Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/us/politics/28web-nagourney.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&src=ig" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04...s&src=ig</a> >>Steve Schmidt, who was the senior strategist to Senator John McCain of Arizona during his presidential campaign, said in a speech and an interview that Republicans were in danger of losing these younger voters unless the party comes to appreciate how issues like gay marriage resonate, or do not resonate, with them. “Republicans should re-examine the extent to which we are being defined by positions on issues that I don’t believe are among our core values, and that put us at odds with what I expect will become, over time, if not a consensus view, then the view of a substantial majority of voters,” he said in a speech.<< As we've seen with Prop 8 this is a very divisive issue. Thus, I find it hard to believe that the Republican Party is ready to embrace same sex unions. If so, what does this mean for the staunch religious conservatives who are the party's foundation? Can you imagine Sarah Palin backing same sex marriages?
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Please see: <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/MsgBoard-T-105218-P-1.asp" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/Ms...-P-1.asp</a>
Originally Posted By mele I can see a lot of the GOP coming around. I don't think most politicians really don't care but say what they need to say to get elected. I think the GOP will realize that they have to change their stance and they will begin to wrap it in patriotism. They might still try to say it's morally wrong but that all Americans have to be equal. They might even try to twist around to make it seem like they were the ones who had the idea in the first place. Ah, politics. I think gay marriage is inevitable but it will be interesting to see how it comes about.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I think one of the interesting points that the article makes is that younger voters are less likely to oppose gay marriage. >>The difference in attitudes among age groups has been noted by Republicans at a time when party leaders are engaged in discussion about what policies and messages can best help them regain some of the power they have lost to Democrats. Some conservative leaders said that unless something happened to reverse the trend, it would simply be a matter of time — perhaps as many as 10 years, perhaps as few as 3 — before opposition to gay marriage would get traction in only a few parts of the country. In this latest New York Times/CBS News Poll, 42 percent of all respondents said they supported gay marriage, compared with 22 percent in March 2004. By contrast, 18 percent of Republicans supported gay marriage, while 49 percent said they opposed any kind of recognition of gay unions. The electorate at large seems to be moving while Republican base voters are not, a challenge to any Republican seeing to win his or her party’s nomination in 2012. “It’s a problem,” said Mr. Schmidt said in an interview.<<
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 I think that's a big problem for the Republican party in general, not just on the gay marriage issue. Do they stay with the base voters who are not changing their stances too much, or widen their net and adapt to the populace? I really think the only way for the party to stay relevant is to be more moderate. They might lose some of their base, but if the base is a small minority in 10 years (or as little as 3 as that article suggests), then they can stand to lose that base and gain more moderate voters.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I'm sure they'll figure that out eventually. They've just gone so far right lately that they'll basically have to adapt or die. Plus the country will probably swing back right at some point also, and meet them there IF they're smart enough to moderate their stances. The trouble for them for the short term is that the loudest voices are coming from the far right, as well as most of the energy. (It's primarily negative energy at this point, but it's still energy.) They'll shout out the moderates for a while, it looks like, causing yet more of them to leave. Eventually, cooler heads will probably prevail and re-take the leadership of the party, get back to being center-right again, and see their appeal grow. If they don't, they'll be the minority party for a long time to come.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder That's because they were a bunch of cross dressers. Those wigs and all.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Whig fight, whig fight. <a href="http://www.wfu.edu/%7Ezulick/340/sumnerbrooks.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.wfu.edu/%7Ezulick/3...ooks.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By DVC_Pongo A simple reply to the Original Topic Title... Yeah, riiiight. The GOP isn't going to do anything to risk losing the religious nuts. Unfortunately.
Originally Posted By DAR <<They'll shout out the moderates for a while, it looks like, causing yet more of them to leave>> I don't work on Mondays so when I'm out running errands I'll usually listen to Jim Rome. He was on a break so I popped over to Limbaugh for a few seconds. Limbaugh was talking with a gentleman who was a Republican(no real surprise there) but the call was a moderate. I can't remember what the argument was about. But Rush told him "People like youuuuuu are why we lost this election." Rush then basically banished him to the Island of Misfit Moderates. But that should tell you where the Republican party is. I don't subscribe to any Party, but I hope the GOP makes a comeback.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>People like youuuuuu are why we lost this election<< LOL, isn't that great? Lumpball trashed John McCain constantly, until he picked Sarah Palin. Then he declared McCain a genius and decided to support him (while constantly carrying on about what a "babe" Palin was). But it's all the moderate Republicans' fault they lost. Is he on the pills again?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <But Rush told him "People like youuuuuu are why we lost this election." > Can you say "further alienate the very people you need if you don't want to be the minority party forever?" I knew you could. But I don't think Rush can.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt The GOP isn't going to do anything to risk losing the religious nuts. Well, yes, and that's what I was thinking too. I mean, the GOP has been the Christian Morality police for at least a generation now. How do they maintain that while embracing dramatic social changes such as same sex marriage? I'm having a hard time seeing how that's going to happen without abandoning their base altogether.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt Josh, care to explain how you think your political party might appeal to your beliefs while embracing the 21st Century morals?
Originally Posted By DAR As a person who believes in God and attends church on bi-weekly basis I don't really apply to the "religious nut" label.
