Is the Republican party PUSHING the gay marriage question?

[hotphlash]

Are they so desperate that they must manufacture an issue and force America to take sides just before an election? Are they banking on the fact that America hates gays so much that they'll vote for Bush to preserve their biases?

[Christian73]

1. I think that's there plan

but I think they've shot their wad too early in the game.

All the Dems are going to say they support some sort of rights for gays and lesbians and the issue will be well settled before the general election. If they try to pass a constitutional amendment, they will have a very, very nasty fight on their hands.

I have already pledged to chain myself to Congress if they try.

[mlawson]

3. They also have to placate their fundie base.

This sort of hate legislation is expected by the RW. I wish I were as optimistic about such an amendment failing, however.

Have any of our hopefuls made an official comment on it yet??

[Karenina]

6. ONLY IF THE ISSUE IS FRAMED BY THE WORD

"MARRIAGE." Please repeat after me:

CIVIL UNIONS,
CIVIL UNIONS,
CIVIL UNIONS,
CIVIL UNIONS,
CIVIL UNIONS,
CIVIL UNIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :argh:

[Milfhunter69]

2. No,

they push the issue to take the attention away from the pResident's sh!tty economic policy, and screwed up war in Iraq. The sheepal are easily distracted.

[liberalhistorian]

4. That may well be the case, but if so, I think they'll have made

a grievous mistake and it will backfire on them. I heard a lot of grumbling yesterday after all the local papers, as well as USA Today, had front-page headlines about his stance on gay marriage. I heard a lot of grumbling along the lines of "who the hell does he think he is to decide for me or anyone else, or society, what marriage is and isn't." And a lot of these people were conservatives, wingnuts, and borderline wingnuts.

And a lot of people don't appreciate his focus on such a trivial non-issue at a time when we are facing far greater problems, of far more importance. I really think they've miscalculated on this issue.

[sangha]

5. Is the Pope Catholic?

.

[hotphlash]

7. It's also Bush also placating his wingnut base and writing off

the gay vote he'll never get. Two, two, two political maneuvers in one. Rove, you're good, but not that good.

[maxsolomon]

8. fricking DUH

its going to be 'homosexual agenda' from now till 2005, then *poof* its back to tax cuts for the rich.

[robbedvoter]

9. It first surged as a poll (where they led), then a W scripted question

Arrogance. They get to believe their own manufactured polls - today already they were proven wrong.
I remember the "Under God" incident - they were all salivating that they were handed a hot button issue in time for the election.
That, and they can now gloss over lying about war- the brave defender of the marriage (I think it's the reason they unveiled this new product before September)

[hotphlash]

12. Brave defender of marriage

[hotphlash]

14. here's another one

[hotphlash]

15. Or how about this one

[hotphlash]

16. or maybe this one

[Malikshah]

10. Has this been mentioned elsewhere????? Dean Issue

Not sure if it's been mentioned--but I just had an ephiphany..

Don't worry, it happens 3 times a day (where's that from...:) )


But-- do you think they (i.e. evildoers) are preparing for a potential Dean candidacy??? in other words--control the message by getting people to think/ponder/get riled up about when Dean becomes the Dem candidate

BTW-- This is not an assumption of his candidacy--rather that the evildoers might be savvy enough to think ahead...

Sorry if this has already been covered elsewhere.

[tom_paine]

11. Yes: There intent is to make the Dems the party of Blacks and Gays

This will help enrage their base continuously, while turning further away white men and women who are lead to believe that the Democratic Party is only the Party of Blacks and Gays, and thus not interetsed in representing their interests.

Yes, I think they are pushing it and helping it along.

[Dob Bole]

13. yes. Trying to energize RR support.

The religious right has been slowly sitting out of elections since 1996, and now they're complaining about Bush's inability to do anything that they want.

Gay Marriage has already been settled by the 1996 bill. He's bringing it up to try to show, "Yeah, I'm your man. Really, I am."

[kentuck]

17. Desperate? That's the way they play the game....

Of course that's their plan. "Are they banking on the fact that America hates gays so much that they'll vote for Bush to preserve their biases?" What do you think?