News

Log Cabin Republicans Expand National Advertising Campaign to Texas

Television Ad will run during Texas State GOP Convention

June 3, 2004

(San Antonio, TX) – Today, Log Cabin Republicans bring their campaign to defend the United States Constitution into Texas. Log Cabin will be airing its 30-second television commercial in San Antonio during the Texas Republican Party State Convention. "The anti-family Constitutional amendment tramples on the principles of freedom and equality that the U.S. Constitution is meant to protect," said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Patrick Guerriero. "Supporting this amendment is a violation of the GOP's conservative principles."

Broadcasting this commercial in Texas is part of an expansion of Log Cabin's $1,000,000 effort to defend the Constitution. This campaign 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.

The television commercial will air in San Antonio during the Texas State Republican Party convention in San Antonio from June 3rd through 5th. "Leaders of the Texas GOP should understand that they can be good and loyal Republicans by opposing efforts to write discrimination into the Constitution," said Carla Halbrook, a Log Cabin national board member from Dallas.

"Republicans have become the majority party in Texas by supporting the principles of limited government, lower taxes, personal responsibility and individual freedom," said Log Cabin national board member and Texas Log Cabin President Andy Hendricks from Austin. "Using gay and lesbian families as a wedge issue is a losing issue for this party."

"140,000 Americans are risking their lives in the Middle East trying to help Iraqis write a Constitution that protects the principles of freedom and equality. It's sadly ironic that at the same time, some politicians in this country are pushing an anti-family amendment that will weaken our own Constitution," continued Guerriero.

Republican Senator John Cornyn from Texas has been one of the leading proponents of an anti-family amendment. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, he has held several hearings on the proposal. "Senator Cornyn should focus on addressing the issues that Texas families care about. They're worried about the economy, jobs, education, homeland security and the war in Iraq. Senator Cornyn and all elected Republicans would better serve their constituents by focusing on these issues, rather than trying to make some tax-paying Texas families second class citizens," continued Hendricks.

Log Cabin's television 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.

Log Cabin kicked off its campaign to defend the Constitution on March 10th. The Cheney commercial has been airing in Washington, D.C. and 11 other states around the nation including, Missouri, Florida, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, New Mexico, Colorado, California, Arizona and Washington.

"Log Cabin has received enormous 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 have spoken out against this amendment. These inclusive voices represent the future of our Party. We applaud those federal and state lawmakers from Texas who have stood up in defense of freedom and fairness, to silence the voices of intolerance and exclusion," concluded Guerriero.

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

The website for Log Cabin Texas is www.texas.logcabin.org. There are chapters in San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Houston.