Anti-Gay Leaders Threaten Leaving GOP: 'We Resent the Insinuation We Have Treated Homosexuals Unkindly'

The leaders of 13 social conservative (and hate) groups including Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum, James Dobson of Family Talk Action and Marjorie Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony List have sent a letter to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus (pictured) demanding the RNC reaffirm suppport for DOMA and a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

As I mentioned yesterday, the RNC, which is holding a three-day confab in L.A., plans to vote Friday on a similar measure submitted by state party leaders.

The WaPo reports:

“Republicans would do well to persuade young voters why marriage between a man and a woman is so important rather than abandon thousands of years of wisdom to please them,” they write. “We respectfully warn GOP Leadership that an abandonment of its principles will necessarily result in the abandonment of our constituents to their support.”

The group argues that existing gay GOP groups such as the Log Cabin Republicans and GOProud shows that there is no need to change party orthodoxy to create a bigger tent. “We deeply resent the insinuation that we have treated homosexuals unkindly personally,” they write.

They also suggest that better communication with social conservatives, “the experts on how to articulate those positions,” would have avoided some of the gaffes made by Republican candidates last year.

RNC Releases Report Calling for Sweeping Party Reforms, Eyes Gay and Younger Voters: READ IT

The Republican National Committee released a sweeping report on Monday with points and recommendations aimed at helping the party recover from losses it suffered in 2012 and revitalize itself for 2016, NBC News reports:

The RNC's 100-page report, the "Growth and Opportunity Project," is the election autopsy ordered by Chairman Reince Priebus last fall.

Culled from more than 52,000 contacts with voters, party consultants and elected officials, it calls for drastic changes to almost every major element of the modern Republican Party.

"When Republicans lost in November, it was a wake-up call. And in response I initiated the most public and most comprehensive post-election review in the history of any national party," Priebus was set to say in remarks Monday morning at the National Press Club. "As it makes clear, there’s no one reason we lost. Our message was weak; our ground game was insufficient; we weren’t inclusive; we were behind in both data and digital; our primary and debate process needed improvement."

Here are the portions of the report which mention gays:

America Looks Different

For the GOP to appeal to younger voters, we do not have to agree on every issue, but we do need to make sure young people do not see the Party as totally intolerant of alternative points of view. Already, there is a generational difference within the conservative movement about issues involving the treatment and the rights of gays — and for many younger voters, these issues are a gateway into whether the Party is a place they want to be.

 

Some people say Republicans don't care

If we believe our policies are the best ones to improve the lives of the American people, all the American people, our candidates and offce holders need to do a better job talking in normal,people-oriented terms and we need to go to communities where Republicans do not normally go to listen and make our case. We need to campaign among Hispanic, black, Asian, and gay Americans and demonstrate we care about them, too. We must recruit more candidates who come from minority communities. But it is not just tone that counts. Policy always matters.

Then further down...

If we believe our policies are the best ones to improve the lives of the American people, all the American people, our candidates and offce holders need to do a better job talking in normal, people-oriented terms and we need to go to communities where Republicans do not normally go to listen and make our case. We need to campaign among Hispanic, black, Asian, and gay Americans and demonstrate that we care about them, too

Read the full document below:

 

Growth Opportunity Project

RNC Claims 'Obama Isn't Working': VIDEO

As the Democrats gather in Charlotte for their national convention, the Republicans put together a new website called "Obama isn't working".

"When Americans look back on the past four years under President Obama and ask themselves whether or not they are better off, unfortunately they will answer 'no,'" said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, repeating a piece of rhetoric we'll no doubt continue to hear again and again until November. "President Obama has not lived up to his promises he made to turn our economy around and cut the deficit in half in his first term."

The site's first video, "We've Heard It All Before," splices together 2008 and 2012 campaign speeches that make it appear as if President Obama has been sitting on his laurels for the past four years.

Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP.

Chris Matthews Explodes at RNC Chair Reince Priebus for Playing Race, Birther Cards: VIDEO

MSNBC host Chris Matthews tore into RNC Chairman Reince Priebus on Morning Joe today over Romney's crack late last week about Obama's birth certificate and accusing Republicans of playing the race card over welfare.

Said Matthews: "It is an embarrassment to your party to play that card...This stuff about getting rid of the work requirement for welfare is dishonest — everyone's pointed out it's dishonest....And you are playing that little ethnic card there. You can play your games and giggle about it, but the fact is that your side is playing that card."

Priebus tried to downplay Matthews' attacks and asserted that Obama is looking to Europe for guidance on healthcare, prompting more outrage from Matthews:

"What? Where do you get this from? This is insane! You mean the Keynesian fiscal policy, you mean the fact that every president we’ve had has tried to offset the economic cycle with stimulus going the other direction is somehow European?...What’s this got to do with Europe and this foreignization of the guy? You’re doing it now! Saying he’s influenced by foreign influences? You’re playing that card again. What’s this European thing of yours? What are you up to with this constant that he’s not really domestic?"

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

RNC Chair Reince Priebus Says Gay Marriage Not a Civil Rights Issue: VIDEO

RNC Chair Reince Priebus told David Gregory on Meet the Press yesterday how he felt Obama's gay marriage endorsement would affect the election:

I’m not sure if it’s going to be a defining issue, but clearly for people in America – where gay marriage is their number one issue, we clearly have two candidates with two different views. On one hand, you’ve got Barack Obama who is now, I guess, going to promote and perhaps crusade for this issue. And you have Mitt Romney who’s been consistent and I think in line with most Americans – which is that marriage ought to be defined between one man and one woman. So, for those people that this is their issue, they have a clear choice.

Asked if he believes it's a civil rights issue:

“I don’t think it’s a matter of civil rights. I think it’s just a matter of whether or not we’re going to adhere to something that’s been historical and religious and legal in this country for many, many years. I mean, marriage has to have a definition. And we just happen to believe it’s between a man and a woman,” Priebus said NBC’s "Meet The Press."

“I think there’s a big difference between people that have been murdered and everything that has come with Jim Crow than marriage between a man and a man and a woman and a woman,” he said.

Priebus also said he'd like to see a federal marriage amendment:

“People in this country, no matter straight or gay, deserve dignity and respect. However, that doesn’t mean it carries on to marriage."

Watch the interview, AFTER THE JUMP...

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1053

MATT BARBER: Liberty Counsel wingnut whines over being called a hate group at his recent press conference.

BO: A bulldog with box issues.

MARRIAGE NEWS WATCH: Matt Baume with the latest from Maine, Washington, Maryland, and New Jersey.

REINCE PRIEBUS: The RNC Chair compares Obama to Costa Concordia cruise ship captain Francesco Schettino.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.