Guerriero to head Log Cabin Republicans

[MADG]

"Xanax."
--Queer As Folk's Randy Harrison (Justin), asked by PlanetOut.com, ``What's your favorite getaway?", Nov. 10.






Guerriero to head Log Cabin Republicans (http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=7055&sd=11/26/02)

Rich Tafel, who served as executive director of the gay political group Log Cabin Republicans for over a decade, is leaving the organization, according to a Monday press release from the group. Patrick Guerriero, a former Massachusetts mayor and state lawmaker, will become the new leader of Log Cabin, the nation's largest gay Republican organization. Guerriero will also serve as president of Liberty Education Forum, a nonpartisan research and education think tank.

As a state representative and mayor, Guerriero earned a reputation as a faithful advocate for gay and lesbian issues. He successfully lobbied for hate-crime legislation, helped to increase AIDS funding, and advocated for extending domestic-partner benefits. (more)

(This is the guy that ran for Lt Governor of MA recently... and briefly... right?)


Regardless... anyone is better than Tafel. For most of that decade he was seen as a lame kissass... and what little smidgen of respect he gained by getting his candidate into the White House, he quickly squandered. The LCR is left with just a little bit more credibility than "ex-gays."

[MADG]

Just a little evidence to support my "Tafel seen as kissass" comment:

Cheap Lay, The Myth of the Gay-Friendly GOP (http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0248/goldstein.php)

(excerpt)

What has Bush done for us? Quite a bit, according to the Log Cabin Republicans. During the 2000 primaries, this gay group endorsed John McCain (no doubt influenced by the role Bush played in barring them from the Texas GOP convention). But that was then and this is now. "President Bush's inclusive leadership has put a new face on the Republican Party," boasts LCR's executive director, Rich Tafel. That's true, if you measure change by patronage and ceremony.

Massachusetts governor-elect Mitt Romney nudged a gay candidate for lieutenant governor off his slate, but he did hire a Log Cabin official as a senior campaign aide. Georgia governor-elect Sonny Perdue made no promises about gay rights, but he did meet with LCR. Log Cabinites have had face time with cabinet members, and-behold-Tafel was invited to watch the president's first speech to Congress from the floor of the House. In exchange for these air kisses, the Log Cabin clubs poured $250,000 into the 2002 election. Imagine what they would have done if Donald Rumsfeld had given Tafel a hug.

Like the proverbial straight man looking to be serviced, Bush's policy toward the gay community is to give as little as he can to get as much as he wants. We now have a gay ambassador to Romania, and for the first time in history his lover is allowed to reside in the embassy. Never mind that ordinary homos and their partners can be evicted in many states. Bush appointed four gays to his AIDS advisory council. Never mind that the administration is threatening to audit gay organizations that aren't sufficiently dedicated to abstinence.

There's more. Rumsfeld hired a gay man to serve as a transition officer at the Pentagon-though that hasn't stopped the discharge of gay service members, including several skilled linguists recently. The Justice Department held a Gay Pride event last year-though you can hold your breath about John Ashcroft's judicial nominees. The president signed a bill allowing the District of Columbia to offer domestic-partner benefits-though you can forget about a federal anti-discrimination bill that would protect gay people wherever they live.

[Satan]

Y'know Madge, I don't think anyone could ever mistake you for an "ordinary homo".

And I still want to know how you keep your hands so soft. Do you soak them in Palmolive?

;)

[MADG]

Yeah, that's me... the Palmolive lady. 8)

[Satan]

Cheap Lay, The Myth of the Gay-Friendly GOP (http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0248/goldstein.php)

(excerpt)

Rumsfeld hired a gay man to serve as a transition officer at the Pentagon-though that hasn't stopped the discharge of gay service members, including several skilled linguists recently.

Doesn't The Voice have proofreaders? I could have a field day with this statement. ;D

[MADG]

Smartass. ;)

[Satan]

Thank you. I do try.

[fellingus]

LCRs should be Libertarians.

GOP will continue to shit on them because they consider
the Pat Robertson crowd much more important (they turn out the votes and the volunteers).

And I can't imagine that many LCRs are Republicans because they are socially conservative, although some might be on other issues. Nor do I think most are motivated by a sincere desire to see US imperialism taken to new depths. My guess is that most LCRs are Republicans because they want less taxation and regulation in their lives. If so, they are going to the wrong place to look for it (sort of like trying to pick up guys in the ladies room).

