Report: GOP Rep. Trying To Convince Party Not To Back Gay Candidates

Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., at a news conference about military funding the the Debt Ceiling bill being put forth by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Capitol Hill in Washington on Saturday, July 30, 2011.(... Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., at a news conference about military funding the the Debt Ceiling bill being put forth by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Capitol Hill in Washington on Saturday, July 30, 2011.(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg) MORE LESS
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Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) has been trying to “convince his colleagues and the National Republican Congressional Committee brass they shouldn’t back some gay candidates,” Politico reported on Wednesday. 

Republicans have two promising openly gay candidates running in 2014 for Congressional seats currently held by Democrats. Politico learned about Forbes’ efforts through “more than a half-dozen sources with direct knowledge of the talks.”

Forbes spoke with Politico on Wednesday, and told the news outlet that he thinks “GOP leaders can do whatever they want to do” when giving money to candidates. But he said he is more concerned about members being asked to contribute to candidates. 

Asked if he would have a problem with the National Republican Congressional Committee donating to gay candidates, Forbes said “that’s a little different situation” and “I don’t think they’ve done that yet.” 

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