The president’s moves to ban transgender service members from the military, even those who have fully transitioned, may preclude him from being seen as transformative on LGBT issues within the GOP, but the party is still changing. Even former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, an ardent social conservative, praised the appointment as ambassador to Germany an openly gay man who supported the fight for marriage equality. Grenell wrote in the Wall Street Journal in May 2012, “I can be proud of President Obama’s personal support for gay marriage and still take exception to his dismal national-security and economic records.”
VP swears in new US Ambassador, alongside his husband: https://t.co/CWnuapmf36
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) May 3, 2018
VP Pence administers oath of office to Richard Grenell as US Ambassador to Germany. "It's taken a long time to get here," said Grenell, noting he's been waiting for Senate confirmation since last September. Confirmed 56-42 last week. Served 8 years as US spokesman at UN. pic.twitter.com/iZXiD9NSbX
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 3, 2018
Finally! @RichardGrenell is at last confirmed as Ambassador! I'm proud for my friend, Ric, and even prouder that he will ably represent the USA in Europe. Great choice, @realDonaldTrump in naming him!
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) April 27, 2018
More. Via The Hill:
The fight over Richard Grenell isn’t the cause of the clearly changing sentiment within the GOP; it’s more of the fulcrum than the spark. There have long been Log Cabin Republicans, now dutifully championing the fact that one of their own will likely be the highest-ranking gay official in U.S. history. Yet now, there seems to be a larger presence of openly gay Republicans than ever before; and consistent with polling data, no one in the party really seems to mind.
5 Comments for “Grenell Confirmed”
posted by Matthew on
I will gladly support a pro-gay anti-trans candidate. #DropTheT
posted by Jorge on
“Joseph Borelli is the minority whip of the New York City Council”
I didn’t even know the New York City Council even had enough Republicans to have a minority whip!
I can’t help noticing there’s a lot of men on that list. I wonder why that is?
Then again, years ago people who knew the list didn’t make it public.
posted by Lori Heine on
Here cone the “But Trump is still evil” comments, in 4….3…2…1…
Rah, team!
posted by Tom Scharbach on
Republican attitudes in the Senate are indeed changing, as is evidenced by the difference between reaction to Ambassador Grenell’s appointment and President Clinton’s appointment of James Hormel (Luxemborg) and President Obama’s appointment of John Berry (Australia), James Brewster (Dominican Republic), Rufus Gifford (Denmark), Daniel Baer (OSCE), James Costos (Spain) and Ted Osius (Vietnam).
I’m hoping that now that President Trump has shown the way for Republicans, the sexual orientation of nominees for high office will become a non-issue for Republicans going forward.
posted by JohnInCA on
“There have long been Log Cabin Republicans, now dutifully championing the fact that one of their own will likely be the highest-ranking gay official in U.S. history.”
Funny, I thought “Obama was the first gay President” was a conservative meme.