News

Log Cabin Republicans Expand National Advertising Campaign to Colorado

Real Issues Colorado Families Care About Ignored While Congresswoman Musgrave and Senator Allard Spend Time Pushing an Anti-Family Constitutional Amendment

May 11, 2004

(Denver, CO) – Log Cabin Republicans are continuing to expand their advertising campaign to defend the Constitution. Today Log Cabin has taken their fight to defend the Constitution into the backyard of the principal sponsors of the anti-family amendment. Log Cabin's television commercial will begin airing across Colorado on May 12th coinciding with Congresswoman Musgrave's testimony in support of an anti-family Constitutional amendment before the House Judiciary Committee. "Real issues that Colorado families care about are being ignored by Congresswoman Musgrave (R-CO) and Senator Allard (R-CO). While Congresswoman Musgrave spends time testifying on how to write discrimination into our sacred Constitution, families in her district are focused on fighting the war on terror, supporting our troops in Iraq, and continuing to jump start the economy," said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Patrick Guerriero.

The decision to air this ad in Colorado is an expansion Log Cabin's $1,000,000 effort to defend the Constitution. This effort includes not only the television ad, but also print ads, the most intense lobbying effort in its history, and the grassroots mobilization of Log Cabin members across America.

"While American military service members serve in Iraq, including gay and lesbian military personnel, fighting to bring freedom to the people of the Middle East, Congresswoman Musgrave and Senator Allard are spearheading an attempt to marginalize and discriminate against some of these same brave soldiers by seeking to amend our sacred Constitution," continued Guerriero. "In a time when our country is at war, at a time when our country should be united, Senator Allard and Congresswoman Musgrave have chosen to divide the American family and divide the American people by pushing this discriminatory amendment," said Guerriero.

The commercial uses excerpts from then Vice-Presidential candidate Dick Cheney during his 2000 debate with Senator Joe Lieberman. Referring to the legal recognition of same-sex relationships, Mr. Cheney said, "That matter is regulated by the states. I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions, and that's appropriate. I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area."

"Vice-President Dick Cheney makes a powerful case against amending our sacred Constitution. His position in 2000 is as true today as it was when he said it," continued Guerriero.

A non-binding resolution hoping to express the Colorado legislature's support for Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave's proposed "Federal Marriage Amendment" to the United States Constitution was defeated by a vote of 37 to 28. Because of the role of state legislatures in ratifying proposed constitutional amendments, the defeat of this resolution was a stinging rebuke to Congresswoman Musgrave, Senator Allard, and the forces of intolerance pushing an anti-family Constitutional amendment. "The Colorado legislature's vote was a clear expression that the people of Colorado will not support writing discrimination into our sacred Constitution," said Ted Trimpa of Equal Rights Colorado. "Equal Rights Colorado was proud of our brave legislators who stood up to the radical right, and continue to courageously oppose the forces of division and discrimination," concluded Trimpa.

In March, after announcing the most recent changes in the language to the anti-family amendment, Senator Wayne Allard said, in referring to gay Americans, "I'm an American, they're Americans. I think they are entitled to the same benefits and privileges as any American…"

In response to Senator Allard, Log Cabin Republicans publicly called on Congresswoman Musgrave and Senator Allard to live up to those words by co-sponsoring legislation that would extend the same benefits and privileges that Senator Allard spoke of by creating domestic partner benefits for all federal employees and to co-sponsor legislation that would create federal civil unions. Since then, neither Senator Allard, nor Congresswoman Musgrave has introduced any such legislation.

"Today we re-issue the challenge to Congresswoman Musgrave and Senator Allard to sponsor such legislation. Either you believe that all Americans are entitled to the same benefits and privileges, or you don't," said Chris Barron, Political Director of Log Cabin Republicans.

"Log Cabin has received unprecedented support from our gay and straight allies around the nation. We also are encouraged by the growing number of courageous GOP members of Congress and Republican leaders around the nation who are speaking out against this amendment. These inclusive voices represent the future of our Party," continued Guerriero.

"As Republicans, it is our obligation to speak out when our party is headed in the wrong direction," continued Guerriero. "We want Republicans in Colorado to know that the Republican Party has a choice. Be the party of Lincoln, Reagan, Schwarzenegger, and Guiliani or be the party of Bauer, Falwell, Robertson, and Buchanan. The choice is clear. Choosing the wrong path will put the Republican Party on the wrong side of history," concluded Guerriero.

The commercial can be viewed at www.logcabin.org.