Gay Conservative Group GOProud Endorses Mitt Romney

Gay conservative group GOProud this morning endorsed Mitt Romney for president, pledging "significant resources" to his election:

Said Jimmy LaSalvia, GOProud Executive Director in a press release announcing the endorsement: 

“Most gay Americans – like their straight counterparts – are not better off than they were 4 years agoThe truth is that gay people are living in the disastrous failed Obama economy too. President Obama and his friends on the left want this election to be about divisive social issues, because the President’s record on jobs and the economy is indefensible. At this critical juncture, we need a President with the experience and expertise to turn this economy around.  Someone who knows how the free markets work – former Governor Mitt Romney is that candidate.

“Not only does President Obama not understand how the free markets work – he is openly hostile to free market capitalism. President Obama’s repeated attacks on Governor Romney’s private sector record underscore this President’s fundamental lack of understanding of how our economy works.  Instead of demonizing free markets, President Obama should be focused on creating an economic environment that encourages free market investments and creates jobs. It is clear that the ‘hope and change’ of candidate Obama in 2008, has been replaced with ‘jealousy and envy.'  Obama’s divisive attacks appeal to the absolute worst in Americans.

"The truth is that this election is too important to wait or to sit on the sidelines. We plan on spending every day between now and November working to make Obama a one term President. For far too long, the gay left in this country has been allowed to dictate what they believe qualify as ‘gay issues.’  We think that jobs, the economy, healthcare, retirement security and taxes are all ‘gay issues,’ and on every single one of those issues, Mitt Romney is light years better than President Obama.

"We don’t agree with Governor Romney on every single issue – indeed we disagree strongly with him on his support for a federal marriage amendment and we have urged Romney publicly to take bolder and more conservative stances on tax reform, entitlement reform and spending."

Two board members reportedly voted against the endorsement, one of them being co-founder Chris Barron: “While I voted to endorse Governor Gary Johnson, and will continue to personally support his campaign, I understand and respect the decision of the GOProud Board . I appreciate the thoughtfulness the Board of Directors of GOProud put into this decision.”

Thomas Roberts Discusses Republican Support for Marriage Equality with GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia: VIDEO

Thomas Roberts had GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia on today to discuss the marriage equality SuperPAC recently announced by Paul Singer, as well as romney's refusal to embrace it.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

GOProud Founders Discuss Rejection from CPAC, Why They Support Anti-Gay Candidates: VIDEO

On CNN's Early Start with Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin, GOProud co-founders Jimmy LaSalvia and Chris Barron came on to discuss their rejection from CPAC and why they're devoted to a party and movement that rejects them because they're gay.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Gay Conservatives Out Rick Perry's Top Pollster Tony Fabrizio, Infuriated Over Anti-Gay Ad

Rick Perry's anti-gay ad that began airing yesterday divided his top staff, including his chief pollster Tony Fabrizio, Sam Stein reports:

When the ad was being crafted several weeks ago, Perry's top pollster, Tony Fabrizio, called it "nuts," according to an email sent from Fabrizio to the ad's main creator, longtime GOP operative Nelson Warfield. In a separate email to The Huffington Post, Warfield confirmed that the ad was made over Fabrizio's objections.

"Tony was against it from the get-go," Warfield wrote. "It was the source of some extended conversation in the campaign. To be very clear: That spot was mine from writing the poll question to test[ing] it to drafting the script to overseeing production."

Meanwhile, Fabrizio's caving on the ad has enraged conservative gay group GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia and Chris Barron, who sent out tweets late yesterday.

Said LaSalvia: "I've just about had it with faggots who line their pockets with checks from anti-gay homophobes while throwing the rest of us under the bus." He later clarified, "I was talking about Rick Perry's pollster/strategist."

Barron tweeted to a follower: "Rick Perry's pollster & strategist is a gay guy. Totally disgusting."

Stein spoke to LaSalvia for his piece on the ad:

"It is the height of hypocrisy for Tony Fabrizio to have been a part of that," said Jimmy LaSalvia, co-founder and executive director of GOProud. "He has lined his pockets for years with money from the gay community to conduct polls to ostensibly help gay people in this country, and for him to be a part of this is the height of Washington hypocrisy. It is absolutely what is wrong with Washington. It is all about the payday for these people."

