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GoProud Dissent Among the Ranks

By: Ben Howe (Diary)  |  February 11th, 2011 at 01:19 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

There appears to be more fallout as a result of the recent remarks made by GoProud Chairman Chris Barron in which he referred to ACU Foundation Chairman Cleta Mitchell as a “nasty bigot.” Barron later apologized for the remark after raising the ire of newly selected ACU chair Al Cardenas who indicated the possibility that the organization may distance themselves from GoProud.

Said Cardenas:

“I have been disappointed with their website and their quotes in the media, taunting organizations that are respected in our movement and part of our movement, and that’s not acceptable. And that puts them in a difficult light in terms of how I view things.”

It now appears that members from within GoProud have also found disagreement with Barron in a statement posted at the blog of GoProud Treasurer Bruce Carroll.  In a statement written by B. Daniel Blatt and signed by Carroll, they publicly expressed their discontent:

When we heard that Chris had called Cleta Mitchell a “nasty bigot” in a public forum, Bruce and I each contacted the other to express his concerns. We both believe he crossed a line and have been considering for the past 24 hours how to respond. This evening (Thursday, February 10), we thought it best to post this piece. While we disagree with Cleta Mitchell on a number of issues, we believe Chris was wrong to call her a “nasty bigot” to a reporter for the Metro Weekly. This is not appropriate public discourse. We are pleased that Chris apologized for using such intemperate language and encourage him to use greater discretion in future commentary.

GoProud’s sponsorship of CPAC conference in Washington, D.C. has been the subject of much controversy resulting in many organizations opting to not attend the gathering.

COMMENTS

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  • Adjoran

    they need to get rid of this guy. That sort of rhetoric is what we expect to hear from advocacy groups on the left.

    You can’t be part of the team if you come in insulting team members of long standing.

  • http://www.800cart.com Ron Robinson

    Keene said tonight on NRA radio (from CPAC) that he intends to become the next chair of the NRA where his governance will be right in line with their most recent mis-steps…

    As an NRA life member, I hate to say it, but let the NRA be the next victim of his mis-steps, then we can find a much darker corner to hide him in.

    If ACU can appear to be bouncing back, then so could the NRA.

    Then we will know about professional, ruling class ‘politicians’ who want to ‘govern’ large organizations, and put paid to all that.

  • http://infowick.com/services/seo/ alexsmth114

    Fantastic writeup, one of the best in recent times!!..

    http://infowick.com/services/seo/

  • JadedByPolitics

    this Conservative is concerned! He said it, he meant it and GOProud will go DOWN with him! Whenever ANYONE mentions GOProud in conversation to me, I will remind them that they are a leftist front, attempting to appear “conservative” to destroy the Movement and I will mention Chris Barron and his comments!

    • melle1228

      Barron basically said that “yes he was sorry to call someone names,” but we all had to understand- because he had been called names. It didn’t sound like an apology to me-only another “victim” statement.

      • JadedByPolitics

        Conservatives DO NOT DO victims! Go back to your brethren in the lefty movement there Chris you are playing with the wrong side!

        • runner12

          half-hearted apology. I would have hoped that he would have apologized for slandering someone just because they do not agree with his lifestyle. It would also have been nice if he had apologized for all of his previous attacks on Socons.

          Sometimes when the light is shined on a particular organization, their true nature comes out. I think that its what we are seeing. To Mr. Carroll’s credit, his remonstrance of Mr. Barron’s behavior appears to be sincere to me and not simply an attempt to spin what has become a disaster for GoProud. That is commendable. Unfortunately, GoProud may have burned one too many bridges this time. It will take quite a while for them to rebuild them.

          Great piece, Mr. Howe.

          • edintexas

            Regarding Mr. Barron, Mr Carroll stated that he “…encourage(s) him to use greater discretion in future commentary.” It seems to me that Carroll’s statement means he only has a problem with Barron saying what he thinks in public, but does not have a problem with what Barron thinks.

          • runner12

            of the doubt. But sadly, you are probably right on the money on that one.

  • Joe_B

    Was the problem that Cleta Mitchell was called a nasty bigot, or that is was done in a public forum? Because this statement is taking Barron to task for publicly expressing this opinion, not for having the opinion in the first place. So it’s cool for GOProud leaders to think their supposed fellow travelers are bigots, and can state it in private settings to their hearts content. It’s when this becomes public and complicates their attempts to pass as conservative that action letters must be composed.

    • edintexas

      I didn’t read this far before posting my reply to runner12. I think you are “spot on”, this is exactly what was being said, and intended.

