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Log Cabin Urges Arlington Group to Support Republican Efforts to Save Social Security

Far Right Group Should Stop Undermining the President's Plan for Reforming Social Security

January 26, 2005

(Washington, DC) – "The radical right has once again revealed their true motives – they want to divide the American family by pushing an already defeated Constitutional amendment, instead of uniting behind the Republican reform agenda," said Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Guerriero. Guerriero's comments come in response to a New York Times report that says a coalition of far right groups, known as the Arlington Group, are threatening to withhold support for President Bush's efforts to save Social Security unless he "is prepared to spend significant political capital" on their already rejected anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment.

"The Arlington Group should stop using political blackmail to push a divisive Constitutional amendment that failed by wide margins last year in both houses of Congress. Instead they should join with other conservative and Republican groups in supporting the GOP's reform agenda," said Log Cabin Political Director Chris Barron.

The letter from the Arlington Group to Karl Rove, the President's top political adviser, claims that the President's support for personal savings accounts and Social Security reform would not be possible without the President's full support for the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment. The letter goes as far as stating, "When the administration adopts a defeatist attitude on an issue that is at the top of our agenda, it becomes impossible for us to unite our movement on an issue such as Social Security privatization where there are already deep misgivings."

"It is clear that some on the far right do not share in the Republican ideals of lower taxes, limited government, and individual liberty. I can think of no more Republican idea than personal savings accounts, which would allow all Americans to become shareholders in the American economy," said Barron. "The creation of personal savings accounts is a tremendous opportunity for the Republican Party to build an ownership society. I hope the Arlington Group joins Log Cabin and dozens of other grassroots conservative organizations in fully supporting Republican efforts to save Social Security."

The centerpiece of Log Cabin's recently unveiled 2005 legislative reform agenda is Social Security reform. "Log Cabin will help make the case to all Americans about the importance of real Social Security reform," concluded Guerriero.