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McCain's Top Strategist Addresses Log Cabin Republicans

Senior McCain campaign strategist Steve Schmidt spoke to Log Cabin Republicans, calling them "an important part" of the Republican Party and sounding a personal note about his lesbian sister.

By Kerry Eleveld

An Advocate.com exclusive posted September 4, 2008

McCain's Top Strategist Addresses Log Cabin Republicans

In what represents a marked shift from the Republican campaign rhetoric of 2004 -- where some George W. Bush advisors stoked anti-gay sentiment in an attempt to drive social conservatives to the polls -- Steve Schmidt, senior campaign strategist for the McCain campaign, stopped by a Log Cabin Republican luncheon Thursday to welcome the group to the convention.

“I just wanted to take a second to come by and pay my respect and the campaign’s respect to your organization and to your group,” said Schmidt, who many view as the new architect of the Republican Party. “Your organization is an important one in the fabric of our party.”

In his brief remarks, Schmidt weaved in a personal anecdote about his lesbian sister and her relationship to him, his wife, and his children. “On a personal level, my sister and her partner are an important part of my life and our children’s life,” he said. “I admire your group and your organization and I encourage you to keep fighting for what you believe in because the day is going to come.”

This convention marks the first in history that Log Cabin Republicans, an LGBT rights organization, have been fully credentialed official guests of the GOP host committee, and Schmidt is not the only high-profile party figure to address the group. Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, RNC treasurer Tim Morgan, and McCain political director Mike DuHaime – the first hire made by Schmidt after he took the helm in July – have all spoken at Log Cabin events this week.

That Republican Party leaders are reaching out to Log Cabin members is another sign that neither side of this pitched battle for the presidency wants to concede a single vote. Michelle Obama, after stumping at the LGBT delegate luncheon during the Democratic convention last week, spoke just last night to about 300 donors at an LGBT reception in Los Angeles.

For his part, Schmidt didn’t miss the opportunity to throw a few zingers at Democrats using the backdrop of vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin’s well regarded acceptance speech Wednesday night.

“You saw one of the great speeches in the history of political conventions last night by an accomplished governor of a state who has just announced herself as a major force in the Republican Party in her own right, and I think the other side this morning, when you consider the backlash that is likely to occur after all the vile filth that’s been thrown at her, they ought to be sitting on the other side saying, Oh -- My -- God,” Schmidt said to the cheers of some 50 attendees. “I’ve been in some tough political fights in my career, and I will just tell you that over the last 48 hours, the smearing and the defamation of this family is unlike anything I have ever seen.”

Republicans have responded to news reports of Gov. Palin’s family life, such as her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, with awe and indignation. To the extent that personal details of Gov. Palin’s family life continue to make headlines and swing voters begin taking sides, some Republicans see that as a net plus in the election.

“The more CNN and The New York Times keep beating up on her, the better,” said one Log Cabin Republican who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Kerry Eleveld is political editor of The Advocate.

Keywords: 2008 Election John McCain

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Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: Kris
Date posted: 2008-09-09 11:43 AM
Hometown: Dallas

Comment:

From Kris cont.'... I am a Christian Mother and a proud American first, who yes, happens to be gay and proud of it! I will NOT support someone who I feel WILL not protect me and my family from terrorism, but rather tries to convince people that these kind of radicals can be dealt with diplomatically. My suggestion to you is, resarch the history on diplomatic efforts with the Middle East. Diplomacy doesn't work with them, and I am not going to support someone who expects us to be a sitting duck waiting for the next attack. THAT would set us all back 100 years. If that says to people like you that I am not proud of my sexuality, than so be it. I really don't care what you think of me.

Name: Kris
Date posted: 2008-09-09 11:39 AM
Hometown: Dallas

Comment:

From Kris cont.'... As for my rights as a gay individual, I will continue to voice my opinion to my representative and push for gay rights any chance I get, but I am not stupid enough to think that Barack Obama or the Clintons cares about my rights as a gay individual. They have their own agenda; they want as many votes as they can get; therefore, they appear to sympathize with all minorities to gain power. Barack stating that "people cling to their religion and guns in hard times." That says ALOT to me. As if he thinks that is somehow wrong or ignorant of people to do. Why is it bad that I cling to my religion in hard times? Why is it wrong that I have a gun to protect my family, when our house was broken into in the middle of the night, one year ago, with my small children asleep in their beds. It is my RIGHT to protect my family from an intruder, and yet people like Rosie O'Donnell want to take that right away? She does not speak for me. cont.'...