  • Scope

    Barron has also called groups like the Heritage Foundation and Concerned Women for America, among other, losers. He said he was glad that Jim DeMint wasn’t attending CPAC, and that he belonged on the Island of Misfit Political Toys. It would seem that when any group has been under such intense lights that any one with any common sense would be at least trying to act humble and professional at the very least, and not inviting more negative attention to themselves.

    Even with the non-apology apology, it doesn’t remove the groups anti-conservative agenda. There have been many diaries and comments here that have exposed some of their shady ties to groups that are Liberal, and their activism against SoCons and SoCon issues. I don’t see how the group can survive with the amount of sunlight that has been shown on them and their goals. Chris Barron probably saw the handwriting on the wall, and is striking out in the most rude and destructive manner.

  • http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/The-Reagan-Files/144699382218118 hardcore-prep

    This is a disgrace! We are conservatives, [people. Does anyone know what that means?

  • http://parsoned.blogspot.com parsoned

    We’re seeing who the real conservatives are. Those who align with and pander to GOProud should be marked, remembered, and discounted.

  • earlgrey

    rank and file of GOProud? It almost like they have sought to divide and conquer the conservative movement.

  • trpeacocke

    …used to be Planned Parenthood’s advocate in the GOP. With GOProud, he’s just put a rainbow binkie over his trojan horse.

    Given that sort of background, it’s not much of a shock to discover that GOProud isn’t conservative on anything. It’s just vehicle for bringing socially progressive money and intimidation tactics to CPAC, in order to silence social conservatives. On the plus side, at least we now know what guys like Breitbart think about social conservatives.

    Gay isses are a political loser, even in liberal states like California. I don’t know why anyone would think that becoming squishy on marriage is politically wise. Let’s see them try to establish a political coalition on a two-legged stool.

  • zachv

    I’m a gay conservative. I can belong to either the Log Cabin Republicans or GOProud, neither of which completely reflect my political views.

    It’s kinda one choice deal here. Chris Barron crossed the line, yes. Should I completely disavow the group? No.

    • edwyrd

      why must you be a “gay” conservative, why not just conservative, or even a conservative who happens to be gay, but a conservative first?

      doesn’t it strike you as somewhat of a paradox, a “fatal” idealistic conflict, to consider yourself as, most importantly, gay, and then secondly a “conservative”?

      or is that you think the conservatives should be less so?

      • zachv

        Politics is the process to which people make collective decisions. It’s the process that influences social interactions … and I am apart of a minority that is discriminated against in our country. Sure, the US is incredibly tolerant: I have never experienced discrimination first hand as my RedState parents were welcoming and accepting (I’m a college student).

        But I have too many friends that didn’t experience that: I have friends that were disowned by their parents, families and friends. I have friends who have faced discrimination in their professional and personal lives. Being political and active about it hopefully changes that social attitude … so I and others don’t have to deal with ‘faggot’ being thrown at us, or have gay teens committing suicide, or being beat up by a drunk idiot, etc.

        Being just ‘conservative’ would be grand and hopefully what I’ll be eventually, but right now it doesn’t recognize the issues and problems that I am forced to deal with.

  • edwyrd

    for an unpopular choice. we all deal with criticism and riducule for decisions that are dissagreeable to others, you can’t expect to escape that completely and you shouldn’t ask to have laws passed just because your good mood might be curtailed by a less considerate fellow who insults you.
    in addition, assault is a felony, and i daresay moreso when it is a “hate crime”, which is what, a licence for you to taunt stright people?
    you wear your sexuality on your sleeve, and dare anyone to object, even when you know many people do for moral reasons, and then cry foul as if you deserve to be treated differently, more carefully than others.
    yet at the same time you acknowledge how tolerant america is, do i detect a double standard?
    would it be unfair on my part to ask if it is your intention to see your homosexual morality to become an acceptable and desirable morality, good for all americans to embrace and admire, wether young or old, confused or troubled?
    or do you sense a degree of immorality in your own social perspective?

    additionally, way more stright teens commit suicide than gay, stright teens get bullied too. we all must mature, it is not an easy process, and being bullied is and always has been part of that. to avoid it and expect zero consequences for what some consider an immoral decision is, for lack of a better term, delusional.

    please don’t assume that i am insulting you. i am being stright forward and sincere with you, and i hope you can at least consider my points

  • zachv

    I don’t wear my sexuality on my sleeve everyday, anyday: my sexuality is my business. However, when people do find out (rumors fly, people wonder), what I do expect is that I am not treated any differently than a normal person. That’s what (I hope) conservatives believe. As your signature says, “… for if liberty is the summit, equality is the base” w/r/t civilly and politically.

