You kids may be interested in an article posted today over at Salon. In it, Michael Scherer (pictured, looking like a real journalist) shows that once powerful anti-gay campaign tactics have lost their potency.
As you know, the so-called “gay issue” has propelled conservative politics in recent years. While they may have galvanized voters in the past, it seems Americans may be tiring of all the hate. Scherer writes:
The reason for this turnabout may signal a transformation of the national debate over homosexual relationships, which have been a defining issue in recent election cycles. Across the country, candidates who have built their careers fighting homosexual rights now find themselves on the losing side of the polls…
Homosexuality is not the primary issue in any of these races, but it is notable that all of the candidates have tamped down their anti-gay rhetoric as the election approaches. “If things go as they look like they might, in the heartland of America voters are going to reject candidates with extremist political positions,” says Ted Trimpa, a gay political activist and attorney in Denver who is active in Colorado politics. “What that says to me is the pendulum has swung, that the luster of using us as a political toy has passed.”
We can’t help but wonder, if the GOP stops using the homos for political gain, what other social group will become the object of their disapproval? Surely it won’t be black people. That’s too dated. Handicapped people would just be cruel. Illegal immigrants, maybe?
Kevin
I’m not holding my breath. I think using gay people for political gain is not as powerful because of the Iraq war. Things have gotten really bad there and with Bush’s whole foreign policy which everybody is concerned with that they are not as focused on oppressing gay people.
Illegals are illegal. For the people that want open borders/amnesty why don’t you have an open house? I got a couple friends that need a place to stay. The US already has the most lenient immigration laws in the world. And don’t say they are taking jobs Americans won’t do. That is what Peruvians say about Bolivians, Mexicans say about Panamanians, Canadians about Americans. Yes they would do those jobs for a DECENT wage.
Lug Nutmegger
That pesky Iraq war. Way to ruin my fun oppressing gays George W.!
Actually, oppressing gays is so 2006; we repubs are moving on to the elderly, there are just too many of them…and they are OLD!
Who says gays and straights have nothing in common; SHUT THE BORDER!
You crack me up Kevin!
Lug, out
Leland
Given the number of state antigay marriage bills expected to pass, and that even Democrat Harold Ford, in his Senate race, and his brother, running for Congress, have gay bashed, I think it’s a little too early to declare victory. In fact, I would file Scherer’s selective perceptions in the same dust bin as those of the “researcher” who told “Time” magazine that the majority of gay kids no longer have any problems accepting themselves and being accepted by others. On what planet?
Mr. Neil
“We can’t help but wonder, if the GOP stops using the homos for political gain, what other social group will become the object of their disapproval?”
Illegal immigrants seems to be the new phobia. There’s always the godless, of course.