Gay conservative group requests meeting with Bachmann
Washington (CNN) – A prominent, conservative gay group has asked Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann for a meeting.
This follows much grumbling in the the gay and lesbian community regarding the congresswoman's policy positions and controversy surrounding the Christian counseling business co-owned by Bachmann and her husband.
The gay conservative group requesting a meeting with Bachmann is GOProud. The group supports traditional conservative issues such as limited government, lower taxes and a strong foreign policy.
On Monday, GOProud's Executive Director explained to CNN the intent of the meeting request.
"We intend to discuss the issues that gay conservatives are concerned about," Jimmy LaSalvia said. Among the group's 10 legislative priorities listed on its website are defeating what it calls "any anti-gay federal marriage amendment." Nine other priorities concern issues such as cutting government spending, "defending the Constitution," and health care reform.
LaSalvia added that GOProud is requesting meetings with all the GOP presidential candidates, and that some meetings have already happened.
A representative from Bachmann's campaign told CNN they have not seen the request, but are sure the congresswoman will consider it.
Recently there has been a focus on Bachmann's position on issues of concern to the gay community.
Accusations recently emerged that a Christian counseling business owned by the candidate and her husband encourages homosexual clients to become straight. And as a senator in the Minnesota legislature in 2004, Bachmann called for an amendment to the state constitution that would block gay marriages in other states from being recognized in Minnesota.
"If we allow this to happen, group marriage, polygamy, and much worse would not be far behind," Bachmann said in a video to her supporters at the time.
Currently, Bachmann opposes same-sex marriage. At the recent Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire sponsored by CNN, WMUR & The New Hampshire Union-Leader, Bachmann said: "I do support a constitutional amendment on marriage between a man and a woman. But I would not be going into the states to overturn their state law."
LaSalvia noted he disagrees with Bachmann regarding a federal amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman. "I happen to be gay and I have an understanding of the experience of a gay person," he said, adding, "I would welcome the opportunity to discuss that and many other things with her."
LaSalvia noted his group and Bachmann have areas of common ground.
"I certainly agree with Michele Bachmann on a lot of stuff. We agree with her on a lot of the fiscal stuff. She's absolutely dead right when it comes to the situation our country is in now and the need to put our fiscal house in order," LaSalvia said.
He also noted that voters, including gays and lesbians, are getting to know all the Republican presidential candidates.
"I think we'll get a much better sense of who they are, who Michele Bachmann is, as this process unfolds….You know, she hasn't talked about this much."
- CNN's Jim Acosta and Erika Dimmler contributed to this report.
- Follow Shannon Travis on Twitter: @ShanTravisCNN
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Hmm. You know that she would never agree to meet with the group publicly, and I would be surprised if she met with them at all.
Bachmann talks a lot but doesn't say anything. All she wants to do is push her far fetched christian beliefs on everyone else. We all have our own religion and beliefs but we don't try and change people like the Republicans.
Why are they wasting their time? These groups are trotted out at conventions to give the false impression the GOP is a "big tent", when in practice they have so many litmus tests its a wonder you can get 3 Republicans in the same room without a brawl breaking out. Bachmann has made it perfectly clear her feelings on this subject, and she won't risk antagonizing her support by appearing open-minded: they will think she's open to closing loopholes in the corporate tax code next.
I just hope someone keeps a camera on her face for the whole meeting so we can analyze her various looks of disgust. Should make for some great ads later on...
Don't waste your time. She will not get the nomination.
She is meeting with the "barbarians" as she and her husband refer to gays and lesbians. Bachmann should enjoy the money and attention while it lasts because Snookie Palin is watching closely and planning to get that money and media attention for SarahPAC.
Unless its to sit and laugh at her for about an hour, why are they bothering? This hypocrite doesn't have a mind to be changed.
she better to meet with them..... all 12 conserative republicans...ugh..
I truly truly feel sorry for Ed Rollins, I hope he's paid hansomly for having to deal with Bachmann,
So everyone who thought that Sarah would be better than Obama, who thought Trump would be better than Obama, who now think Bachmann will be better than Bachmann........obviously voted for Bush twice........hilarious!
I might respect these comments if they didnt sound like remeadial school children wrote them. She undoughtingly supports the gays, you people are blind. Stop rambling on for the sake of hearing yourself and start fact checking.
Goproud is a classic example of what is wrong with conservative voters. Talking about voting against your best interest!
As impressive as her Rise in Popularity may seem. This chick is all talk and no substance. Palin #2
Gays voting Republicans. What's the joke.....its like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders. Nothing could be truer.
No plans, just sound bites. Getting old, not just from her but everyone of them.
OK, I'll go and say it outloud. We republicans don't like gays, and if a group that calls itself conservative gays, don't get it, it seems to me they want so bad to be republicans they are willing to forgo their core being of being gay. Our policies begin and end with man and women at the core fo the family. This group no matter what just wants to be republican, normal in their eys, well we don't think you're normal, you r an abomination! But hey if you want to pretend we care about you, go ahead and joins us, but don't think for one moment we're goign to change our ways for you!
She's afraid of gay people, the last time a gay woman and a nun asked her a question in a public restroom about gay rights, she started screaming that she was being kidnapped. You can't make this stuff up, she is flat out crazy. If you don't believe me , google it, it was in all the MInnesota papers at the time it happened.
Will Texas Governor Rick Perry be there ?
Log Cabin GOPS for Perry/Bachmann " Overdrive 2012 " !