Tonight, he will receive an award from a gay-rights group.
R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, said the group was looking past those legislative disputes to see political opportunities in helping Republicans rebuild their party for the 2010 midterm elections. Cornyn is chairman of the GOP’s Senate campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
“We are looking for ways to build bridges instead of tearing them down,’’ Cooper said.
He argued that the rise of the fiscally conservative tea party movement could help the cause of gays in the GOP, because the movement tends to be of a libertarian bent.
Social conservative leaders, however, criticized Cornyn for accepting the Log Cabin invitation.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, last week called on Cornyn to cancel his planned appearance, saying in a letter that he found it “deeply troubling’’ that the senator would “lend your credibility’’ to an organization that he viewed as hostile to traditional family values.
Cornyn defended his decision to attend the event in a letter to Perkins. “Part of my job is to reach out to those committed to defeat Senate Democrats this November,’’ Cornyn wrote. “We may not agree on several key issues, but we do agree that every committee in the United States Senate should be chaired by a Republican.’’
At the fund-raiser, Cornyn planned to acknowledge his disagreements with the gay-rights group. “I am confident we aren’t going to change each other’s minds on those topics,” according to remarks prepared for delivery. But he added, “I believe every person is entitled to be treated with respect, with those with whom I may disagree, even on important issues. Respecting each other does not mean ignoring those disagreements, but rather being honest about them, and working together where possible despite them.”
Rep. Pete Sessions (R., Texas), who opposes same-sex marriage, also was to be honored tonight. He canceled plans to attend the fund-raising dinner, citing a conflict with a leadership meeting, and sent a video message instead. Sessions is chairman of House Republicans’ campaign committee.
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