Why Gay issues did better today than some other issues did

[cthulu2016]

There is more Republican support for gay marriage than there is Republican outrage over overt Republican racism in voting policy.

There way well be more Republican conviction on cutting taxes for the rich then on opposing gay marriage.

The Christian Right is full tilt against the gay, but even a super creepy RWer can be pro-gay. Two words... Dick. Cheney.


I suggest that the core racist RW movement is, at heart, to some degree quietly okay with the children of the rich being able to get an abortion.


They are very much about THEMSELVES. Protection of their class and group, with antipathy for everyone outside their group.


A rich RW scumbag knows that his children will be 1) white, and 2) rich. He does not, however, know that his kids will be heterosexual.

Anti-gay laws MIGHT affect someone he cares about. Cutting foodstamps will NEVER affect someone he cares about. Racist voting laws will never disenfranchise someone he cares about. There are probably gay people at his country club but he can easily see that there are no black people there. Etc..

Thus the phenomenon of the "sophisticated" upper class RW nut who is relatively gay-friendly, yet doesn't give a shit about disenfranchisement.

Two more words. Anthony. Kennedy.


That's my take.

[yardwork]

1. I agree.

There is a steady erosion of the social contract. The rich get richer and more powerful and everybody else gets less and less.

[boston bean]

2. Obviously landmark court decisions granting protections

Can be gutted. That is what I learned. So, although this is a huge victory, today. the fight to keep the protections the court grants will go on.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. And

It's easier to identify to keep away from the polls. It's easier to disenfranchise my nephews based upon the color of their skin than their sexual orientation. It's easier to disenfranchise me based on my skin.

It's the low hanging fruit - black people.

[UTUSN]

4. Excellent. & that's how Anti-Choice with 6% keeps a stranglehold on a state (TX):

**********QUOTE*************

Written by Harold Cook, Letters From Texas is a humorous look at politics and current events, as seen through the eyes of a progressive Texan in a bad mood. - See more at: http://www.lettersfromtexas.com/2013/06/the-six-percent.html#sthash.I4PjqRBQ.bBxIATAp.dpuf


http://www.lettersfromtexas.com/2013/06/the-six-percent.html

[font size=5]The six percent[/font]

By Harold Cook

Today’s a big day for Democrats in the state legislature. And at the end of the day, they’ll probably think they won a big one.

Thankfully, they’re working hard to kill a bill which, if it passed, would be among the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. In fact it’s probably unconstitutional. ....

[FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow"]Republican officeholders are terrified of their own primary voters[/FONT]. Aside from the stray post-redistricting election here and there, the vast majority of Republican incumbents who lose their re-election efforts do so in the Republican primary – in most district elections and statewide, Democrats have been little threat to them. [FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow"]The pro-life(sic) stance in the abortion debate is the big motivating issue for only one voting segment: Republican primary voters[/FONT].

So who are these voters? Of the 25 million people who live in Texas, it amounts to fewer than 1.5 million people. That’s about [FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow"]six percent of Texans[/FONT].

Six percent. That’s the entire audience Republican officeholders are playing to, while [FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow"]the other 94 percent of Texans look on as spectators to this sham. That six percent are also the folks who have been electing all the statewide officeholders around here for almost 20 years[/FONT], since the only two things a candidate has to do to get elected statewide in Texas are to win in the Republican primary, and to not get hit by a bus until after the general election. The safety and liberty of Texas women is being sold down the river for the sake of that six percent. [FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow"]The legitimately important issues of concern to mainstream Texas families stay on the back burner for the sake of the six percent[/FONT]. And virtually all the public utterances of the Republican leadership in Texas are aimed squarely at attracting the six percent. And that’s exactly how things will continue around here until Democrats win a statewide election, and Republicans suddenly remember [FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow"]the other 94 percent. There are 23.5 million Texans Republicans haven’t had a conversation with in 20 years[/FONT]. But the longer Republicans pander to their precious six percent, the more likely it is that Democrats will be back in the game sooner rather than later. The lack of leadership around here isn’t indicated by Republicans mishandling the clock. It’s best indicated by them ignoring the 94 percent. Thank the House Democrats for their amazing round-the-clock efforts in the last few days in slowing down this legislation. Be grateful for the Senate Democrats standing strong and united yesterday in blocking the rule suspension which would have greased this bill through. [FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow"]Cheer on Senator Wendy Davis today as she hopefully carries the ball over the finish line and kills this bill[/FONT]. But then, after all that, don’t be surprised when the [FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow"]Republicans immediately call a do-over, and legislators are back in Austin for a second special session. Because, dear 94 percenters - the other six percent must be catered to.[/FONT]

*************UNQUOTE*************

[Starry Messenger]

5. We can never take any of our victories for granted.

It's still going to be a hard bitter fight to make what we've won stick, and the lesson from where we thought laws were enshrined was that it can get yanked away anytime.

[DirkGently]

6. Certainly it is the poor and powerless

... Republicans target. They are not only contemptuous of the poor and disempowered, but justifiably terrified of them in political terms. Thus it's not just abortion rights, but Planned Parenthood and contraception they attack with regard to women. These measures will disproportionately affect women with fewer resources and alternatives. They want poor women in particular as humiliated and defenseless as possible.

And they need to keep suppressing the vote along racial lines to have any chance of survival going forward. It's apparently the main Republican strategy for winning elections now.

The only reason to oppress gay people would be to appease the religious wingers. Maybe that's not enough anymore. Sexual orientation doesn't necessarily intersect with economic class in the same way.

Nevertheless, it is *WONDERFUL* to see progress in terms marriage equality and gay rights.