BREAKING: State Republican Executive Director Backs Gay Marriage
Story just broke at the News-Journal:
John Fluharty, who took the GOP director job after the last election, declared his support for marriage equality in an interview after attending a fundraiser last week for the group leading efforts to pass legislation legalizing gay marriage in the state.
Good for him. No change in the official Party position, however:
The Republican party’s national platform declares a pledge to preserve and protect traditional marriage. Delaware GOP Chairman John Sigler released a statement saying Fluharty’s views on gay marriage and his sexual orientation are totally separate from his job.
“John Fluharty is a valued and capable employee of the Delaware Republican Party who works extremely hard for the party and is good at his job,” Sigler said. “What he chooses to do on his own time with his own money is his own business. He did not attend the recent event in question on behalf of the party or in his capacity as an employee of the party.”
Maybe not, but this is a brave and principled stand. Man, gay marriage really could pass this year…
And I’m all for it too
Lets really piss off the GOP
EITHER THAT, OR ELECT A GAY SHERIFF IN SUSSEX
Fluharty may as well start sending out his resume now.
The article I read had the first sentence identifying Fluharty as gay. If so, this is not a principled stand. If he were straight, yes.
LG: There are more than a few closeted gays working for the R’s, including in Dover. So, yes, I consider this a principled stand.
Any gay/lesbian R currently working within the GOP coming out right now in favor of marriage equality is a step in the right direction.
I hope he has a new job lined up.
Well, Obama seems to have co-opted Fluharty. You are our only hope Sig. Save our traditional second marriages!!!.
Hmmm, why do I enjoy your posts even more late at night? Is it you, or is it me? Or is it the Pine Ridge Viognier/Chenin Blanc, with an aroma redolent of peach?
My argument is not that he supports it. I want Democrats, Republicans and independents to support it. But I would like to see “principled stance” reserved for Republicans that aren’t gay or just found out that their kid is gay.
I want a straight, Republican that has no skin in the game to come out and say that this is the right thing to do, even if it doesn’t benefit his (or her) family.
That’s my point.
I read the NJ article this morning and it was really irritating. Both Fluharty and the Rs were like “this is his personal thing, he doesn’t bring it to work, he can do want he wants on his own time.”
This isn’t like they’re signing off on a dodgeball league he does after hours. His (and his co-worker’s) work is in part to actively curtail his own rights. So he doesn’t bring his concern for his own human rights to work, good for him. And I guess it’s ok with the party because he’s not one of those BAD gay people, you know since they know him.
I have no problem with a gay person identifying with republican values (small gov’t, less taxes, gun rights, whatever), but if anything this shows how stupid and small minded their position on marriage is if it puts people who could be valuable members of their party in strange positions or discourages them from participating at all.
“We’ll start throwing people out when we have the majority,” he added.
That’s from today’s News Journal, and the quote is from Greg Lavelle. If anyone had a doubt that Lavelle was a right wing nut job even after he ousted Rakestraw for anti-abortion nut job Ellen Barrosse, that quote should put all doubts to rest.
This is the Republican who wants to be Governor in 2016.
Be afraid, be very afraid.
The thing about Lavelle is, that even while trying to make a (weak) joke, he reveals more about himself and his Santorumesque prejudices.
John Fluharty is now on the side of Dick Cheney. That said, the best way now to get any gay marriage bill passed is to organize a CPAC hunting trip and include Mr. Cheney…