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Newt and the Gay Voter - Watch the Video

December 21, 2011

(Washington, DC) - Reports that former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich rejected the support of a gay voter and believes that gay voters should support Barack Obama are grossly mischaracterizing the GOP candidate's statements.

"It is being reported that Speaker Gingrich is telling gay voters to vote for President Obama, as though the Speaker rejects the support of gay conservatives. That is simply not true," said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director. "In this political climate, the door is wide open for a strong Republican candidate to win the support of conservatives, independents and disillusioned Democrats - and there are those who are working hard to paint any and all Republicans as bigoted in a fear-mongering effort to shore up the president's base. That is unfair and highly unfortunate for our community.

If you watch the video, Newt is engaged in an extended back and forth with a Democrat who insists that marriage equality is the only issue that he cares about. Based on his stated opposition to same-sex marriage, Newt ultimately concedes that he is not likely to win this particular voter's support. It is irresponsible and sensationalist to twist this exchange into a blanket rejection of gay votes. As Gingrich himself said, gay voters who care about job creation, national security and a better future for America should consider supporting his campaign. For those who are single issue voters on marriage, the truth is that President Obama isn't up to their standards, either. As gay individuals and a community, it is important that we judge each candidate fairly, and not on soundbites taken badly out of context."

The video of this exchange is available here.