Gay Rights Champion Aims to Become Republican Presidential Candidate
THE OBSERVER: Fred Karger has already launched a campaign for the nomination in the key states of Iowa and New Hampshire

Fred Karger walked into a coffee shop in Manhattan looking every inch the sort of man who wants to be a Republican presidential candidate.

The long-time "Grand Old Party" operative, who has served three different Republican presidents, had close-cropped grey hair and wore a sharp blue business suit. He clutched a folder of campaign literature and handed out a T-shirt emblazoned with "Iowa 2012". But one key detail made Karger a little different in a Republican field swirling with names like Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee. On his suit lapel Karger wore a badge pairing the Stars and Stripes with the rainbow colours of the gay rights movement.

Karger, 61, whose 2012 presidential exploratory committee is perhaps the furthest advanced of any potential Republican candidate, is openly gay. When he officially declares his run, he will not only be the first gay Republican presidential candidate but also the first such candidate from any political party in American history. "I am a fighter and I am trying to change the Republican party and to open it up to everybody. If every gay person left the Republican party and went to the Democrats, that would be stupid. I believe in smaller federal government and personal responsibility just like my hero, Ronald Reagan," Karger said over a chicken salad sandwich and a cola. >>> Paul Harris New York | Sunday, February 13, 2011

Texas GOP* Platform Advocates Criminalizing Gay Marriage, Banning Strip Clubs, Pornography
THE HUFFINGTON POST: Texas Republicans recently unveiled a policy platform that includes a statement of support for legislation that would make it a felony to issue a marriage license to same-sex couples as well as for an official to perform a marriage ceremony for gay partners wishing to wed.

The 25-page proposal debuted last week as a guiding light for the state GOP over the next two years defines its position by saying:

Marriage Licenses - We support legislation that would make it a felony to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple and for any civil official to perform a marriage ceremony for such.

>>> Elyse Siegel | Tuesday, June 22, 2010

*GOP = Grand Old Party

Gay Hate Wrapped in a Republican Embrace
TIMES ONLINE: The party once preached tolerance but is now getting ever whiter and straighter

I had the pleasure of accompanying Nick Herbert, the Tory shadow environment minister, on some of his tour of conservative and Republican circles in Washington last week. I felt bad for him in a way. Not only did he somehow break the bath plug in the British embassy, he was also in favour of action on climate change as a core Tory pledge.

The Republican party doesn’t really believe in baths (some super-charged showers do the trick) and it certainly doesn’t believe in that “snake-oil science”, as Sarah Palin recently called climate change. But the best was yet to come. Herbert came here to give a speech on why conservatism can and should be inclusive of gays and lesbians. The speech he gave was terrific, largely avoided domestic culture-war politics and focused on what he believed the Tories’ experience could teach their sister party in the US, today’s Republicans.

“I can tell you what happens to a party when it closes the door to sections of our society and is reduced to its core vote,” he told the wide-eyed audience at the libertarian Cato Institute. “It’s no fun being in opposition for 13 years. And I can tell you what happens when a party opens its doors again and broadens its appeal. A successful political party should be open to all and ought to look something like the country it seeks to govern.”

The same week, the most popular conservative activist conference — attended by Mitt Romney and Dick Cheney, among many others — was full of rousing speeches. It is a kind of informal party conference for the grassroots, and takes place early each year in DC. It was, shall we say, an interesting contrast with Herbert’s message. >>> Andrew Sullivan* | Sunday, February 21, 2010

* Andrew Sullivan is an author, academic and journalist. He holds a PhD from Harvard in political science, and is a former editor of The New Republic. His 1995 book, Virtually Normal: An Argument About Homosexuality, became one of the best-selling books on gay rights. He has been a regular columnist for The Sunday Times since the 1990s, and also writes for Time and other publications.

Sarah Palin Comes Third in Republican Presidential 'Beauty Contest'
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Sarah Palin has come third in a Republican "beauty contest" of presidential hopefuls.

