Taking a bite out of the Apple

Andrew Edwards

New York City: It was a heck of a town this week for political

junkies, protests and massive security measures. In the middle of it

all was Laguna Beach Republican Frank Ricchiazzi, who headed to the

Big Apple as a member of the California delegation.

Ricchiazzi is a co-chair of the Laguna Beach Republicans, and is

perhaps best known in political circles as a co-founder of the Log

Cabin Republicans -- a group that represents gays and lesbians within

the Grand Old Party. Ricchiazzi said he enjoyed his time at the

convention, but was bothered by what he perceived as a rightward

shift in the party’s platform on social issues, particularly gay

marriage.

The party platform adopted at the convention calls for a

Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, an idea that failed in

the Senate this summer. The platform also rejects the concept of

legal arrangements similar to marriage for gay couples. The position

is an insult, Ricchiazzi said, to gay Republicans, as well as

moderates in the party.

“The Log Cabin Republicans are extremely disappointed about what’s

going on here,” Ricchiazzi said from New York.

He said he believes most California Republicans are social

moderates, and called the platform’s position on gay issues “a direct

slap in the face to the overwhelming majority of registered

Republicans in California.”

The Log Cabin Republicans had hoped to garner support for what

they called a Unity Plank, which would not have changed any of the

party’s positions. Instead, it would have acknowledged that debate

exists within the party on gay and lesbian issues as well as

abortion. The plank, which was also supported by Republicans for

Choice and the Republican Youth Majority, did not wind up in the

platform.

“It’s dead,” Ricchiazzi said.

However, social conservatives in the party were pleased with the

platform. Another member of the California delegation was Lou Sheldon

of the Anaheim-based Traditional Values Coalition, an evangelical

group that supports many conservative causes and opposes gay

marriage. Sheldon said a Constitutional amendment is needed to

prevent legislative officials from legalizing gay marriage.

“Marriage at the legal level is under attack, and the only way to

protect it is a constitutional amendment,” Sheldon said from New

York.

Despite his frustration with the party’s position, Ricchiazzi said

he likes to see open debate within his party.

“It’s a mixed bag,” he said. “Was there a mixed bag at the

Democratic party? How many pro-life people spoke at the convention?”

While at the convention, Ricchiazzi said he enjoyed watching

former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Senator John McCain

give their speeches on Monday. He also got caught up in one of the

protests against the convention, when he got stuck in traffic while a

group of bicyclists blocked New York’s streets, which prompted

thousands of police officers to show up and arrest many of the

demonstrators.

Security personnel were another big part of the week. Ricchiazzi

said his identification was checked three times just so he could get

into his hotel.

The Republicans’ theme until the election will be national

security, Ricchiazzi predicted. Republicans will tout President

George W. Bush as a staunch foe of terrorism.

“We are no longer going to play this game with the terrorists, and

we’re going to get them,” Ricchiazzi said.