Despite pressure, GOP leader to attend fundraiser for gay Republicans
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/29/art.cornyn.0429.gi.jpg caption ="Despite pressure from a social conservative organization, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, will attend a fundraiser for a Republican gay and lesbian advocacy group."]Washington (CNN) - Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, dismissed a request Wednesday from an influential social conservative organization to skip a fundraiser for a Republican gay and lesbian advocacy group, saying that even though he does not agree with the group on social issues he shares its views on fiscal discipline and economic policy.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, sent Cornyn a letter on Monday saying that “it is deeply troubling” that the Texas Republican would attend an upcoming Log Cabin Republicans fundraiser, because the organization does not represent the ideals of the Republican Party.
“Your work in the U.S. Senate on issues important to the family is well known, as is your close association with Family Research Council and the work we do, which makes the association all the more distressing,” Perkins wrote in a letter provided to CNN by the FRC. “In deference to the work you have done against the debasement of our culture, I would ask respectfully that you withdraw from attending the event.”
But Cornyn, who oversees campaign efforts for Senate Republicans, said that he planned to attend the event and explained that he “accepted for two reasons” in a letter sent Wednesday to Perkins.
Read both letters after the jump:
Read Cornyn's letter here [pdf]
Read Perkins' letter here [pdf]
“First, part of my job is to reach out to those committed to defeat Senate Democrats this November,” Cornyn wrote in the letter obtained by CNN. “The Log Cabin Republicans are doing just that, as they stand for fiscal discipline, limited government, and a strong national defense. We may not agree on several key issues, but we do agree that every committee in the United States Senate should be chaired by a Republican.
“Second, as social conservatives we affirm the basic dignity of every human life, including not only unborn children, but also adults with whom we may disagree. I believe we are all made in the image and likeness of God. I believe the beauty and blessing of America is that people of different faiths and creeds can live together in peace, despite serious disagreements. Respecting each other’s dignity does not mean ignoring those disagreements, but rather being honest about them, and working together where possible despite them. I trust that was the spirit in which I was invited to this event; I know it is the spirit in which I accepted it.”
The Log Cabin Republicans' National Dinner is scheduled to take place next week in the nation’s capital and will feature several House Republicans, including National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, R-Texas. The organization said on its Web site that Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, would be “attending the VIP reception prior to the dinner.”
In his letter to Perkins, Cornyn also emphasized his personal opposition to ending the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy regarding gay men and lesbians serving in the U.S. military. Perkins, in his letter, noted that the Log Cabin Republicans want to see “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” ended. And the Texas Republican closed his letter to Perkins by writing that “I respect your opinion, and I trust that our own dialogue will continue in the months and years ahead.”
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Good for him. The more the GOP blends with these sort of issues the less they will become news. These are wedge issues that need to go AWAY so we can deal with real problems facing this nation! The sooner the GOP boots the crazy christians from their party the quicker we can move past God, Guns and Gays – get people back to work and fix our economy!! But of course the ridiculous right will sweep in and say "they are the messenger of gods will" yada yada yada yada
Jesus ate & drank with lepers. I guess that places Tony P. as holier than Jesus.
Good for him, and a smart move as well I think.
John Cornyn will pander for votes anywhere & everywhere he can, this is nothing new or surprising from this Texas senator.
What remains truly mystifying is that the Log Cabin Republicans would invite "box turtle" Cornyn to headline anything. Let's not forget that in Texas, LCR cannot even secure a table – much less a place at the table – within the Texas GOP. Who is pandering to whom here?
The message that LCR sends by even extending an invitation to the likes of Cornyn is far more disturbing to GLBT people than Cornyn's attendance is disturbing to Tony Perkins & the GOP.
Can you spell hypocrite? I knew you could. This guy just cares about getting votes. With one side of his mouth, he condemns gay marriage, with the other, he takes money from the gay/lesbian/transgender lobbies. Very nice. And very nice that said lobbies support him in spite of his bias. Hypocrisy at it's finest.
Well said our Senator from Texas. Agreed. Leave exclusion and demonizing to the Democrats.
You can be a Conservative and homosexual. Even if other conservatives find it disgusting for the 'cause'.
Boy...I bet they are choking on this one. Anyone from the tea bag party going?
We will find out in a few years that Tony Perkins is Gay. I bet everything I own on this. The ONLY people who are this obsessed with stopping gay rights and denying their even existence are people in the closet themselves. They struggle with their own feelings so much that they over-compensate by trying to trash others. Here's a clue: Heterosexuals DON'T CARE. When your secure with your own sexual feelings your not concerned with others becuase your too busy satisfying your own. I don't agree with heterosexuality like i don't agree with eating brussel sprouts. I don't care it you eat them, I want cake. BUT if I really like brussell sprouts and have to pretend I don't like them in front of everybody I know, then I'm gonna HATE you for eating them. Bet
Please go and let us have a list of who went, so we can get rid of you in the next election. so please be proud to go and just let us know. we are changing the GOP back into the right, not the left of right it has become,so we will be awaiting the list of Moderate(liberal) republicans so we can vote them out. soon we will have our party back and be rid of trash like them
I don't know how you can be gay and a Republican at the same time. It seems oxymoronic to me.
Sorry, Tony. The Log Cabin Republicans don't represent your views. Conservatives want the government out of as much of our lives as possible, except, according to the American Taliban, our morality. Morality is a personal thing as long as it doesn't interfere with someone else's life. I'm a left leaning centrist, but I have to come to the defense of this man's choice because I see the issue, not the party. We would be in a better place if party loyalty didn't exist on either side of the aisle.
Wow... I actually agree with Cornyn!!!
“Second, as social conservatives we affirm the basic dignity of every human life, including not only unborn children, but also adults with whom we may disagree... Respecting each other’s dignity does not mean ignoring those disagreements, but rather being honest about them, and working together where possible despite them."
How adult of a Republican to act!! I'm so used to intolerance from the right but this is what I like to see... tolerance! We are all AMERICANS and deserve dignity despite our differences!! We must always work together for our future and that of our children!!! This is truly acting Christian like!!