    But that’s the problem edwyd: I am NOT treated the same as any other person. There are people who believe homosexuality is immoral and will do everything in their power to hate and discriminate. That’s what I want to combat and not by passing ridiculous laws or bringing in big government as a liberal would do, but by recognizing that I am gay and encouraging others not to change their views on morality, but at the least embrace civility.

  • edwyrd

    so you must expect to be treated differently. and again your decision to participate in a gay lifestyle IS controversial, so people WILL gossip. why would you be so preoccupied with what others think? here’s a quick lesson, people will NEVER think as you would like them to, but rather as you would not. this is a RULE.

    and as far as violence goes, we all risk being attacked for our views and opinions. i would submit that you become deaf to the negative opinions of others unless you find some degree of value or truth in them.

    i cannot assume to know or even venture to guess your state of mind or your degreee of conviction to the gay lifestyle and agenda. one day you may change your perspective. don’t rule it out. but think in realistic relativism. don’t always give your own opinion an unassailable position of importance. you may find out one day that you could be wrong. you are lucky you live in a time and place that allows you to explore in every direction without MUCH resistance and condemnation.

    it should be of primary importance to you to preserve this phenomenon known as america, and the gay agenda is a direct threat to it.

    i would urge you to think carefully about our chat. good luck and may the lord jesus bless you in your journey!

    • zachv

      … as I have had many similar to it. But just in case you visit this page again, let me quickly add that my sexuality is something I struggled with for 7 or 8 years. I came to realize it’s who I am – something that I cannot change, nor something that is a variable conviction. Being gay wasn’t my choice. Accepting it and living with it was.

      … and being deaf, dumb and silent doesn’t change anything.

      May God bless you also :)

      • edwyrd

        this is what i said, and that is because you seem obsessed with that. John Paul Sarte called that “living in the other”. it presupposes a sense of shame.

        and i cant accept that being gay isn’t your chioce.
        you are responsible for your own actions. the manner in which you conduct yourself, where you go and what you do, every decision you make all day long IS yours and yours alone. in fact, life is nothing more than a series of decisions, like a string of pearls, that define and shout who and what you are.
        to abandon responsibility of your own actions and deeds is to invite all sorts of cruel and malicious behavior on your own part. this wil only make you a tyrant.

        heres a prediction: your struggles are not over.
        as long as you live a socratic life ( question everything, accept no answer without scrunity ) you will journey along the paths of ideas, concepts and knowledge, they all lead to truth, if you can be smart enough to decern it. there is help, there is the bible, there is prayer.
        we who petition the lord, although imperfect and constantly struggling, have a great adcvantage over those who do not. our path is guided and prepared, there are angels fighting on our behalf, and on your behalf as well.

        don’t give up the struggle, don’t abandon responsibilty for your actions. constantly ask for gods help. you will persevere.

  • EMT907

    It’s more or less about letting others know that we are gays that are different from the gay liberals. GayPatriot uses “gay” in the blog name so you know right up front where he’s coming from. GOProud doesn’t have “gay” in the name, but one could probably figure it out just by looking at it. Just as you can probably figure out that the Fredrick Douglas Republican Club is a black Republican organization.

    “why must you be a ?gay? conservative, why not just conservative, or even a conservative who happens to be gay, but a conservative first?”

    It must be only insofar as to show all that we’re not all the same. The same reason why there’s a National Black Republican Association. It can help to attract other gays to conservatism. I found GayPatriot when I was looking for others who were like minded.

    And yes, we consider ourselves conservatives who just happen to be gay (GayPatriotWest uses that term quite a bit). Gay conservative is just easier to say and it’s a term that’s sorta stuck.

    • melle1228

      It can help to attract other gays to conservatism.

      That is something I don’t understand. First, Conservatism is supposed to reject identity politics-ANY identity politics, women, gay, black etc. We are supposed to be about a set of principals that are universal as opposed to the Democratic party who plays identities off of each other.

      If the Conservative message and Conservative values don’t attract homosexuals then “other gays being Conservatives” certainly won’t. I would hope that most homosexuals are smart enough to think for themselves, and not look into something because all the “other gays are doing it.”

      It also means that you respect that party platform. The GOP platform as well as the Conservative platform has been traditional families, GOProud wants to change a fundamental platform in the party by playing identity politics. It would be like a woman’s group pushing the ERA, or a black group pushing affirmative action. None of those things are conservative.