A Fundamental Freedom: Why Republicans, Conservatives, and Libertarians Should Support Gay Rights - Hardcover

Armed with a simple argument-that '[t]he anti-gay agenda of the Christian Right succinctly exposes the hypocrisy of those who talk of limited government and individual rights but ignore both when it comes to gay rights-' Lampo's sustained, heavily documented study makes its point again and again. Noting that the Founding Fathers were vehemently opposed to the merging of church and state, Lampo addresses the issue of gay rights from all conceivable angles-attacking evangelicals' efforts to keep talk of high divorce rates among heterosexual Protestants out of public policy discussions, and discussing the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell; motions by certain Religious Right organizations to restore sodomy laws; and the proposed Defense of Marriage Act. Using numerous quotes and poll results to support his argument, his position is convincing...Though folks opposed to gay rights are his target audience, Lampo's work will likely find purchase amongst liberals already on the bandwagon. Nevertheless, his parsing of "judicial activism" and "unlimited majoritarianism" is enlightening and thought-provoking. Publishers Weekly Lampo has obviously put a lot of thought and effort into this book, and it is helpful to have such an up-to-date picture of gay rights laws and poll numbers. National Review A Fundamental Freedom is a serious, thoughtful, and important analysis of gay rights and marriage equality from a conservative and libertarian perspective. It is crucial for Republicans to appreciate the importance of this subject - for the good of the Party, but also for the well-being of this nation. Republicans must stand for decency, respect, and equality for all of our citizens. Lampo has made an invaluable contribution to this dialogue. -- Ted Olson, U.S. Solicitor General under President George W. Bush, Lead Counsel, Perry vs. Schwarzenegger It's time to move past the divisive lens of the culture war when discussing gay rights and recognize that these debates are fundamentally about the proper limits of government. David Lampo does just that in his new book, A Fundamental Freedom. It should be a must read for anyone concerned about building a majority committed to rolling back big government. -- Carrie Lukas, Executive Director, Independent Women's Forum, Author, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Women, Sex, and Feminism At its historical core, the Republican Party is a political organization committed to individual freedom. Unfortunately in recent years, many in the GOP have strayed (often far) from that premise, especially in matters involving personal relationships and behavior. I admit - I was one of them. But in recent years, I found my way back to the foundation of freedom in this great country, which is maximized individual liberty and minimized government power. I hope many others will have the courage to reexamine their views on matters of individual liberty, including gay rights, and do the same. A Fundamental Freedom provides a readable and timely explanation of these important issues. -- Bob Barr, Former Representative of Georgia (R-GA) A Fundamental Freedom is an excellent contribution to the growing movement and argument for why the Republican Party must embrace gay rights, complete with all the history, facts and arguments. As important, Lampo's finger is on the pulse of the tectonic shifts occurring at the foundation of the conservative movement that will make way for it to return to the legacy of freedom and capture a new generation of Americans. -- Margaret Hoover, contributor, Fox News; author, American Individualism: How a New Generation of Conservatives Can Help

In A Fundamental Freedom, David Lampo makes the case for why all Republicans should support gay rights and why doing so will provide long-term benefits for the GOP. He argues that the anti-gay agenda of the Christian right succinctly exposes the hypocrisy of those who talk of limited government and individual rights but ignore both when it comes to gay rights and other personal freedom issues. Indeed, it is the defenders of gay rights in the Republican Party who are keeping faith with core Republican principles.