Name: Jon
Date posted: 2008-09-06 12:33 PM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:

"An all out smear campaign against Palin" Please!! The right wing media and Faux News have vilified Barack Obama. They have called him a terrorist, a Muslim (although I've never understood what is wrong with being a Muslim) they have accused he and his wife of being elitist and some members of the media and the GOP have called Michelle and Barack "Uppity" which is so mean spirited, offensive and deeply racist. Faux News constantly refers to him as Osama and they accused him of using his children when he and his kids appeared on Access Hollywood. Sarah Palin has pimped out her kids ever since she got the nomination but that's different. She's just showing what a lovely mother she is. It's hypocritical Bullshit! Palin's record on gay rights is dreadful. Both she and Grandpa McCain have both said yes to a constitutional ban on same sex marriage. Obama and Biden are 100% against a ban. You Log Cabin gays need to search for your soul.

Name: S
Date posted: 2008-09-06 7:16 AM
Hometown: NYC

Comment:

This all out smear of Sarah Palin is really sad. Now the Dems want to paint Palin as rabidly anti-gay because of the teachings of her church (her church apparently believes gays can be "saved"), but Obama himself has a history with wacky church teachings, and has befriended several bigots in the "ex-gay" movement (Donnie McClurkin). And the fact that Sarah Palin used her first veto as Gov. to veto a bill that would have denied benefits to same-sex couples, shows that she's not radidly anti-gay. And for the first time the McCain camp actually sent it's top advisor to meet with a gay Republican group. We in the gay community have to wake up a realize that we cannot put our eggs all in one basket. We must court leaders on both the Democratic and Republican sides to help up fight for equality. And I commend the McCain campaign for making a first step in the right direction.

Name: Alexander Robinson
Date posted: 2008-09-05 10:06 PM
Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Comment:

Give me a break Mr. Schmidt it has only been “over the last 48 hours” that you have seen, “smearing and the defamation…unlike anything [you] have ever seen” in your political career? Where have you been for the last 19 months? You have not been paying attention. Have you been blind to the defamation Obama has experienced? Senator Obama has had his faith called into question, his patriotism challenged, having his wife’s love of country refuted. Mr. Obama is at once an elitist who has accomplished little. Your own people scoffed at the notion that he followed in the path of Christ and chose community organizing as his training group. I hope Mitt Romney will speak out against your party’s disgraceful display. Obama's church, church family, pastor and wife have been held up to public ridicule. Michelle and her husband were “satirized” on the cover of a national magazine as terrorist. Back the hell up your VP doesn’t have the corner on defamation.

Name: Art M.
Date posted: 2008-09-05 8:55 PM
Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Comment:

Chuck, you said that the CA Supreme Court acted inappropriately. Are you a Constitutional scholar? Do you understand that the Supreme Court rules on the Constitutionality of laws? That they found the BAN on same-sex marriage UNCONSTITUTIONAL because of this particular part of the CA Constitution: "A citizen or class of citizens may not be granted privileges or immunities not granted on the same terms to all citizens." Now I realize that you have to have a retarded intellect to be a Republican, but that's pretty plain and simple English there that doesn't take a degree in Rocket Science to figure out, so I have to either think you're willfully being an ignorant moron - or that you don't give a rat's ass about the Constitution. Which is it?

Name: neclark
Date posted: 2008-09-05 7:52 PM
Hometown: Long Beach, CA

Comment:

Can someone - anyone - please explain to me the thinking behind LCR members' desire to be called Republicans? Why would anyone join a political party which counts bigoted reactionaries as their "core"? Why would anyone choose a political party which has repeatedly trumpeted the `gay threat to traditional family values' as a sure way to bring homophobes to the polls in droves? Why would anyone belong to a political party which consistently elevates politicians who campaign- and legislate against equal-marriage and equal-access right for just their own group? Do they actually think it is possible to change an ossified, Neanderthal socio-political group from within? What is their evidence? And what are their benchmarks for verifying if / when such change occurs? Or do they get some form of gratification from being regarded as less-than-fully-human by their political fellows?

