(Asheville, NC)—Log Cabin Republicans are launching a television advertising campaign during the NC GOP convention. "Our commercial has a simple message—the GOP can be an inclusive majority party uniting all North Carolinians or it can be an intolerant party hijacked by the radical right's divisive social agenda," said Log Cabin Political Director Chris Barron.
The 30-second commercial will be broadcast during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Asheville. The ad begins with footage from President Ronald Reagan's 1992 speech at the Republican National Convention in Houston. President Reagan said, "Whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears." The commercial offers a clear choice for the GOP: follow President Reagan's lead by uniting Republicans on common beliefs or follow Jerry Falwell, Pat Buchanan and Rick Santorum's lead by dividing the GOP with an intolerant social agenda based on fear and exclusion. Reagan's courageous opposition to a California ballot initiative that would have banned gays and lesbians from teaching in the public schools helped launch Log Cabin Republicans 27 years ago.
Over the past few months some in the NC GOP have promoted a divisive and intolerant social agenda in order to further their own personal interests. "The type of rhetoric we have heard from some on the far right is an insult to the tens of thousands of fair minded Republicans across the state of North Carolina. Our party ought to be focusing on issues that unite Republicans," said Rollin Kibbe, Secretary of the Triangle Log Cabin Republicans.
Log Cabin's decision to take this issue straight to rank and file Republicans shows the organization's confidence in the future of the party. "Our effort to take back this party from the radical right is about more than one election, one chairman or one issue. History, common decency and fairness are on our side," continued Barron.
"Log Cabin Republicans are proud to step forward with this hopeful message about the party's future. In recent months, the party's agenda has been set by the radical right. They divided our party by starting a culture war and pushing an anti-family agenda. The result is that Republicans in North Carolina lost the House, the Senate, and the Governorship. Enough is enough. It is time for someone to challenge the radical right. Log Cabin proudly accepts that challenge. Our party's future success is at stake," concluded Barron.
