Massachusetts Representative Barney
Frank on Tuesday defended describing gay Republicans as “Uncle
Toms.”
The openly gay 72-year-old Frank, who
is not seeking re-election, first made the assertion during an
appearance on SiriusXM's The Michelangelo Signorile Show and
then repeated the claim as he participated in a panel program of the
LGBT Caucus at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
“When they tell us that they're happy
to be Republicans because they're getting acceptance and civility, I
gotta say that I am again inclined to think that they're called Log
Cabin club because their role model is Uncle Tom,” Frank said.
In a statement, Frank expanded on what
he described as “very harsh criticism.”
“[M]y use of 'Uncle Tom' was based
not simply on this awful fact that they have chosen to be actively on
the wrong side of an election that will have an enormous impact on
our right to equality,” he wrote.
Log Cabin Republicans “may mislead
people who do not share their view that tax cuts for the wealthy are
more important than LGBT rights into thinking that they are somehow
helping the latter by supporting Mitt Romney and his Rick Santorum
platform.”
Frank charged that the group had failed
to influence other Republicans to support gay rights, and yet, “they
pretend to be successful … and urge people to join them in
rewarding the Republicans when they have in fact continued their
anti-LGBT stance.”
“Some have complained that in
comparing the Log Cabin Republicans to Uncle Tom, I was ignoring the
fact that they are nice,” Frank offered in conclusion. “I accept
the fact that many of them are nice – so was Uncle Tom – but in
both cases they've been nice to the wrong people.”
R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of
Log Cabin Republicans, responded to Frank's missive in a statement
released to POLITICO.com.
“Congressman Frank, of all people,
should understand the importance of perseverance when working within
a party to achieve change – after all, it was not so long ago his
party was indifferent at best when it came to respecting gay
families,” Cooper said. “Leaders committed to LGBT equality know
that every victory our community has achieved has required bipartisan
advocacy and bipartisan votes, and winning support from Republicans
will only be more important in the days ahead.”
“Come January, Republicans will
maintain a majority in the House and likely secure a majority in the
Senate. Without Log Cabin Republicans working with fellow
conservatives, LGBT Americans would be left without a credible voice
within the GOP. Barney Frank's denial of Log Cabin Republicans
success, particularly on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal and the
freedom to marry in New York, is sad but unsurprising. It is time
for him to pass on the baton to leaders better suited to a world
where equality is not a partisan issue.”