I just got word tonight via email that conservative leaders have united in denouncing the apparent firing of Ben Lopez, an evangelical activist, by the California Republican Party, after objections to his hiring were raised by gay and lesbian groups, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
A letter was sent to CRP Chairman Duf Sundheim asking him to “make every effort to reach out to the disaffected conservative base. The first step should be the immediate reinstatement of Mr. Lopez. We trust the party will accept our counsel on these issues over a few noisy liberal interest groups.”
Signatories to the letter include Michael Schroeder, the advisor to OC Sheriff Mike Carona who is also a past CRP Chairman; Mike Spence, the President of the California Republican Assembly, a powerful grassroots conservative Republican organization; Brandon Powers, Chairman of the California Chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom; and Matt Harper, Chairman of the Young Republican Federation of California. They characterized the dismisal of Lopez by the CRP, as “a slap in the face to the dedicated profamily and conservative Hispanic activists who he had been faithfully rallying towards victory in November.”
It’s my understanding that many non-LGBTers objected to the hiring of Mr. Lopez, including the California Courage Campaign.
But if the Republicans want to push moderate voters into the Democratic column, we’ll be happy to take their support.
So I wish all the signatories all the best in their efforts to reinstate him.