I had a chance to speak to Fred Karger, the first Jewish Republican candidate for president, on his way home from the GLBT resource center at UCLA, a place he says inspired him and is “a hot bed of activity.” This could also describe Mr. Karger’s campaign trail. He is also the first out and proud Gay Republican running for president. Karger is not above confronting those he feels need to answer for their actions against the community he supports. A community long demonized by the very party he is working to change.
The Community and The Party
I asked Fred Karger why people, particularly in the Gay Community, were hesitant to let go of their traditional ideas about the Republican Party.
“Republican elected officials have done all the damage as far as legislations and initiatives go. All the hateful anti-Gay bills come out of Republicans, that is changing a little bit but it is going to take a lot of work.”
He also believes that while “It would be easy for every GLBT individual to leave the Republican Party and go to the Democrat Party,” it could also mean a loss of support.
“We saw what happened on “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” when 8 Republican senators voted over their party leadership to support the repeal. If everybody left and the Republicans don’t have any Gay representation then we wouldn’t get those kinds of supporters.”
It is this type of support Karger hopes to nurture. While he acknowledges the Democrats have been much better with the handling of issues facing the Gay community, he also believes things in the Republican Party are changing.
“Change needs to come from within; I’m hoping to help turn around the Republican Party.”
And what has Fred Karger learned from his campaign? And have his political views evolved through this process?
“I’ve learned I really am responsible for what I’m doing. I’d hoped to get more support from the LGBT community, I understand it’s a stretch and I understand my party affiliation discourages people from getting involved but the LGBT community has distanced themselves from me, they think I’m a loose cannon.”
Mr. Karger went on to illustrate this point with his experience with The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
“Even after I sent a 30-page application in, which I spent weeks working on, I never heard back from them. Money has been my biggest obstacle, what a difference the Victory Fund could have made, even a nominal nod of support. When I met with the chairman, he said “if you were running for school board, we’d be all for you.” Well, somebody has to be the first Gay Presidential candidate, what are we waiting for? I want it now.”
Most recently, Karger was denied a booth at the CPAC conference, an act he believes was based on his sexuality.
The Conference
So why would Fred Karger want to attend CPAC that has a no Gays allowed policy?
“Because it’s something we have to do, we have to call people out on their discrimination. This type of discrimination has no place in this country or in the political arena. I want make it so that if they continue this, candidates will say, “no, I’m not going to CPAC because they discriminate.”
“I knew perfectly well when I applied last year that it was a difficult reach for me,” Karger went on to say he is doing this to, “call these groups out,” and that “they cannot exclude individuals because they happen to be gay. Had I not been out, they would have welcomed me to exhibit and/or speak. I have stellar Republican credentials. President Reagan put CPAC on the map; I was on his senior political team for seven years. Normally, they would roll out the red carpet, but instead they’ve slammed the door in my face.”
Karger was granted a intake hearing with a director on the Washington Human Rights Commission about his complaint against CPAC; his hopes are that this complaint “will force the American Conservative Union (CPAC's sponsor) to allow gay organizations and gay candidates to exhibit and if they do not, they will have to move next year's CPAC to a state that doesn’t have an anti-discrimination policy.”
The Issue of Sexuality
Why does it matter Fred Karger is Gay? Will sexuality ever not be an issue and is there anything that can be done to encourage people to look past an individual’s sexuality? Karger believes the answer lies with the younger generations.
“Gay Marriage and Gay Civil rights is not like a sales tax increase where people can be convinced, this is a deeply held belief, but what’s changing is so many younger people are coming out. The more comfortable it is for people to come out of all ages, the better off we’ll be and that’s why things are moving along so rapidly.”
I asked Mr. Karger why sexuality was still an issue in 2012.
“There’s a lot of money to be made off Gay bashing. Look at organizations like The Family Research Council and The National Organization for Marriage, everyone around these groups is getting rich.
Karger goes on to say he believes religion to be the other reason sexuality remains an issue.
“Religion in this country does a lot of wonderful things but it also teaches a lot of terrible things about being GLBT, and to me, that’s why we are in this predicament. My particular interest has been with the Mormon Faith because they are the leaders in anti Gay activity all over the country; I think if we get the Mormon Church out of the anti-Gay Marriage business, we win.
So is America ready for a Gay President? Karger says recent polls have indicated people may be more open to the idea.
“One of the reasons I’m doing this is to get beyond that issue,” an issue Karger hopes people will turn into an interest in his plans for the country. “Ok so he’s Gay, but what’s he going to do about the economy, I want to hear about his education reform ideas, we have international crises,” those are the things I think people are more interested in.”
Crazy or Fearless?
During his campaign, Fred Karger has not shied away from calling his opponents out. When he had the Mormon Church and The National Organization of Marriage investigated, he was subpoenaed in a federal lawsuit. An experience he says was a, “very traumatic, costly, and emotional experience for me to fight these major forces. They tried to set me back but it had the opposite effect.”
When Prop 8 qualified, Karger knew he had to get involved.
“I saw this thing coming and decided I would take an active role, I knew we needed to demonize our opponents. That had never been done before. We never boycotted any of the big donors or published their names on a website.”
An article in the San Diego Union Tribune further sparked Karger’s actions.
“Two big donors were bragging about their contributions to qualify Prop 8 like they had built a hospital wing or gave money to the homeless, instead, they are taking rights away from a minority. I thought we should make these businesses accountable and give people the choice, maybe they don’t want to give money to these businesses.”
While Karger admits to having been called crazy because of his willingness to confront his opponents, there is also a fearless determination to overcome actions and organizations he feels are encouraging discrimination.
“I have friends who have commented, “You’ve always been fearless.” I’ve never thought of myself as fearless but in my career we’ve gone up against some major players. I’m a nice guy but don’t cross my community or me.”
So how does someone who is paving the way for future Gay candidates define bravery?
“Doing the right thing and not being afraid of the consequences, I’m absolutely convinced what I do when I go after opponents of equality or when I try and let younger people know they are ok by example, and their dreams in life are limitless, then I know I am doing the right thing.”
What’s Possible?
Cohesion between parties?
Fred Karger says, “Absolutely, this “heels dug in” attitude where Republicans can’t stand Democrats and vice-versa needs to change because we aren’t getting anything done. I think sitting down with people, negotiating, and working out arrangements is what’s lacking. I think I can help pull people together and bring this country back together.”
Getting America back on track?
“The next President needs to inspire people, as President Reagan did and get legislation passed. I’ve got a 7-point job plan and I’ve come up with some pretty innovative plans to jumpstart this economy, to drive entrepreneurship and return jobs to this country by bringing back off-shore profits of big companies.”
Mr. Karger finished in 8th place in the New Hampshire primary, and is currently on the state ballots of his home state - California in addition to Puerto Rico, Maryland, North Carolina, and Michigan.
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