With the Bush GOP it is pretty obvious that financial restraint is out the window. Government is growing faster than it did under Clinton.

So, unless you are an insatiable scat bottom, you should say "buh bye" to the GOP and go Libertarian.

[Chutzpah]

What do you expect GA?
They're REPUBLICANS!!!

They don't have to support your liberal in your face agenda to be gay. ;D


Just a little evidence to support my "Tafel seen as kissass" comment:

Cheap Lay, The Myth of the Gay-Friendly GOP (http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0248/goldstein.php)

(excerpt)

What has Bush done for us? Quite a bit, according to the Log Cabin Republicans. During the 2000 primaries, this gay group endorsed John McCain (no doubt influenced by the role Bush played in barring them from the Texas GOP convention). But that was then and this is now. "President Bush's inclusive leadership has put a new face on the Republican Party," boasts LCR's executive director, Rich Tafel. That's true, if you measure change by patronage and ceremony.

Massachusetts governor-elect Mitt Romney nudged a gay candidate for lieutenant governor off his slate, but he did hire a Log Cabin official as a senior campaign aide. Georgia governor-elect Sonny Perdue made no promises about gay rights, but he did meet with LCR. Log Cabinites have had face time with cabinet members, and-behold-Tafel was invited to watch the president's first speech to Congress from the floor of the House. In exchange for these air kisses, the Log Cabin clubs poured $250,000 into the 2002 election. Imagine what they would have done if Donald Rumsfeld had given Tafel a hug.

Like the proverbial straight man looking to be serviced, Bush's policy toward the gay community is to give as little as he can to get as much as he wants. We now have a gay ambassador to Romania, and for the first time in history his lover is allowed to reside in the embassy. Never mind that ordinary homos and their partners can be evicted in many states. Bush appointed four gays to his AIDS advisory council. Never mind that the administration is threatening to audit gay organizations that aren't sufficiently dedicated to abstinence.

There's more. Rumsfeld hired a gay man to serve as a transition officer at the Pentagon-though that hasn't stopped the discharge of gay service members, including several skilled linguists recently. The Justice Department held a Gay Pride event last year-though you can hold your breath about John Ashcroft's judicial nominees. The president signed a bill allowing the District of Columbia to offer domestic-partner benefits-though you can forget about a federal anti-discrimination bill that would protect gay people wherever they live.

[MADG]

fellingus:

LCRs should be Libertarians.

GOP will continue to shit on them because they consider the Pat Robertson crowd much more important (they turn out the votes and the volunteers).

And I can't imagine that many LCRs are Republicans because they are socially conservative, although some might be on other issues. Nor do I think most are motivated by a sincere desire to see US imperialism taken to new depths. My guess is that most LCRs are Republicans because they want less taxation and regulation in their lives. If so, they are going to the wrong place to look for it (sort of like trying to pick up guys in the ladies room).

With the Bush GOP it is pretty obvious that financial restraint is out the window. Government is growing faster than it did under Clinton.

So, unless you are an insatiable scat bottom, you should say "buh bye" to the GOP and go Libertarian.

I don't know about the LCR's motivations. Yes, it seems that they would like the GOP to be a bit more socially moderate. That doesn't necessarily mean more "libertarian," just less "right wing hysterical." It also seems that their history of being peons for the club they wanted to join paid off. "Yeah, yeah, whatever... just vote Republican."

MY point is that they (or, more specifically, Tafel) SQUANDERED their decade-long quest for respect. The GOP is NOT an "inclusive" party, and they were simply USED for their votes.

WILLINGLY USED! Tafel played the perfect two-dollar whore. And when the GOP climaxed in 2000, they were like: "Excuse me... do I know you?"

One of the first things that happened in the BushII administration was the formation of the "Republican Unity Commission." The LCR was shown the door. "Thanks for all the money and votes... now beat it before my wife shows up."

There have LONG been criticisms of Tafel as the head of the LCR. History has shown those criticisms to be accurate. He's not "moving on," he's resigning in disgrace. Today, the LCR has no more influence than it did during the Clinton era. Even though their preferred party is in power, the LCR is a lame duck political action organization. And the blame falls squarely on Tafel's shoulders.

Tafel shot his load... and now he's looking for a job.







Chutzpah:

What do you expect GA?
They're REPUBLICANS!!!

They don't have to support your liberal in your face agenda to be gay. :D

You've missed the point. MY "agenda" (whatever it may be) has absolutely nothing to do with Rich Tafel's desperate (and ultimately ineffective) brown-nosing.