Log Cabin Republicans, a gay political organization, endorsed Liz Carter in her challenge to unseat incumbent Democratic Congressman Hank Johnson.

“We are proud to have such a qualified and supportive candidate representing mainstream views that will propel the Republican Party to victory in November,” said Log Cabin National Secretary & Georgia Chapter President Jamie Ensley in a press release.

“When you compare a pro-business, pro-LGBT candidate like Liz Carter against Congressman Johnson’s record of higher-taxes and staying silent as his Democratic colleagues voted to strip key LGBT health provisions from the Health Care Reform Bill, it makes the choice simple for anyone who supports real reform in the nation’s capital.”

Log Cabin specifically goes after Johnson for his vote supporting Obama's health care plan. Ensley said in the release he failed LGBT Americans by not supporting key provisions in the health care plan that included a prohibition on discrimination based on sexual orientation and a provision enabling those with HIV and low incomes to obtain Medicare coverage earlier in the course of their illness.

“Congressman Johnson didn’t feel it necessary to speak up and defend the portions of the healthcare bill important to LGBT Americans, but instead felt it more important to speak up and try to save Guam from capsizing into the sea,” Ensley said. “It’s time we send a real pro-LGBT candidate to Washington who will do what’s right to protect our jobs, our nation and our families.”

Johnson has come under fire for comments made during a House Armed Services committee in which he said to a commander of the United States Pacific fleet he worried the island will tip over and capsize if it becomes too populated.

Johnson responded with a statement saying, “I was using a metaphor to say that with the addition of 8,000 Marines and their dependents – an additional 80,00 people during peak construction to the port on the tiny island with a population of 180,000 – could be a tripping point which would adversely affect the island’s fragile ecosystem and overburden its already overstressed infrastructure.”

Carter states on her web page that she believes "that every individual deserves and should have the same rights, regardless of race, religion, sex or sexual orientation."

Johnson is a co-sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act to repeal the anti-gay “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy prohibiting gay service members from serving openly. He is also a co-sponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 that would provide partners of gay federal employees benefits that are now provided to heterosexual married couples, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and he supports the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Photo via LogCabin.org