The midterm election cycle presents many options for gays and lesbians all across the country: whether to pull the lever for a party that claims to stand for equality while defending “don’t ask, don’t tell” in court, a party which chooses sweeping healthcare mandates over achieving tax equity for domestic partners, and a party which failed to even bring up employment non-discrimination for a vote — or voters can choose a party that stands for lower taxes, a stronger national defense and fiscal policies that will stimulate small business and put Americans back to work.
This is a strange dynamic for many gays and lesbians, as 2008 was supposed to send a “fierce advocate” to the White House, end DADT and rapidly pass legislation ensuring equal protection under the law.
Instead, what voters got was a Democratic National Committee chairman who directed Maine voters to help out with elections in New Jersey, rather than oppose a ballot referendum on marriage equality; a White House senior advisor who labeled being gay as a “lifestyle choice” and an administration that believes DADT is constitutional and worth zealously defending in court.
Considering this sub-par record of Democratic achievement, it is time for gay and lesbian Americans to re-examine why they vote so often for candidates who fail to deliver solutions to the issues challenging their community.
As is the case for so many Americans right now, gays and lesbians should be looking for candidates supporting a legislative agenda focused on creating jobs, lowering taxes, halting runaway government spending and reducing an incomprehensible national debt.
After four years of liberal majorities in Congress, which they have used to vastly increase government’s role in the market and impose new burdens and uncertainty on America’s business owners, expecting Democrats to do an about-face and encourage any kind of economic opportunity is an exercise in futility. Whatever your sexual orientation, this economy hurts us all. It is time for a change.
R. Clarke Cooper is executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. E-mail him at rccooper@logcabin.org.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 29, 2010
