Log Cabin was proud to be the only gay and lesbian organization to endorse Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaign for Governor of California. Log Cabin also was proud to see many of its closest allies speaking in primetime at the Republican National Convention. “It is not surprising to anyone at Log Cabin that the President’s first real bounce in the polls came after a convention that highlighted inclusive Republicans and focused on unifying issues such as winning the war on terror. Log Cabin knows that the 2006 and 2008 elections will highlight a new generation of inclusive Republican leaders,” said Guerriero.
Two members of the 25-member LCR board voted to endorse Bush, and the organization does still praise him for his handling of certain issues, but Rove had better hope those 4 million new Evangelicals turn out the way he promised the FMA would lead them to.