As we noted the other day, the Family Research Council had run ads against Rep. Joseph Cao in Louisiana because, after having endorsed him in 2008, FRC decided that Cao was insufficiently anti-gay.
Last night, Cao lost his re-election bid.
Contrast that with another Louisiana politician, Sen. David Vitter, who admitted to involvement with prostitutes. What does FRC have to say about that?
“He came forward, took responsibilities for his actions, acknowledged it, asked for forgiveness, has remained consistent in his positions and the voters in Louisiana have responded positively to that,” Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, told The Ballot Box.
“He had enough time between when this event became public and when he had to stand for reelection, he was able to convince voters that he had changed,” added Perkins. “People make mistakes, but its whether or not we recognize we made a mistake” that’s the issue.
…
Perkins said he and Vitter spoke after D.C. Madam news broke.
“He left me convinced that I should give him another chance,” he said. “He certainly has not changed his positions. If anything, he’s gotten stronger and more resolute in his firm conservative stance.”
So let that be a lesson to other Republican leaders: if you support things like Hate Crimes legislation or the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, FRC will attack you for helping to “advance the radical social agendas of homosexual activists.”
But if you are a “family values” conservative who frequents prostitutes and says you are sorry once you get caught, FRC won’t hold it against you.
