WASHINGTON — Conservative activists are launching "an unprecedented campaign" against three Republican candidates — two of whom are out gay men — because of their support for marriage equality and abortion.
The National Organization for Marriage, Family Research Council Action, and CitizenLink "will mount a concerted effort to urge voters to refuse to cast ballots" for Republican House candidates Carl DeMaio in California and Richard Tisei in Massachusetts and Republican Senate candidate Monica Wehby in Oregon, according to a letter sent to Republican congressional and campaign leaders on Thursday.
"We cannot in good conscience urge our members and fellow citizens to support candidates like DeMaio, Tisei or Wehby," the presidents of the three groups write. "They are wrong on critical, foundational issues of importance to the American people. Worse, as occupants of high office they will secure a platform in the media to advance their flawed ideology and serve as terrible role models for young people who will inevitably be encouraged to emulate them."
DeMaio and Tisei are the only out LGBT federal candidates from the Republican Party to be appearing on the ballot this fall.
"The Republican Party platform is a 'statement of who we are and what we believe.' Thus, the platform supports the truth of marriage as the union of husband and wife, and recognizes the sanctity and dignity of human life," NOM President Brian S. Brown said in a statement.
Brown called it "extremely disappointing" to see candidates supported "who reject the party's principled positions on these and other core issues."
Of the effort to urge people to oppose DeMaio, Tisei, and Wehby, he said, "We cannot sit by when people calling themselves Republicans seek high office while espousing positions that are antithetical to the overwhelming majority of Republicans."
The letter was sent to House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Greg Walden, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Jerry Moran, and others in Republican congressional leadership.
In it, the three conservative groups also warned that it is a "grave error" for the party to be supporting "candidates who do not hold core Republican beliefs and, in fact, are working to actively alienate the Republican base."
