Gay GOP Heart Rudy, Hiss Romney

There’s been a lot of talk, as the national Log Cabin Republicans have gathered this weekend in downtown Denver, about being conservative and gay- and how to balance the two while gaining new allies and affecting change within the Republican Party.

There’s been plenty of talk about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and “Ex-Gay ministries” and the 25th anniversary since the HIV-AIDS epidemic swept the country.

And there’s been a lot of talk about election, 2008.One session, called “Under the Big Tent,” crystallized just who is the choice – and who is the turncoat – when it comes to the 2008 Republican nominee for president.

The session was designed to coach participants on creating farm teams of candidates – it’s better to run for a school board or a city council than to shoot right off the bat for Congress, participants were advised. A group of 50 or so gay Republicans – of about 200 LCR activists who have descended on the city from around the country – were asked who their choice is for POTUS.

John McCain got a total of one raised hand; Rudy Giuliani took the rest. When Mitt Romney was mentioned, there was audible hissing. Not surprising; it wasn’t very long ago that the former governor of Massachusetts – the “old” Romney -had as close to hero status as anyone could get for gay Republicans. The “new” Romney, of course, supports amending the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage. And, well, it’s pretty safe to say the LCR haven’t warmed up to the “new” Romney.

Later, hotshot GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio was addressing the full group during his presentation, titled “The GOP at a Crossroads,” He also talked about the old and new Romney a good extent. 

Romney may very well turn out being the “consensus conservative” who carries the day for Republicans in ’08, Fabrizio said. But, on the other hand, Fabrizio said he can see the opposition TV commercial, introducing the “real” Romney. Here’s how it goes: Flip, Meet Flop.

The group erupted in laughter.

Cara DeGette is a senior fellow at Colorado Confidential, and a columnist and contributing editor at the Colorado Springs Independent. E-mail her at cdegette@coloradoconfidential.com

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