Openly Gay Republican Fred Karger Files For Presidential Run

A gay former advisor to Presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush 41, Fred Karger has formally filed with the FEC to seek the Republican nomination in 2012. Karger, who will be on radio with me Friday night, spoke with Nancy Cordes of CBS:

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 took some shots at potential rivals, like 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’s immediate goal is to get into one of the debates and says if he does, “I will make history.” In the video below, Karger explains why what he is doing is a positive message to the gay community.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.