The gay pride flag flies outside the Governor’s Residence in Hartford on June 26, 2013, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act. Contributed photo.
The race for governor has its first social issues litmus test, from same-sex marriage and abortion to doctor-assisted suicide and public accommodations for transgender individuals
The Family Institute of Connecticut Action Committee on Wednesday endorsed Republican Tom Foley in the governor’s race, saying that the second-time candidate’s social values are more representative of its own than those of Democratic incumbent Dannel P. Malloy.
Foley met with the group, which is led by conservative firebrand Peter Wolfgang, for 90 minutes on June 12 to discuss “pro-family” issues.
“We are convinced based on this meeting — and an August 26th phone conversation initiated by Mr. Foley — that the pro-family cause will do better under a Governor Foley than it has these last three and a half years under Gov. Dan Malloy,” the organization said in a statement.
Foley’s campaign declined to say which values the former U.S. ambassador to Ireland and Greenwich private equity manager shares in common with the group when asked by Hearst Connecticut Media.
“Our campaign is happy to receive the endorsement of any group that recognizes the need to change direction toward a more proud and prosperous Connecticut,” Chris Cooper, a spokesman for Foley, said in a prepared statement.
Democrats called on Foley to repudiate the endorsement of the group, which faulted Malloy for flying the gay pride rainbow flag outside the Governor’s Residence in June 2013 after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act.
“This endorsement is shameful, and Mr. Foley should reject it and renounce their extremist positions,” state Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, the go-to surrogate for the state Democratic Party, said in a statement Wednesday.
The conservative group has opposed Malloy on his support for gay marriage, abortion rights and legal protections for transgender individuals.
“Governor Malloy is likely to do still more harm to family values in Connecticut if given another four years, while a Governor Foley would cease the downward spiral and work with people of good will to repair the damage,” the group said.