Pictured Ann Stone and Patrick Guerriero. Photo by Bob Roehr
A small group of moderate Republicans are standing up to social conservatives on the party platform. While they acknowledge little likelihood of success in deleting provisions they find offensive at this late date, they are urging adoption of unity plank (see below).
Patrick Guerriero, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans; Ann Stone, chair of Republicans for Choice; and Eli Allagoa, managing director of the Republican Youth Majority, pushed the unity plank at an Aug.16 news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
'We are not here today to tell those who disagree with us on issues relating to gay and lesbian equality that they are not welcome in our party,' Guerriero said. 'We understand that there are a variety of opinions on these issues within the Republican Party and we respect and we honor that diversity as part of our tradition.
'We are here today to tell the far right that they do not own the Republican Party. This party, our party, the Republican Party, belongs to no one person and no one group. And it is time that our platform reflects that reality.'
Guerriero reeled off the list of moderate speakers that are scheduled for primetime during the Republican convention. 'All of these speakers in prime time have long histories of supporting policies that respect the Republican Party's diversity. In particular, all of these speakers have opposed policies that marginalize and discriminate against gay and lesbian Americans.
'It is not enough to have these inclusive voices be the face of the Republican Party in primetime if the platform only represents the exclusive voices of Gary Bauer, Jerry Falwell, and Rick Santorum.
'It is time to tell the far right that they are welcome in this party, but they are just one part of a diverse and strong GOP,' he said. 'We are here today representing the Party's future.'
Stone said, 'Our differences with the GOP leadership are on issues of privacy and individual rights—fundamental questions of Republican politics . ... On the issue of abortion, are we only for individual rights for men and not for women?
'We are asking for the platform to reflect the primetime lineup that you are going to see at the convention.'
Stone said they are pushing for several other assurances from party leaders, including censure for state and local party officials who work against pro-choice or gay and lesbian members of the Party.
Allagoa said, 'We cannot let our differences blind us to the big picture.' He saw two reasons why the Party should support the unity plank. The first is that integration and inclusion is the way that Republicans can retain their majority status. The other is that it can help reelect George W. Bush.
When asked what the consequences would be if the unity plank is not adopted, Guerriero said, 'The repercussions are ultimately on election day.' He said Bush carried Florida by only about 500 votes when up to 50,000 gays and lesbians in the state voted for him.
'The kind of message that comes out of the convention will determine whether that 50,000 votes stays with the President, goes elsewhere, or doesn't vote.' He said the Log Cabin board would not make their endorsement decision until after the convention.
Stone said polling over the years 'shows that 68-75% of Republicans are pro-choice—there is no downside to doing this.' A survey of Republicans for Choice members earlier this year found that 36.8% were prepared to vote for Bush; 24.5% said yes but that could change; while 38.7% said no. She said, 'They need a reason to come home again.'
Guerriero said their national poll showed only 1% of the electorate thought that gay marriage was a critical issue. Most voters put it at the bottom of their top ten priorities.
'The greatest sign that part of what we are doing makes sense politically comes from [Bush political guru] Karl Rove. ... The reality is, you don't see Jerry Falwell speaking in primetime, you don't see Rick Santorum speaking in primetime. ... The reality is that the people running the campaign decided to put our allies out there' to appeal to undecided and swing voter.
Stone said a majority of swing voters are women. She intimated that her group might stage a floor fight over the abortion plank if they are not accommodated. She said pro-choice Republicans have been 'too civil for too long, and have to get down and dirty.'
Guerriero reminded them of the 1992 GOP convention where the raging of Pat Buchanan 'calling for a cultural war and a religious jihad' cost the first Bush his reelection.
George W. Bush took almost half of the under 30 vote in 2000, but polls this year show that Kerry is carrying that demographic by at least 2 to 1. All of the speakers agreed that Bush's emphasis on the social issues near and dear to social conservatives 'turns off' most younger and independent voters.
The Party Unity Plan reads: 'We recognize and respect that Republicans of good faith may not agree with all of the planks in the party's platform. This is particularly the case with regard to those planks dealing with abortion, family planning, and gay and lesbian issues. The Republican Party welcomes all people on all sides of these complex issues and encourages their active participation as we work together on those issues upon which we agree.'
