As part of my ongoing fascination with anecdotal articles highlighting Bush supporters from 2000 who now loathe him, I give you the “Austin 12.”
Newsweek reported this week that the Austin 12 is an informal group of gay Republicans who advised the Bush 2000 campaign, serving as a “sounding board on gay issues.” They’ve been loyal Republicans and successful fundraisers — and now that want nothing to do with the White House.
David Catania, a DC city council man who raised nearly $80,000 for Bush last year, said he’s done with Bush. “You know the concept of buyer’s remorse? I’ve got it,” he says. “I want my money back.”
Catania’s sentiment is shared by many in the group, which Newsweek said feels “betrayed” by a man they thought was an ally.
None [of the Austin 12] was consulted by the White House before the decision. Some, like Evertz and former congressman Steve Gunderson, say they are deeply disappointed but so far continue to support Bush. But New York real-estate developer Donald Capoccia was so disgusted that he quit his Bush-appointed post on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Like Catania, many of the 12 say they won’t vote for Bush at all.
Now I know what you’re thinking. Bush is going to lose the “gay vote” by backing the FMA, but that won’t mean anything in November since gay voters would automatically back the Dem anyway, right? Not exactly.
Polling data shows that about 4 million gay people voted in the 2000 election. Sure, Gore beat Bush within this constituency by a 3 to 1 margin.
But even with this lopsided result, 1 million gay voters backed Bush in 2000. Considering his newly-established animosity with the gay community, Bush is almost certain to lose all of them this November. In a tight election, this could make a difference.