Name: Andy Humm
Date posted: 2008-09-05 7:20 PM
Hometown: New York, NY

Comment:

Your write that "neither side of this pitched battle for the presidency wants to concede a single vote." You might have pointed out that the Republicans wrote off any halfway conscious human being in support of LGBT rights when they came out against LGBT rights in their platform and when they nominated McCain and Palin, two people with records of virulent opposition to equal rights for LGBT people. A group like Log Cabin that endorses openly anti-gay candidates is an anti-gay organization. These guys might care about other issues, but LGBT rights isn't near the top of their priorities. They should call themselves "Homosexual Republicans for Lower Taxes" or something. They are traitors to the cause, pure and simple--providing cover for bigots like McCain and Palin.

Name: Leo
Date posted: 2008-09-05 7:06 PM
Hometown: Edgewater New Jersey

Comment:

Once again, the Logheads are thrown crumbs by the Republicans and chew them up as if they hadn't eaten in years. Do you folks realize that McCain is on record as supporting Proposition 8 in California? I'm hardly a diehard Democrat, but don't you understand that virtually all of the anti-gay and marriage initiatives that appear on ballots across the country were initiated by Republicans? It was the Bush administration that tried to railroad the Federal Marrige Amendment into law. Thanfully, it was the Democrats who bitterly opposed it and stopped it in its tracks. Why is it that the LCR didn't endorse Bush in '04, but choose to support the equally homophobic McCain and company? The LCR is just another unfortunate example that we've seen throughout history way too many times of the oppressed embracing the oppressor. They provide absolutely no benefit whatsoever to the gay, lesbian and transgenderd community.

Name: Leo
Date posted: 2008-09-05 7:01 PM
Hometown: Edgewater New Jersey

Comment:

Name: Alfred Glenn
Date posted: 2008-09-05 6:43 PM
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Comment:

As intelligent as the LCR's must be, they're still oddly content as the faithful lapdog. Why? Are you still thinking, if you patiently wait at master's side, bright-eyed and tail a waggin’, he will surely give you gentle pats and a yummy treat? And all you have to do is fetch his slippers, the evening paper and bark rabidly when the evil Democrats are in your neighborhood, plotting to morally and financially bankrupt the nation. Your obedience in the voting booth is always reward the same, with a rolled up newspaper across the muzzle. Where in that is the love and treats you'd so hoped for? Even a dog has its limits to the cruelty it’s willing to take, before it either runs away, or attacks its cruel master. How many times must you get smacked on the nose, before you wise up? Do yourselves a favor, either bite back, or walk away from a party that only grudgingly acknowledges you at election time. But Master isn't worried, knowing you’re inexorably drawn to His Voice.

Name: Jon
Date posted: 2008-09-05 5:01 PM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:

Candle - Enough with the Homeland Security fear tactics. The Log Cabin office in DC has a PUBLIC phone and fax number. Barack Obama is for civil unions and full same sex benefits. Shame on anyone from our community that votes for the GOP. Barack Obama opposes prop 8 in California while McCain and Palin support it. Barack Obama opposed the war in Iraq from day one. Obama has repeatedly said we should never have taken our eye of Afghanistan, which is where Bin-Ladin and the Taliban are. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. It was Bin Ladin and Afganistan. I'll feel much safer with an Obama-Biden administration. Check out Palin atrocious record on gay rights and then check out Obama's. Obama's record is very good and extremely supportive.

