Pride vs. Pence: Gay Republicans grapple with Buttigieg breakout

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Pete Buttigieg is creating a split-screen moment for gay Republicans: The rising 2020 presidential contender speaks passionately about the military, God and efficient government. Some gay conservatives have spoken positively about Buttigieg — a moderate-sounding Midwesterner who married his husband last year — being a leap forward for gay Americans and politicians.

But the South Bend, Ind., mayor’s public squabbles with Vice President Mike Pence are pushing some gay Republicans to fire back at Buttigieg to defend a leader of their party. The dust-up is riling up parts of the right and serving as a high-profile test of how the broader electorate might handle the nation's first prominent gay presidential candidate.

“What’s intriguing about this particular candidate is that he’s running on really, you could say, the ‘gay conservative platform,’” said Richard Tafel, who helped launch the Log Cabin Republicans and authored “Party Crasher,” a book about being a gay conservative activist. “He’s talking about his military service. He’s talking about his faith. And he keeps saying we should make a moral argument. So on those things that also makes him somewhat attractive to gay conservatives.”

The 37-year-old Buttigieg's rising stature within the Democratic presidential primary has moved some gay Republicans to defend him on a key front where he's vulnerable, pushing back against anti-gay attacks and sharing their own experiences. Their outspokenness could help shift conservative views on gay marriage and ultimately help Buttigieg connect with voters who would otherwise never give a gay candidate of either party a second look.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pride-vs-pence-gay-republicans-grapple-with-buttigieg-breakout/ar-BBWlvYR?li=BBnbcA1

That's one thing I've never understood, gay Republicans. What's next? Jewish neo-Nazis?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I've never understood gay Republicans either!

Or Republican women! And I believe that there are Jewish neo-Nazis, but I could be wrong about that.

I'll be curious to see how the gay R's handle this problem!

[RKP5637]

2. They must be masochistic supporting/joining those who would like to eliminate them.

Stockholm Syndrome?

[FreeState]

4. Many of them are in cults

Cults being religions that pit LGBT persons against their families. They have been raised since birth to believe faith over reason or knowledge.

[RKP5637]

9. Yep, it's very sad when ones analytical ability is so clouded and programmed that one can't

comprehend what has happened to them. Fortunately, I was raised in a very open minded family. I never realized that until later years. My parents were really bright and open-minded thinkers. Not ultra-liberal or anything, but tended to hold neutral thinking, rather than jumping in all biased and pre-programmed belief structures. It just seems critical thinking is a rare talent today in many cases.

[The Genealogist]

7. $$$$$ n/t

[dsc]

12. In my experience there are two groups of gay Republicans

1) those who are motivated by money and favor the low taxes, low regulation model and
2) those who are opposed to abortion

That said, Democrats get about 7/10ths to 3/4ths of the LGBT vote. We are the second or third mostly loyal group (African Americans are far and away number one, Jews either number 2 or 3).

[Funtatlaguy]

3. Chickens 🐔 for Colonel Sanders

[vlyons]

5. I understand how much a gay candidate inspires LGBT people.

I get it. But that's not enough for me to vote for him. I want a candidate, who supports universal healthcare, an end to corporate welfare, an end to our never-ending wars, raising the minimum wage, repealing the Trump millionaire tax cuts, supporting public education, promoting a green economy, protecting the environment, curbing the excesses of Wall St, and end to corruption from lobbyists, immigration reform, etc.

Most Americans don't give damn about who Mayor Pete sleeps with. But they do care about most of the above.

[leftofcool]

8. Pete supports all of those.

[RKP5637]

10. Fortunately, I think that's more and more true these days. "Most Americans don't give damn about who

he sleeps with." I also like all the things you mentioned in your post. I'm still undecided. For me it's still too early. For me, I could never vote for anyone just because they are gay. I do think he supports the things you mentioned. I also like Elizabeth Warren a lot. She doesn't hold back any punches and IMO is right on track. If we don't get the financial structure fixed in this country. most people are going nowhere into the future ... and we could end up with a dystopian society of sorts. 2020 is really such a MAJOR fork in the road.

[corbettkroehler]

6. Rob Portman, Log Cabin Republicans, etc.

How much Kool-Aid must these Trumpanzees have drunk to continue to support the administration when it is so very, very, very intolerant?

To my out-of-the-closet conservative countrymen: dip your toe or dive into the progressive sea. The water's fine!

[RKP5637]

11. K&R!!!! n/t