Republicans used gay marriage to their advantage during the last two elections. The slate this year, however, proves a bit more complicated.
We’re mired in a seemingly eternal war, the economy’s in the toilet, social security’s endangered and things are basically a big old mess.
While social conservatives want John McCain to toot his horn against last week’s gay marriage ruling in California, he’s sticking to the script and focusing on the aforementioned issues. And eschewing the well-trod marriage road may be the smartest thing he could do, says journalist Dick Polman, who believes gay marriage may potentially derail McCain’s campaign…
…Pragmatically speaking, it would be dicey for him to [discuss gay marriage]. The one time he put himself on the line for the issue, he was embarrassed by the results. In 2006, the voters of Arizona rejected a ballot initiative banning gay marriage within their borders – after McCain appeared in a TV ad making a pitch for the ban. And that was on his home turf. It’s hard to imagine he will now lead a charge against gay marriage in Ohio and Pennsylvania and other swing states – and risk turning off the independent voters whom he needs so badly in November.
Particularly in the eastern swing states, many of those independents tend to be socially tolerant, and even though most do not support gay marriage – a new Pew poll says that only 41 percent of independents back the concept – they are likely to be displeased that a candidate is crusading against it, at a time when the nation has so many more pressing matters.
Another thorny issue: young people. More young people support gay rights than older generations. And, as we all know, loads of youth are gearing up for Barack Obama, who looks likely to win the Democratic nomination. If McCain tried to play the gay card, then he would potentially alienate those young voters.
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Still, the issue probably won’t come up too often, especially considering that the Democratic candidates, Obama and Hillary Clinton, don’t support gay marriage. If they did, then they could potentially torpedo McCain.
todd
Get McCain on record saying he does not give a rats ass about Gay Marriage or abortion – which I suppose he doesn’t really. Then watch conservatives abandon him in droves.
Peter Pan
John McCain – Lost in Space
The US media: “No problem”
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/325.html
HILARIOUS! Or is it?
M Shane
I think that we need to keep in mind that U.S citizens, being the wizbangs that they are, still respond, in unbelievable ignorace to the fear that’s been passed around by the Neocons for so long that they can’t think clearly. Religious extremism is thier salvation.
They are hardly going to hit at issues that are the result of their fuckups(Bush’s) They will have to find something fantastic to lie about.; as absurd as it sounmds to us we could as easily be a right wing target.
Rovism won last time. People didn’t all of a sudden get smart.
seitan-on-a-stick
This is certainly a year to shut-up about Gay Marriage but me-thinks-not with the recent state Supreme court rulings in California for recognizing Gay Marriage. The Gay Smeardia (including the shallow baton runners like Queerty) will be all over this issue as they march us forth like lemmings over a cliff as Homocons and the always gnashing liberals who want everything Gay, now! will help herald in another virulently anti-gay GOP presidency. Some of us gays have more pressing issues than Gay Marriage which seems more like a luxurious wish-list in this political climate. Some of us can’t afford Lattes everyday and move around our Stocks to offset the unfolding GOP Great Depression.
Steve
The way to talk about marriage in this political season is to use the words “equal” and “fair” a lot.
Don’t talk about “gay marriage”. Those are the oppositions words. The CA court actually said there is no such thing as gay marriage. There is only “marriage”, and the question before the court was whether or not gay people have an equal right to use that word.
Do talk about “equal rights”, and “equal protection”. Talk about government being “fair” to everyone.
M Shane
seitan-on-a-stick : I hope that people will take you seriously; this is a matter that can turn around and kick us right in the face.
While, if for whatever reason “marriage” is the be all and end all of peoples lives, they may want to consider the larger picture. I for one am not tied up in it being more than one of many gay issues. Right now, in this climate, we are running intoa reality in which marriage will not seem very important relative to the whole picture.
Steve: I seem to be missing something: if they say right off that “gay” and “marriage are oppositional words, then they are precluding discussion of the matter completely , it would seem, just quashing the issue. Right?
It seems like what you might want to say rather is that for the purpose of discussing the issue either “gay” or “heterosexual “marriage are
M Shane
steve ,I didn’t finish that thought before I pushed the button. The conceptual issue is complex , but I’m thinking that neither kind of marriage is necessarily together(not oppositional(??)