Name: Meg
Date posted: 2008-09-05 4:58 PM
Hometown: Tampa Bay, FL

Comment:

While I commend the LCR for being open minded enough to consider ALL the aspects of the party and it's beliefs, I find it difficult to understand why anyone in our community would ENDORSE the discriminatory practices of these right-wingers who (on more than one occasion) have openly and very publicly supported writing discrimination into the US Constitution. Who is next? I also agree with Deb when she says that women should carefully consider voting for a ticket that could potentially populate the US Supreme Court with additional votes to overturn Roe vs Wade and doesn't hesitate to tell you that -- Palin has made clear her feelings that termination of pregnancy should not be tolerated -- for ANY REASON including rape, incestual rape, danger to the mother, etc. Think of the bumper sticker we have seen SO MANY TIMES.... Straight but not NARROW.

Name: SoozeNYC
Date posted: 2008-09-05 1:05 PM
Hometown: New York City

Comment:

"S", I also live in NYC and was also here on that fateful day, and it seared my soul, so national security is very much part of my decision in this election. As it happens, I work at Rockefeller Center, which is high on the likely target list: I remember when I had my first interview there, I was deeply relieved that the office is on the second floor... The thing is, so much disturbing information has come out about this administration's behavior, both before and after 9/11, that I don't find the notion of continuing the same policies at all comforting. In fact, for quite some time now, I've been far more afraid of my own government than I am of Al Qaeda: al least Al Qaeda says out loud that they loathe me and want me dead. That's a lot more truth than we ever got out of BushCo, and McCain will be not one whit better...

Name: Josh
Date posted: 2008-09-05 11:04 AM
Hometown: Miami

Comment:

I'm not gay, but I sympathize with LGBT issues. I know both candidates aren't "for" gay marriage, but eventually it will happen - but not at the hands of the GOP. They simply can't ever change opinion. Think about it. They have to cater to the God-fearing (fear is the key word) right base of the party. They will never go against that base. Ever. Plus, the odds that McCain or Palin will lead this country into the abyss is no reason to vote against your future. I wish LGBT couples had the same benefits, as do many Democrats. Remember, Dick Cheney, father of a lesbian girl, ran on a ticket that abhors gays. Of course, he stayed silent, but ask yourself, is staying silent worthy of a pass? Personally, I think it's worse than speaking out.

Name: Michael
Date posted: 2008-09-05 10:08 AM
Hometown: Buffalo, NY

Comment:

"S": What exactly does 9/11 have to do with a group of holier-than-thou, rich, white oligarchs who view the middle-class as their personal servants? I'm a native New Yorker as well, and frankly I'm appalled that you would even think to interject 9/11 into a situation where it has absolutely no context. Republicans are people who have absolutely no regard for our environment, our freedoms (unless said freedoms apply to them and their money), or our unalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". These are folks who are, by definition, against change or progressive social development of any sort - preferring to force us back into the "Leave It To Beaver" era. Alas, vote however way you wish...but don't complain when the demonization of the GLBT community continues or worsens.

Name: S
Date posted: 2008-09-05 8:12 AM
Hometown: NYC

Comment:

I'm a life long Democrat, but for the first time in my life I plan on voting for a Republican. Gay rights have long been a major focus for me when it comes to my vote. Unfortunately both Obama and McCain are united in their belief that gay Americans should be discriminated against when it comes to marriage equality (Obama's history of befriending anti-gay bigots is also a concern). Seeing as both candidates come up short on gay rights, I have to base my vote on the other isssues. Im a NYer. I live in NYC, I was in the city on 9-11 and I will NEVER forget that day. Obama just does not have the experience to be president in a time of war. It's that simple really. McCain has my vote.

Name: Brad Bailey
Date posted: 2008-09-04 9:29 PM
Hometown: Fayetteville, Arkansas

Comment:

Two years ago, John McCain campaigned to deny marriage to Arizona GLBT couples. Now he's publicly supporting the ballot initiative to end marriage equality in California. And he's even said he wouldn't rule out a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage nationwide. Some maverick. Palin opposes same-sex marriage and supported a non-binding referendum for a constitutional amendment to deny state health benefits to same-sex couples. What in the hell are the Log Cabin Republicans thinking? Are they living in a state of constant denial, thinking that these two candidates will EVER make any concessions to the GLTG community. The Republicans are using them just like they used the evangelicals to get to power.

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