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Tammy Alonso's Blog

Tammy Alonso's Blog

Left of Centre

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Thoughts on SpecterPride

How refreshing to see a political candidate trumpet his support of and from the LGBT community in as public a manner as Arlen Specter did last week at the rally announcing his campaign’s SpecterPride initiative.

It’s certainly refreshing for Pennsylvania, and a long way from the 2004 campaign of former state senator Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland), which featured radio ads claiming his opponent, then-state Senator Allen Kukovich, had been seen campaigning with Ed Rendell in gay bars in Philadelphia.

But I have to wonder, if Specter were still running as a Republican, would he be as willing to publicly announce his positions on issues of LGBT equality, or would he be more apt to quietly work behind the scenes, content to have no one but members of that community take any real notice?

For that matter, I wonder if any Republican candidate would have the courage—or even the inclination—to openly support their fellow citizens in the LGBT community, or if they would simply reduce themselves to pandering to the coarser elements of what their party has become.

I’d like to know what Pat Toomey, the former congressional darling of the Christian Coalition and likely Republican candidate to run for Specter’s Senate seat, believes about these issues.

share001btn Thoughts on SpecterPride

March 17, 2010 at 8:51 am

--Tammy Alonso

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  1. Barry H.

    Mar 17th, 2010

    Individual liberty, personal responsibility and limited gov’t.

    You can do what you want as consenting adults, but don’t flaunt it and don’t cram it down our kids’ throats through public education.

    No to the gay agenda, yes to personal freedom.

  2. dave lewis

    Mar 17th, 2010

    It’s funny when conservatives rail against the Govt. when they run for Office.
    If they were true conservatives you would think resign the post that they were elected to serve.

  3. J. Walker

    Mar 17th, 2010

    District Attorney of the City of Philadelphia Arlen Specter (at the time), was the only publicly elected official to welcome gay protestors into his office and shake hands with everyone in the room. Keep in mind, this was in the early 70s when most politicians were terrified to even been seen with a homosexual. Senator Specter is not just pandering to the LGBT Community now…he has always been a supporter of our community.

    Opinions are valid. Questioning public officials is valid. But facts are facts. Senator Specter is a supporter of the LGBT community.

  4. Barry H.

    Mar 17th, 2010

    dave:

    Conservatives believe in LIMITED government, not anarchy….

    It appears you don’t understand conservatism. If you would like, I could give you a reading list. (And it doesn’t have Glenn Beck or sister Sarah on it.)

  5. David Diano

    Mar 17th, 2010

    Barry-
    How are Conservative blocking gay rights “limiting government”?

  6. Jeff

    Mar 23rd, 2010

    Arlen is bragging about his open support for the LGBT community because they are the only people dumb enough to still vote for him. This show how he is really digging the bottom of the barrel to get elected.

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