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McCain Reportedly Meets With Log Cabin Republicans

Jul 31, 202025.3K Shares905.8K Views
Via Politico’s Ben Smith, we learn that a blog called "GayPatriot," which bills itself as "the Internet home of the American gay conservative," is reportingthat Sen. John McCain recently had a previously undisclosed meeting with Patrick Sammon, the president of Log Cabin Republicans, an advocacy organization for gay and lesbian Republicans. GayPatriot quoted an email from Sammon:
“We’ve had a series of productive meetings with the campaign since Sen. McCain won the nomination—including a recent meeting with the Senator. We expect to have more conversations with the campaign as we head toward November.”
According to the LCR Website, the group’s mission is "to work within the Republican Party to advocate equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians." GayPatriot noted the historic nature of the reported meeting:
[T]he meeting with Sen. McCain would be the first between any national-level gay Republicans and a Republican presidental nominee since “The Texas 12″met with then-Gov. George W. Bush in 2000. Since his first election to the White House, President Bush has never met with anyone representing Log Cabin Republicans or any other American gay organizations.
How will such a meeting play with conservative Christians? Not surprisingly, McCain kept the reported meeting quiet. As you may remember, LCR released an adduring the primary season that attacked Mitt Romney’s liberal record as governor of Massachusetts. It’s difficult to gauge what, if any, effect that ad had. The Caucus speculatedthat it might have even helped Romney, who was working to build some cred with Christians who might be hostile to his Mormon faith.
Regardless of how it plays on the right, could this be a refreshing sign that this election cycle might be relatively free of the gay-baitingthat took place in 2004? With the recent California Supreme Court ruling that overturnedthe state’s gay marriage ban — and four states now recognizinggay nuptials — probably not.
Paula M. Graham

Paula M. Graham

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