[Vision2020] First Major Party Openly Gay Candidate for President

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of CBS News at:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20046352-503544.html

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Openly gay Republican Fred Karger announces 2012 presidential run

Barely hours after filing his intent with the FEC to run for the 2012
Republican nomination for president, Fred Karger stopped by Washington
Unplugged to formally announce his decision.

Speaking with CBS News congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes Karger
said, "I've filed to run for President of the United States." (watch
above)

Explaining what brought him to this moment Karger said, "It was the
culmination of a lifetime of political work. It was a very exciting
moment."

This is the first time Karger has run for political office, but he has
been a behind-the-scenes player for 35 years -- serving as an advisor to
Presidents Ford, Reagan and George H. W. Bush.

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 also weighed in with his thoughts on his potential opponents in the
GOP race, taking particular aim at 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 is still a long-shot and although he's thrown his hat in the ring,
many of his would-be opponents have the instant name recognition that he
lacks, but he remains optimistic.

In speaking about his hopes to take part in the Republican presidential
debates he said, "If I can get in one or more of these presidential
debates, I will make history."

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown