Reply #11: Good. Hear me out. . . [View All]

[eileen from OH]

This is better than having it used as a "this is what we'll do" type scenerio during the campaign. The Christian right has gone along with the 'pubs cuz they talk big on doing stuff like this, but don't really push it when they get in. Think about it - there's a LOT of stuff the 'pubs promise the Christian right, but despite having both Houses AND the White House, nothing (outside of Partial Birth thing) actually gets done. And don't think the CR hasn't noticed. There was a convention of Christian leaders/broadcasters (sorry, don't have the link) a few months ago who basically told the R leadership (strongly) that they wanted action, not just talk, or they might tell their followers to stay home.

But why DON'T they? It's because they know, as much as the Dems, that it's a really divisive issue. And that some voters, while not liking gay marriage particularly, get real uncomfortable about things like Constitutional Amendments against them. So they talk the talk to appease the CR, but don't actually have to DO anything thereby not alarming moderate, don't-give-a-damn voters.

But by introducing a Constitutional Amendment, R's are gonna be forced to actually take a stand, take action, yes, come right out and support something that says gay and lesbians are second class citizens. And while that'll thrill the little Christian pants off the far right, a whole lot of otherwise apathetic-on-that-issue voters are gonna be turned off. And it energizes the left further and may even get younger voters to pay attention. Not to mention what it will do to the Log Cabin Republicans.

So I think this becomes a "put up or shut up" issue for the R's by doing this. And "putting up" is exactly what they have avoided.

eileen from OH