endorsed him in 2004 -- they could see the writing on the wall, and realized they would need someone to curb the worst excesses of the Bush administration should he rig the election (as he did, although many of the media and self-same institutions are reluctant to say what we all know)...
but the Human Rights Campaign the nation's largest (if not foremost) gay rights organization was not one of them; they endorsed his Democratic opponent, and Specter's recent vote against the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage makes it clear that they made the right decision.
Specter, as well as the Window Media publications, run by gay right-winger Chris Crain, of course
was not happy with the fact that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) endorsed Joe Hoeffel, who voted against the amendment in the House.
But
HRC reaffirmed their decision, even after Specter won his race against Hoeffel.
The Log Cabin Republicans, meanwhile endorsed Specter despite his vote to end cloture on the FMA in 2004. Patrick Guerriero, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, said gay voters cannot continue to abandon gay-friendly Republicans simply because they do not support every single gay issue.
Hate to break it to the Log Cabins, but isn't this the same logic many gay conservatives (and progressives, although usually in states that Kerry would have won with or without their vote) thought John Kerry was 'unworthy' of support, because of his stance on gay marriage? Also, I'd ask those self-same gay conservatives if by that logic, they will be registering as Democrats, so they can vote for Russ Feingold in their state's presidential primary in 2008, or if they'll find some other excuse (I know people on the left will be supporting him, for sure). Wasn't this also the reason why Chris Crain himself has attacked many Democrats,
most notably Howard Dean?
After the fact, Crain cited Specter's vote on the amendment in committee as proof that HRC was wrong, but is deafeningly silent on his vote against the amendment on the floor. Perhaps Specter now realizes that, if he wants the endorsement of gay rights groups, he has to vote for gay rights!
And perhaps one day Chris Crain will realize that his double standard on Republicans vs. Democrats makes him look like a Republican apologist (luckily, I have experience dealing with those).
This proves it.
Right wing gays like Crain are
laden with hypocrisy.