The first contest for Republicans seeking to battle Barack Obama for the White House was won by Ron Paul, a libertarian Congressman who is barely considered a member of the party.

In a straw poll taken at an annual conference for conservative activists, 31 per cent supported Ron Paul, a maverick fringe contender in the past who proposes isolationism in foreign policy and abolition of the Federal Reserve Bank. >>> Alex Spillius in Washington | Sunday, February 21, 2010

News Hub: Palin Hopes for More Than a Bestseller in Going Rogue

Colin Powell Condemns Dick Cheney 'Diktats'
THE TELEGRAPH: Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State in the Bush administration, has launched an attack on former Vice President Dick Cheney and radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, accusing them of issuing "diktats" that will make Republicans unelectable.

Colin Powell has attacked former Vice President Dick Cheney. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
His stern words threatened to widen a rift within the party that was laid bare last week when Mr Cheney became the most prominent foreign policy critic of President Barack Obama, to the chagrin of moderates and to the delight of the Right.

Mr Powell, a moderate who publicly announced just before last year's presidential election he that would vote for Mr Obama, the Democratic candidate, rather than his old friend John McCain, insisted: "I am still a Republican."

The former Gulf war commander lambasted Mr Cheney for saying that he believed "Colin had already left the party" and Mr Limbaugh for saying that he'd supported Mr Obama "solely based on race" and should become a Democrat.

He told CBS television they were "not members of the membership committee of the Republican Party" arguing that the party needed to build a broad base of support rather than falling back on conservative principles.

"Rush will not get his wish, and Mr. Cheney was misinformed. I am still a Republican", he said. "I would like to point out that in the course of my 50 years of voting for presidents, I have voted for the person I thought was best qualified at that time to lead the nation. >>> By Toby Harnden in Washington | Sunday, May 24, 2009

Mormon Smears Turn Republican Race Sour
THE SUNDAY TIMES: THE only Mormon in the 2008 presidential race, Mitt Romney, is coming under attack for his religious beliefs as the battle for the Republican nomination becomes increasingly acrimonious.

Telephone calls to voters accusing the former governor of Massachusetts of subscribing to outlandish beliefs and “flip-flop-ping” on big issues have been made under the guise of polling in Iowa and New Hampshire, crucial early voting states that Romney must win.

These “push-polling” calls drew attention to Romney’s deferment of military service during the Vietnam war while serving as a missionary for the Mormons in France and pointed out that none of his five sons had enlisted in the military.

Callers also claimed the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints did not consecrate blacks as bishops until the 1970s and believes the Book of Mormon supersedes the Bible. Romney called the attacks “unAmerican”.

Robert Redford, the film star, joined in the Mormon-bashing this month, claiming that church followers were “very adept at not being fazed and speaking fluently and gracefully” because they “learn how to deflect blows and stay on message” when they go on missions “when they are 19 or 20”.

He added: “So when you see Mitt Romney, he’s already been practising how to deflect blows and stay on message. But it’s plastic.”

The race is growing dirtier as the fight for the nomination intensifies between Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, and Romney. Mormon smears turn Republican race sour (more) By Sarah Baxter

Mark Alexander

The Republican Party is in No Partying Mood

Photo of Bush in sober mood courtesy of The Telegraph

THE TELEGRAPH: A "sobered" George W Bush was told by Republican allies yesterday that his party would desert him if the situation in Iraq did not improve dramatically and he continued to keep troops there.

For a White House where bad news is often branded as defeatism, the 90-minute meeting with 11 centrist Republicans was remarkably blunt as they told him that there had to be discernable progress by September. Republicans warn Bush he risks being deserted (more) By Toby Harnden

TIMESONLINE: Bush begs for more time as Republican revolt gathers pace

LE FIGARO: Le soutien de Bush s'effrite chez les républicains

Mark Alexander