Conservatives take issue with McCain on gay adoption

Riding the line between ennergizing conservatives and attracting moderates and independents this election year continues to prove difficult for John McCain.

In its latest email to supporters a leading social conservative group, the Family Research Council, is taking issue with recent, contradictory statements out of the McCain campaign on gay adoption and calling on the GOPer to stand by the "traditional family unit."

In an interview late last week with the New York Times, McCain said he opposed gay adoption, adding that "I think that we've proven that both parents are important in the success of a family, so, no, I don't believe in gay adoption." While the stance may be controversial to gay voters and some liberals, he curries some favor with a larger group social conservatives he needs to energize for November.

But wait.

The campaign then issued a clarifying statement to blogger Andrew Sullivan, stating that McCain believes gay adoption is a state issue but added that "as an adoptive father himself, McCain believes children deserve loving and caring home environments, and he recognizes that there are many abandoned children who have yet to find homes. McCain believes that in those situations that caring parental figures are better for the child than the alternative."

The FRC, led by Tony Perkins, is now alleging the statement "muddies the waters," and warns in an email sent to supporters Tuesday night that the McCain camp "should not fall into this 'lady or the tiger' trap and should emphasize the need to rebuild the natural family."

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