Gay Activist Jimmy LaSalvia: "Why I Left the GOP (And You Should Too)"

Conservative GOProud co-founder tells all about Andrew Breitbart, Ann Coulter, and break with Republican Party in new book.

1x 1.1x 1.25x 1.5x 2x 3x

:15 :15

Download

Gay Activist Jimmy LaSalvia: "Why I Left the GOP (And You Should Too)"

HD Video Download

"There's a segment of the party that wants to keep the Republicans in the past," says longtime gay conservative activist, Jimmy LaSalvia, co-founder of the now-defunct gay Republican group GOProud and the author of the new book, No Hope: Why I Left the Republican Party (and You Should Too).

In a frank and revealing interview, LaSalvia spoke with Reason TV about how the GOP's failure to adapt to the country's fast-moving evolution on social issues led him to question his partisan loyalty and ultimately embrace political independence. 

LaSalvia also discusses his close friendship with conservative yet gay-friendly firebrands Ann Coulter and Andrew Breitbart, the surprising details of his meetings with Fox News executives, and why he couldn't bring himself to vote for Mitt Romney even after campaigning vigorously for him. 

About 8.30 minutes long.

Produced by Anthony L. Fisher. Camera by Jim Epstein with help from Dan Rogenstein. Additional footage shot by Austin Bragg. 

Music: "HEY DOOBIE" by Jared C. Balogh 

Scroll down for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube Channel to get automatic updates when new videos go live.

Comments

[PlaystoomuchHALO]

Not just the past, a past that never actually existed. What they want is to turn society into some sort of twisted "Father Knows Best" universe where all those nasty things called reality can be safely ignored/punished.

[Brandybuck]

That past did exist, but right thinking folk kept all those nasty things in the closet.

[MSimon]

What they want is to turn society into some sort of twisted "Father Knows Best" universe where all those nasty things called reality can be safely exploited.

[MSimon]

The elephant in the room LaSalvia failed to mention was the huge change in attitudes towards Prohibition.

[Root Boy]

I'll admit I haven't taken the time to watch, but if he's leaving due to socons that really is small beer to most (maybe not to a gay activist). I agree fighting gay marriage hasn't helped Repubs much and is a losing battle (more so since marrying off the gays and making sure they have happy suburban home lives with lots of guns and kids in school means they will vote republican) but I think the bigger reason to leave the GOP is it doesn't fucking give a shit about small gov, balanced budgets, or being true to conservative principles (federalism, anyone?).

[AD-RtR/OS!]

Why should I leave, the Party already left me.

[woodNfish]

Who cares? His personal business is his personal business, and he's still a pervert.

[Rhywun]

Get off your lawn!

[Walter Clark]

Why in the heck didn't ask the guest THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION.... Why didn't you join the libertarian party?

[mad.casual]

I took the answer to be wrapped up in the statement;

So, if the purpose of political parties is to win elections and, you know, the ultimate goal is The White House, uh, I just don't think that that untenable coalition that is unacceptable to most Americans has the ability to win The White House.

He's part of a culture aligned to The White House and foresakes untenable allies in pursuit of that goal which, IMO, is rather diametrically opposite most of the libertarian ethos.

[mad.casual]

To be clear, he's free to chose his political party all he likes and that aligns with libertarianism just fine, but avoiding people you don't like or who aren't politically favorable to you so that you can achieve political goals is certainly walking an exceeding thin line wrt libertarianism.

[Tony]

It's a defining characteristic of libertarianism that it prefers not to accomplish its own goals?

[EscherEnigma]

I'd like to point out how many self-described libertarians? vote Republicans because they'd rather win with someone that's on-board with some of their goals then lose with someone on-board with most of their goals.

So he's hardly alone.
________
?Note the capitilization.

[Tony]

So the only thing keeping me from selling a book is the fact that I wasn't a very slow learner like this guy?

[Migrant Log Chipper]

The only thing keeping you from selling a book is you're too stupid to write one.