For Immediate Release
June 20, 2012
(Washington, D.C.) – Last night, the Board of Directors of GOProud – a national organization of gay and straight Americans seeking to promote freedom by supporting free markets, limited government, and a respect for individual rights – voted to endorse former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R) for President. “The Board of Directors of GOProud voted to enthusiastically endorse Governor Romney’s candidacy for President,” said Lisa De Pasquale, interim Chair of the GOProud Board of Directors and the former Director of CPAC. “GOProud is prepared to commit significant resources to help make Mitt Romney the next President of the United States.”
In the 2010 midterms, GOProud was the first organization representing gay Americans to run television ads against Democratic candidates. The GOProud ad was praised by Frank Luntz as “one of the best of the cycle.”
“Most gay Americans – like their straight counterparts – are not better off than they were 4 years ago,” said Jimmy LaSalvia, GOProud Executive Director. “The truth is that gay people are living in the disastrous failed Obama economy too.”
“President Obama and his friends on the left want this election to be about divisive social issues, because the President’s record on jobs and the economy is indefensible,” continued LaSalvia. “At this critical juncture, we need a President with the experience and expertise to turn this economy around. Someone who knows how the free markets work – former Governor Mitt Romney is that candidate.”
“Not only does President Obama not understand how the free markets work – he is openly hostile to free market capitalism,” said LaSalvia. “President Obama’s repeated attacks on Governor Romney’s private sector record underscore this President’s fundamental lack of understanding of how our economy works. Instead of demonizing free markets, President Obama should be focused on creating an economic environment that encourages free market investments and creates jobs.”
“It is clear that the ‘hope and change’ of candidate Obama in 2008, has been replaced with ‘jealousy and envy,’” said LaSalvia. “Obama’s divisive attacks appeal to the absolute worst in Americans.”
GOProud is the first and only organization representing gay Americans to endorse Governor Romney’s Presidential bid. “The truth is that this election is too important to wait or to sit on the sidelines,” continued LaSalvia. “We plan on spending every day between now and November working to make Obama a one term President.”
“For far too long, the gay left in this country has been allowed to dictate what they believe qualify as ‘gay issues.’ We think that jobs, the economy, healthcare, retirement security and taxes are all ‘gay issues,’ and on every single one of those issues, Mitt Romney is light years better than President Obama,” said LaSalvia.
The GOProud endorsement was not, however, a unanimous one. Two members of the GOProud Board voted against the Romney endorsement.
“We don’t agree with Governor Romney on every single issue – indeed we disagree strongly with him on his support for a federal marriage amendment and we have urged Romney publicly to take bolder and more conservative stances on tax reform, entitlement reform and spending,” said LaSalvia. “Given the vote on our board, obviously not everyone in our organization will agree with this endorsement, and we respect that.”
“While I voted to endorse Governor Gary Johnson, and will continue to personally support his campaign, I understand and respect the decision of the GOProud Board,” said Christopher R. Barron, GOProud co-founder. “I appreciate the thoughtfulness the Board of Directors of GOProud put into this decision.”
GOProud will commit significant resources to electing Mitt Romney President. GOProud will also have a large presence at the RNC in September, where they will hold their annual Homocon event.
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