Log Cabin Republicans react to election

The Log Cabin Republicans blasted the Democrats' wins in the midterm election, blaming the results on the mistakes of the Republican Party. The criticism came in a press release on Log Cabin's Web site.

Executive Vice President Patrick Sammon said in the release that the social conservatives' "divisive agenda alienated the mainstream Republicans and independents who determined this election's outcome." He also said that GOP leaders lost their footing with the party's campaign promises dating back to 1994's Contract With America that pushed for limited spending and high ethical standards.

In another release on its Web site dated Wednesday, the group praised the defeat of the same-sex marriage ban proposed in Arizona, which was the first state where voters declined such a ban. The unofficial tally by the Arizona secretary of state Jan Brewer shows 51.4% of voters rejecting the measure.

Log Cabin also approved the defeat of Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania by Bob Casey. The group called Santorum one of the most outspoken opponents of basic fairness for gays and lesbians.

"Senator Santorum made a career out of marginalizing gay and lesbian families," said Log Cabin's Pennsylvania state chairman, Michael Stara. "Pennsylvanians rejected this strategy and turned their backs on the politics of division. This should be a lesson to all Republican leaders: Voters want to support candidates who appeal to their best hopes, not their worst fears."