Dear Stampp Corbin,
Thank you for taking the time to explore and address the topic of the Republican Party within the social milieu of the LGBT community; although I do not agree with your rhetorical assessment that the party itself despises, or humiliates LGBT Republicans.
The party I belong to was founded on principles. On ideas. On the philosophy that there’s opportunity in our country; and it’s our goal to inspire those who were oppressed by slavery and oppression to rise up, and become free. Our very first Republican platform in 1856 advocates “equal rights for all citizens,” a clear testament to our party’s founding values that even to this day, are values that I personally cherish.
This isn’t 1856; and of course Stampp, you’d be quick to criticize that the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt has become the party of Limbaugh and Todd Akin. Rush Limbaugh and Todd Akin do not speak for me. I speak for myself, and proudly so.
Yes, I acknowledge publicly that I do not agree with my party’s stances on social issues, but I’m not bound or forced to promote and advocate for those issues, and I choose not to. Then again, I’m probably not your momma’s Republican.
Tony Perkins may espouse the unequivocal need for “traditional family” laws and values, but many Americans weren’t raised in a traditional family, especially from my generation. My parents are divorced. I was raised by my grandparents. My mother is openly lesbian, and lives with her partner in Austin, Texas. Clearly, I’m what you could call a “Modern Family” Republican, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
In 2008, I proudly displayed a “No on 8” bumper sticker next to my sticker for McCain-Palin. What Perkins and many other social conservatives fail to note is with every passing year, and every new traditional marriage initiative, the vote disparity becomes closer, and more and more Republican voters are choosing their hearts over hate – a welcome change in just a few short election cycles.
Twice, I’ve served on the California Republican Party’s Platform Committee (2008 and 2012), and each time I’ve spoken and advocated in favor of building upon Ronald Reagan’s legacy of a more inclusive party. Despite blocked attempts by those who wish to preserve their own individual power, our collaborative vision for a larger, grander Republican Party has grown exponentially.
Democrats, of all people should know that sometimes progress can be a long, arduous process. It takes time. The Tony Perkins-Rush Limbaugh dominance of my party is but a mere generational issue, and this too, shall come to pass. Our core Republican values of limited government, individual opportunity, and personal responsibility shall survive as it has for the last 156 years – and it’s my commitment to those values that makes me a Republican.
Stampp, I am proud to stand with you on issues like marriage equality and adoption rights, but there is so much more than just a platform that states “We support marriage equality” – there is a governing philosophy that is starkly different.
I’ve read the Democratic Platform, and 70 percent of it scares the hell out of me. The idea that government should do this, and should do that, and should do more is one I vehemently disagree with. I believe the government shouldn’t. Period. Paragraph.
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel that people need and deserve choices. People need and deserve the opportunity to be free and successful, without the government setting standards on how successful they should be. And within the Republican Party, we need and deserve those voices of diversity to be heard.
So, when folks are asked if they were better off four years ago, I’d be the first to raise my hand. The economy hit me hard, Stampp. I could bowl ten frames at Kearny Mesa and easily top my credit score today, and that’s not an easy pill to swallow. Over 20 million other Americans are suffering too – this point can’t be stressed enough.
In the veil of civil rights, Barack Obama’s election four years ago was a triumph for our nation given our gritty history on the topic. However, the choice this year is not hope and change versus years of war and uncertainty. Nor, are we facing significant historical firsts with either ticket. This election will be issue-based, governing experience versus rhetoric and can-kicking.
On November 6, I will proudly circle the bubble for the Romney-Ryan ticket. I can only encourage you to do the same, but only you have the opportunity to make that choice for yourself. That’s personal responsibility. That’s the beauty of America – and, yes – we did build that. v
RYAN TRABUCO
President San Diego Log Cabin Republicans
I can understand standing up for core principles that the party believes in. However, what about the GOP purposely dragging it’s feet in congress in an effort to do nothing more than obstruct. I believe that this last congress had a total of 241 filibusters. These were used to block EVERYTHING that was being done to try and fix this economy, things like jobs bills. Their number one goal, as stated by Mitch McConnell was to make sure that this President was a one term President… Not jobs, infrastructure or the economy. Their sole purpose was to not compromise on ANYTHING. The President’s Affordable Care Act has been shown by the CBO to actually save money. This is part of an effort to bring down the cost of health care in this nation. And it has given millions of people access to health care. It was debated for 2 years and was voted into law by congress and signed by the President. It was hardly shoved down anybody’s throat. What about the whole issue of women’s health issues and abortion? I thought that the GOP was all about small government. How is the government limiting or eliminating abortion or birth control being small government? I could say the same thing for the legalization of Marijuana in states like California. What happened to that small government and states rights? What about DOMA and marriage equality? I find this whole “small government” nothing more than lip service. Or is it that they’re just bringing these issues up in an election year to rally the conservative base? The GOP could have eliminated all of these issues when they had control of both houses and the white house. I find the GOP lacking in integrity and frankly two-faced. That’s why I would never vote for Mr. Romney or his ilk.
“I now understand why they call themselves Log Cabin:
Their role model is Uncle Tom.”
Congressman Barney Frank
The Republican party has screwed the American people by blocking Obama on everything, systematically opposing him just because of who he is, not on the merits of the ideas. That is a prime example of a party run amok, who put the interests of the party ahead of the country. It is in keeping with the greed that drives the party. If their party can’t reign in the Tea Party idiots, there will be no tea party in a few more years, it is going to implode.