Karger’s Discrimination Claim Proceeds
Republican candidate alleges he was denied a booth at CPAC conference
February 10, 2012
Newt Gingrich with Fred Karger in January.(Photo by Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
It looks like Republican presidential hopeful Fred Karger’s discrimination complaint against the American Conservative Union, which he alleges denied him a booth at the CPAC conference because he is gay, might go into mediation. The next step, if an agreement isn’t reached, would be going to court. Like much of Karger’s campaign, however, his goal isn’t winning so much as drawing attention to anti-gay politics.
BuzzFeed reports:
Karger thinks that the ACU is keeping him and gay groups like GOProud out of CPAC for two reasons. One is financial, as big organizations like the Family Research Council and the Heritage Foundation have boycotted CPAC in the past over the issue of including gay groups among its sponsors, taking their large purses with them.
The other, Karger says, is that “they’re just happier without me speaking. They’re happier without GOProud’s representation.”
Karger says he hopes that his complaint will force the ACU to change their policy and that he’ll be able to settle with them in mediation.
Gay Candidate Headed For Mediation With Conservative Group [BuzzFeed]
Related: Elder Statesman [Tablet Magazine]
Earlier: Karger Alleges CPAC Discrimination
GOP Jew Not Invited to GOP Jewish Forum
Fox News Blocks Fred Karger From Debate
Stephanie Butnick is the founder of GOLDA, a Jewish lifestyle newsletter. She hosted the Tablet podcast Unorthodox, co-authored The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar’s and Everything in Between, and worked as a writer and editor at Tablet.
