Same-sex marriage gains GOP support

[alp227]

A growing number of Republicans are breaking with the party's traditional stance to publicly state their support for same-sex marriage, a shift strategists say stems as much from demographics as from the renewed focus on economics and the "tea party" movement.

A solid majority of adults younger than 30 - about six in 10 - support the right of gay and lesbian couples to legally wed, according to a Washington Post poll in February.

But even many older Americans and self-identified social conservatives have changed their view on an issue that just six years ago galvanized voters in support of President George W. Bush's reelection.

Gay Republican activists credit the shift to the heightened attention within the GOP base to jobs and the economy, and by a desire among strategists to expand the party's appeal.

"Our nation is at a crossroads, and conservatives are trying to rally together to turn back the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda," said Chris Barron, chairman of GOProud, a gay Republican group. "That's why we've seen people like Glenn Beck saying, 'Look, same-sex marriage isn't hurting anybody.' Because he sees a need to create a broad-based conservative movement."

--snip--

Also at play is the rise of the libertarian-leaning tea party movement. Many of the movement's leaders have said they oppose government intervention on marriage issues, while others say their concerns about taxation and the size of government supercede concerns over social issues.

--snip--

In a letter to supporters this week, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said Republicans who support same-sex marriage do it at their peril. The position "stands in direct opposition to the Party's platform, which is clear on the importance of marriage and family," he wrote. "The Party's unequivocal stand on life, marriage, and family is why many social conservatives have made the GOP their political home."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/27/AR2010082705614_pf.html

Comments: Hmm, I don't recall any homophobic Tea Party signs (oh yeah do you know the slang definition of "Teabagging"?) And Perkins apparently does NOT think that gays and lesbians value "life, marriage, and family" too just like straights.

[msongs]

1. pretty soon the only man against it will be....... nt

[joeybee12]

10. You're right...says a lot about his "values" and also his political skills

since he will soon be looking foolish for not seeing which way the wind was blowing.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. Why is Tony Perkins allowed to keep his NFP status while

speaking on behalf of the GOP and its platform?

[Q3JR4]

3. Big surprise...

"A solid majority of adults younger than 30 - about six in 10 - support the right of gay and lesbian couples to legally wed..."

That says it all.

Maybe not today, maybe not in ten years time, but eventually if an institution (name one) wants to keep drawing potential converts from the world around it it has to change.

Q3JR4

[Fearless]

4. Well after a while if you know one or maybe two...

You're going to eventually gain respect for gay people even if you're conservative. Maybe begrudgingly. Maybe only in whisper. But eventually, we win and bigotry loses.

[dickthegrouch]

5. Nothing more than an attempt to split the gay vote again

We couldn't be so stupid as to believe them after the pathetic Dem response, could we?

[grahamhgreen]

6. +1

[WillParkinson]

9. +2

I agree. I've seen no indication that the politicians on the Republican side agree with this at all.

While I will not doubt that the lay Republicans might be coming to this understanding, I doubt the upper echelons will agree at all.

[Fearless]

7. Well half of them are gay anyways right?

:rofl:

[Mimosa]

8. Tony Perkins is creepy

Tony Perkins is from Louisiana, iirc. Too bad he shares a name with the deceased actor. ;)

[jeremyfive]

11. Tony Perkins Will Be Caught With a "Rent-Boy" Any Day Now

Methinks the lady doth protest too much.