Fred Karger, who is seeking the Republican nomination for President, received an email from Iowa's Republican National Committeeman threatening to sink his campaign because he is gay.

Said GOP Committeeman Steve Scheffler in his email:

"You don't care about transparency–you and the radical homosexual community want to harass supporters of REAL marriage. I am the Republican National Committeeman for Iowa. As a private citizen and knowing literally thousands of caucus goers, I will work overtime to help ensure that your political aspirations are aborted right here in Iowa. Have you studied our past caucuses–you have NO chance here in Iowa!"

The Des Moines Register reports:

"Karger, the founder of Californians Against Hate, said he is shocked that one of Iowa's highest-ranking members of his party would express such disdain.

'The fact that he made such hateful comments, I think is very offensive,' Karger said. 'I certainly think he owes me an apology.'

The e-mail sent to Karger was in response to a message by Californians Against Hate that outlined how Maine officials had ordered the National Organization for Marriage to turn over the names of its donors in a recent state election. The group, better known as NOM, opposes equal marriage rights for same sex couples."

And — what a surprise — Scheffler is on the board of the Iowa Christian Alliance. Here he is with Ralph Reed.

Said Carolyn Jenison, the executive director of gay rights group One Iowa: "The Iowa Republican party wants to portray themselves as a big tent party, but when it comes right down to it leaders like Scheffler have shown little tolerance for those with different views.They've increasingly tried to purge their party of pro-equality Republicans like Karger and former Lt. Gov. Joy Corning. This goes beyond marriage, this is about excluding people from the political process.”