Ex-President Ford reached out to gays

[Ian David]

President Gerald Ford, the only former Republican president to reach out to gay men and lesbians and to call for their inclusion in the GOP, died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on Tuesday night. He was 93.

The 38th president is most remembered for restoring the nation's political stability after the resignation of President Nixon amid the Watergate scandal in 1974. At the time, he was criticized for pardoning the disgraced president, a move some say cost him the White House in 1976.

But the former congressman from Michigan was praised by some for ignoring his own political viability in favor of helping the nation heal after Watergate. That unifying spirit was again evident in 2002 when Ford joined the Republican Unity Coalition as a member of its advisory board. The coalition is a fund-raising organization dedicated to making homosexuality a "nonissue" for the Republican Party.

"I have always believed in an inclusive policy, in welcoming gays and others into the party," Ford told The Detroit News in 2001. "I think the party has to have an umbrella philosophy if it expects to win elections."

More:
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/12/27/3

[terrya]

1. Sounds similar to Barry Goldwater's attitudes towards us.

That's why I've been sort of disheartened to read some of the stuff about Ford in GD. Yes, he was a Republican and his record was far from perfect. But Ford was pro-affirmative action, pro-choice on abortion...and yes, he was pro-gay rights. We should be encouraged and gladdened that there's this kind of thinking and attitudes in public life today.

[Ian David]

2. A Republicker who doesn't hate gays is like a Nazi who doesn't hate Gypsies.

It's nice, but are we really willing to lower our standards?

[sundog]

3. are we in gd?

:D

[Deja Q]

4. Didn't one DUer post Ford wanted to repeal the integration bussing program?

(he could have been wrong too...)

Nice to know Ford was genuinely inclusive.