Gay Republicans Attack Romney

“For years hes fought conservatives and religious extremists,” the satirical ad begins, coupled with clips of Romney meant to show a left-leaning past.

The video highlights Romney's former support of Roe v. Wade and gun control and ends with a clip of the Governor putting distance between himself and Reagan politics.

“I was independent during the time of Reagan-Bush,” Romney says in the clip taken from a Massachusetts senate debate. “I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”

Romney spokesman, Kevin Madden, has already fired back at the group saying the clips, taken from the candidates 1994 senate race, do not reflect Romney's recent conservative actions and statements, especially those on abortion.

“The advertisement misrepresents Governor Romney’s courage to admit that he had been wrong on this issue and the fact that he is proud of his strong record of defending the sanctity of life,” Madden said.

Mr. Romney, Madden pointed out, has also been steadfast in battling both civil unions and marriage between gay couples. Romney backed adoption of a state constitutional amendment to ban legalized same sex marriage in Massachusetts and has supported an amendment to the federal Constitution.

“This personal, negative attack was launched and paid for by a group recognized as having Mayor Giuliani as their ‘favorite’ candidate," Madden said. "Governor Romney supports a federal marriage amendment and so it makes sense that a national gay rights group would attack him."

The clash with a gay political group could work out favorably for the Governor Jim Rutenberg speculated today in a New York Times blog.

“Even those conservatives who will buy into the flip-flop claim may take heart that he has 'flip flopped’ to their way of seeing things,” he said

The 30 second ad, available on the Log Cabin's website, will run for the next two weeks nationally on Fox News channel with special concentration in Iowa set to hold its caucus on January 14.

Log Cabin Republican president, Patrick Shammon, says the advertisement is meant to expose Romney as a flip-flopper, saying it has been difficult to know what he really believes.

“As much as Governor Romney wants to re-invent himself, his record speaks for itself,” says Sammons in a Log Cabin press release. “Romney may have forgotten what he used to believe, but Republicans won't forget.”