CBS News – March 23, 2011

Fred Officially Files to be a Candidate for President

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A Gay Republican is Running for President?

March 24, 2011 at 7:20pm

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This is fab!

Even though some people might not agree with the political party Fred Karger‘s a part of, he completely has the right to stand there with them and put his name in the hat for President, whether or not he’s gay!

While we’re sure that his bid for the candidacy will not sit well with some people because he is openly gay, we are very proud of him for making the effort real and unavoidable in the RNC. To us, that’s inspirational. He could really help to reform the equality stances in the party, while focusing on the nation and what matter’s most.

Here’s what he’s done:

Retired California political consultant Fred Karger will be in DC today to file his paperwork with the Federal Election Commission officially declaring his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. It will make him the first openly gay Republican ever to run for president as well as the first GOP candidate to declare officially that he is running for the 2012 race.

That really is a big deal for the Republican party!

Despite your politics, it’s key that we all support Fred’s decision and make sure that he’s given every freedom to campaign as anyone else would be!

Unfortunately we assume that some people are going to be pretty upset no matter how good of a candidate he is.

Now to see if he’ll be going up against the Trump!

Equality for all!

• 2012
• Fox news
• Fred Karger
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• presidential candidate 2012

March 23, 2011 4:35 PM

Openly gay Republican Fred Karger announces 2012 presidential run

Posted by Lauren Seifert

For link to story, Click Here

Barely hours after filing his intent with the FEC to run for the 2012 Republican nomination for president, Fred Karger stopped by Washington Unplugged to formally announce his decision.

Speaking with CBS News congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes Karger said, “I’ve filed to run for President of the United States.” (watch above)

Explaining what brought him to this moment Karger said, “It was the culmination of a lifetime of political work. It was a very exciting moment.”

This is the first time Karger has run for political office, but he has been a behind-the-scenes player for 35 years — serving as an advisor to Presidents Ford, Reagan and George H. W. Bush.

Karger says he’s an “outsider” but has “political experience.”

He is also the first openly gay presidential candidate. Cordes asked when so many of his fellow Republicans are opposed to gay rights and same-sex marriage why he would chose to run as a candidate of that same party.

“Being a gay Republicans is kind of an oxymoron,” he said, “I have been a fighter in my party, I have always been on the more moderate side but I’m also a prot?g? of Lee Atwater. We need to open up this party and that’s one of my reasons for running. The party should not be dominated by one faction or another. It should be open to all.”

Karger also added, “I want to be a different kind of Republican. The kind of Republican I grew up with. I consider myself to be Progressive. The last Progressive Republican president was over 100 years ago; Theodore Roosevelt.”

Karger also weighed in with his thoughts on his potential opponents in the GOP race, taking particular aim at Newt Gingrich.

“He’s yesterday’s news… and he’s living in the past. I think we need some new, fresh leadership,” he said.

Karger also had some choice words for President Obama when it came to his leadership skills. As he told Cordes, “The guy’s been a disappointment. He’s not a happy guy, he needs Zoloft. He’s just not optimistic.”

Karger is still a long-shot and although he’s thrown his hat in the ring, many of his would-be opponents have the instant name recognition that he lacks, but he remains optimistic.

In speaking about his hopes to take part in the Republican presidential debates he said, “If I can get in one or more of these presidential debates, I will make history.”

Watch Karger explain why a gay candidate can win the GOP nomination.

Watch Karger weigh in on his possible Republican opponents.

Watch Karger explain how he would handle the crisis in Libya.

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The Fix

Political News & Analysis By Chris Cillizza

6:10 pm ET, 3/23/11

For link to story, Click Here

WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T MISS:

* The Club for Growth PAC has raised $350,000 for Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) since endorsing his Senate candidacy last month. Meanwhile Flake, who has taken heat from fellow Republicans in the past for supporting immigration reform, just recently changed his position on the issue.

* Sarah Palin is in Florida, speaking at the Naples Town Hall Distinguished Speakers lecture series. Vice President Joe Biden is also in the Sunshine State, attending fundraisers for Sen. Bill Nelson and checking out the Yankees’ spring training. Presumably, their paths won’t cross.

* Crossroads GPS, the conservative campaign powerhouse, has launched a website to crowd-source scrutiny of data from the Obama administration, obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. The website will also agitate for more transparency from the White House. Democrats are crying foul, saying that Crossroads is itself against transparency for political donors.

* Democracy for America, Howard Dean’s PAC, has endorsed California Secretary of State Debra Bowen in the in the upcoming special election to replace Rep. Jane Harman (D). Term limits bar Bowen for running for her current office again. Known for her advocacy on environmental issues and election integrity, Bowen will face off against Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn , and liberal activist Marcy Winograd .

* The 2012 Republican primaries have their first official candidate: Fred Karger, a retired California political consultant. While former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and Godfathers’ Pizza CEO Herman Cain have formed exploratory committees, Karger is the first candidate to actually file with the Federal Election Commission. He’s also the first openly gay Republican presidential candidate. How much attention and access he’ll get for the quixotic bid is unclear – Karger was left out of last month’s Faith & Freedom Coalition forum in Des Moines. The Post’s Dan Zak profiled Karger last month.