If Fabrizio found the ad repugnant and it aired over his objections, LaSalvia argued, he should have quit in protest. "Perry said in the ad that the service of tens of thousands of patriotic gay Americans is what's wrong in this country," LaSalvia said. "That is an outrageous and un-American statement."

Reached by email, Fabrizio confirmed that he was uncomfortable with the ad. But he said he was going to follow the advice he has given to candidates throughout his career: "If you start answering personal attacks, you are just rewarding the attacker."

Stein adds: "Fabrizio has done polling for the Log Cabin Republicans in addition to urging lawmakers to reconsider their approach to the culture wars and embrace basic fairness for gay Americans on the issue of marriage. He was considered an ally by pro-gay rights conservatives."

I have no idea if Fabrizio was out already. Pam Spaulding also notes:

"I have no idea if Fabrizio’s a homo, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s another one of those Beltway creatures that’s socially out, perhaps even professionally out to many, but wants to play coy in order to maximize the cash flow from homophobes like Perry."

More at Back2Stonewall and Pam's House Blend.

Gay Republican Presidential Candidate Fred Karger Shut Out of GOP Convention

Gay Republican candidate Fred Karger has been refused a seat at the GOP Convention, the SF Chronicle reports:

Even as Republican leaders say they're eagerly wooing all candidates to the state GOP convention Sept. 16-18 in Los Angeles, Karger says his request to attend and address the party activists has apparently been refused.

"I have been waiting for my invitation, and it never came," Karger, 61, a 38-year resident of Laguna Beach (Orange County), told The Chronicle last week. "And I called up a couple of weeks ago and explained my position."

That's when a party official, Karger said, left a "terse" message: "The schedule is completely filled."

The paper notes that Karger was shut out of CPAC earlier this year as well:

Karger was all set to attend the national Conservative Political Action Conference, where he had arranged for a booth and even provided his credit card to pay for it. He was surprised to get a call saying "Fred was no longer invited ... because there were no booths available," Miniter said.

Miniter called to check - inquiring about booth rental for another group - and suddenly, "they were more than happy to rent to us," he said.

Jimmy LaSalvia of GOProud, a the gay conservative group that has been shut out of CPAC as well, trashed Karger in the Chronicle piece:

"Unfortunately, Fred Karger is playing a stunt, and his stunt has run its course. His whole schtick is ... running around the country with a rainbow flag, saying 'I'm the gay guy,' " he said. "But he hasn't made a case about why he should be president of the United States."

Ann Coulter Joins Board of Gay Conservative Group GOProud

Pundit Ann Coulter has joined gay conservative group GOProud as Honorary Chair of its Advisory Council, the group announced today:

Coulter’s official title will be “Honorary Chair and Gay Icon.” “Ann Coulter is a brilliant and fearless leader of the conservative movement, we are honored to have her as part of GOProud’s leadership,” said Christopher Barron, Chairman of GOProud’s Board. “Ann helped put our organization on the map. Politics is full of the meek, the compromising and the apologists – Ann, like GOProud, is the exact opposite of all of those things. We need more Ann Coulters.”

“I am honored to serve in this capacity on GOProud’s Advisory Council, and look forward to being the Queen of fabulous,” said Coulter.

Coulter joins Margaret Hoover, Grover Norquist, Andrew Breitbart, Liz Mair, Chuck Muth, Lisa De Pasquale, Christian Josi, Roger Stone, Andrew Langer, Kathryn Serkes and Bob Carlstrom on the GOProud Advisory Council.

Watch Coulter talk about GOProud this week on C-SPAN's BookTV, AFTER THE JUMP...

You may have missed...
Ann Coulter Wants the World to Shut Up About the Gays: VIDEO [tr]
Ann Coulter Won't Say How She Would Feel if Her Child Was Gay [tr]
Watch: Ann Coulter, Greg Gutfeld Mock Gays in the Military [tr]