Angry Gay Republicans Accuse Bush Of Selling Out To "radical Right"

NEW YORK, Aug 29 (AFP) - Gay Republicans on Sunday warned US President George W. Bush he was at grave risk of losing their vote, accusing him of selling out to the party's "radical right" over gay marriage.
The Log Cabin Republicans, a group of openly homosexual party members, fired the shot across Bush's bows ahead of start the party's convention, a festival of party unity at which he will be nominated for a second term.
After a meeting aimed at touting the Republicans as a "big tent" party, inclusive of all kinds of voters, Log Cabin members said Bush risked tearing the party apart by backing a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
"The president's support for a federal constitutional amendment and his decision to talk about this stance during the campaign has jeopardized the support of gay Americans for the president," said Log Cabin's executive director Patrick Guerriero.
Bush is pandering to the will of Christian conservatives, even though America was moving towards acceptance of gay rights, including marriage, following its legalisation in the eastern state of Massachusetts, he said.
"It's very unfortunate for a group of loyal Republicans that the party has been hijacked by the radical right," he said referring to influential evangelists such as Jerry Falwell.
"This is an extraordinary tough convention for gay delegates and Republicans," Guerriero fumed.
Bush's top campaign advisor Karl Rove "has decided to use a far right campaign strategy while inviting politicians who are friendly to us to be prime time speakers. The party can't have it both ways," Guerriero said.
Moderate Republicans who have declared themselves sympathetic to gay rights, including California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and US Senator John McCain, are among the stars of the convention speakers' roster.
Bush's stance could cost him Log Cabin's endorsement when a decision is made shortly after the convention. It could also cost him the votes of an estimated one million gay and lesbian Americans, Guerriero said.
"We are considering several options of action," Guerriero said, adding that gay Republicans had a longer view than "one president or one election."
Log Cabin, which was founded in liberal California in the late 1970s, has branches across the United States, claims to have 10,000 active supporters on its lists.
It backed Bush in the 2000 presidential campaign when he presented himself as a "compassionate conservative," before gay marriage became a hot button election issue.