RNC names Log Cabin director to finance committee

Politico reports:

The Republican National Committee has named a prominent gay Republican to its finance committee, marking an important fundraising outreach effort to a constituency long ceded by the party.

R. Clarke Cooper, who also serves as the executive director of the gay group Log Cabin Republicans, will help the RNC's fundraising efforts for the 2012 cycle. Cooper is one of the first openly gay members of the party to serve in such a prominent role, and it's a signal that RNC chairman Reince Priebus is willing to reach out to communities that have traditionally been neglected by the party.

"I am honored to be a part of the Republican National Committee’s effort to advance a pro-growth, pro-free enterprise agenda, especially while working to elect and reelect pro-equality Republicans to office all across the country,” said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director. “Chairman Priebus has demonstrated that he believes inclusion wins and that our Party is strongest when we reach every community. I look forward to working within the Party to help ensure we are victorious next November.”

In February, the inclusion of another gay conservative group caused an uproar at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, but the tide within the party may be shifting on gay rights. Major Republican donors were crucial in pushing gay marriage through the New York state Senate and Republican leaders in New York allowed the vote to proceed.