Today
Well, there is only one thing anyone is talking about today. It's Bush supporting the ban on gay marriage.The news is reverberating through the blogosphere with a very negative vibe. Everyone's attention is now on Andrew Sullivan, the gay conservative writer who is the unofficial King of Bloggers. He's posting emails from readers with all different points of view.
Roger Simon and the smartest comments section in blogland is weighing in here.
Bush and the conservatives have made a mistake here.
1. It is true that liberal activist judges are forcing his hand and flouting the law, but he could have let the courts settle that issue and stepped in at a later date. He did this because the evangelical wing of the party is really hot that he hasn't done more about this. He's taken a bold step, but the backlash will be stronger than he realizes.
2. He has just made enemies of all homosexuals in the US. For the rest of their lives they will hate the Republican party and work against it. Not only that, but their friends and families will do the same.
3. Gay acceptance is growing, and in the future it will grow even further, making this decision look even worse as each year goes by.
4. Support for the ban on gay marriage is a mile wide but only an inch deep. Those who support gay marriage will be far more energized over this than the passive majority that seeks to ban it.
5. Even though both Democrat candidates are against gay marriage, they will now distinguish themselves from Bush by softening on the issue, leaving Bush all alone to support this amendment.
6. The amendment will not pass anyway, and will be a large defeat for the president.
7. The most important voting block, Independents, are in favor of gay marriage. Their support for Bush is now bound to evaporate.
I can still vote for him because I believe he is the only good candidate, but I cannot support him on this issue at all.
Work against it, I must. I will not have much opportunity to work against it, however, as our Governor does not favor the constitutional amendment and will veto Wisconsin's vote on it. (If he can, not sure on that)
<< Home