GOP strategist: Iowa Republicans should come out for gay marriage
In private meetings with GOP elected officials and operatives from across the state, Ken Mehlman, who was chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2007 and managed George W. Bush’s re-election campaign, has been urging party leaders to recognize the evolution in thinking and demographic shifts in Iowa and the nation.
“Republicans have an opportunity to both stand up for values that are core to our philosophy — freedom, family values and the golden rule — and to do the right thing politically by allowing adults who love one another to have access to civil marriage,” Mehlman said in an interview with The Des Moines Register. ..
Mehlman, who came out as gay in 2010, doesn’t go as far as saying Republicans will lose future elections if they continue to crusade against same-sex marriage. …
But it’s indisputable that 53 percent of Americans support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, he said.
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The RNC had a pretty rockin’ 2005-07, didn’t it?
Jeddite on January 29, 2013 at 10:58 AM
FIFY.
The day the RINOs in the GOP “come out” for homosexual “marriage”, is the day the party dies. Social conservatives are the backbone of the party, and They. Will. Leave.
Rebar on January 29, 2013 at 10:59 AM
They should come out for higher taxes on the wealthy while they’re at it.
/
CurtZHP on January 29, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Considering the powerful impact it will have on prices, jobs and national debt, I agree.
Cindy Munford on January 29, 2013 at 11:01 AM
A complete gun ban would so totally work too
matd on January 29, 2013 at 11:02 AM
Insanity
HotAirian on January 29, 2013 at 11:02 AM
I oppose this idea. I strongly desire that the social cons waste their time fighting marriage equality rather doing something that they might succeed at being destructive about.
thuja on January 29, 2013 at 11:03 AM
It’s indisputable that when given a chance to vote on it, Americans have overwhelmingly voted against it. That 53% support it is a bogus number. And Mehlman, like every other pickle smoocher trying to push their queernesss as normal and not a defect, is lying by pushing that stat.
Flange on January 29, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Republican: Fire all the GOP strategists.
How many years of failure do we have to endure before we stop listening to these people?
29Victor on January 29, 2013 at 11:06 AM
They should come out against the Keystone pipeline and fracking too.
I mean “come out”….of the closet. It must be such a burden to act like something you’re not…you know..conservatives.
Put on some tie dye and let your freak flag fly!
Mimzey on January 29, 2013 at 11:06 AM
And let it fly right alongside their WHITE flag!
MelonCollie on January 29, 2013 at 11:09 AM
+1 29victor
cmsinaz on January 29, 2013 at 11:09 AM
That’s what the GOP needs – move closer to the left on every issue possible.
Don’t worry though – when the gay mafia keeps comes after you for your religious beliefs, your church and beloved religions institutions – even after they have “civil marriage” the GOP will have your back. Promise.
gwelf on January 29, 2013 at 11:10 AM
I strongly support this idea. This issue will kill the GOP if it is not accepted and brought off the table soon. Maybe we can even begin bringing LGBT voters into the fold.
But – what can I do? The GOP has already seen the light. Pat Brady (IL GOP Chairman) endorsed gay marriage. Indiana Republicans have delayed and refused to bring anti-gay marriage legislation to committee. Wyoming and New Mexico Republicans are supporting gay marriage bills. GOP strategists are bailing as the article is pointing out.
The anti-gay movement is done. It’s a sinking ship of close-minded and homophobic thought. Jump off now or face the consequences.
ZachV on January 29, 2013 at 11:10 AM
“Evolutionary” thinking? What utter BS!
Kowtowing to the temper tantrum social group du jour is not evolutionary…
“Progressive” absolutely…
If marriage is nothing more than government recognition of Luuuuvvvv… Then government has no reason to be involved in it (Separation of church and state.) And it’s time to rewrite the tax code.
THAT’S “Evolutionary”.
Skywise on January 29, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Translation: suck up to ugly perverts like ZachV or we’ll sue and picket you until such time as we can start outright jailing you.
The sinking ship is the USA, bugger boy, in no small part because of people like you in the hold with a drill in the name of ‘fairness’.
MelonCollie on January 29, 2013 at 11:13 AM
LOL!
HotAirian on January 29, 2013 at 11:13 AM
They probably would, if they could decide where to put it. Above the Mexican flag or below the Mexican flag.
Mimzey on January 29, 2013 at 11:14 AM
If the only way the GOP can survive is to adopt the entire democrat party social platform, then the nation is dead anyway and it won’t matter.
Rebar on January 29, 2013 at 11:15 AM
So you’re admitting that this isn’t about conservative values. You have the same attitude that the progressives have towards private institutions and individuals who wish to live out their faith.
The gay movement isn’t concerned with liberty and being left alone – it wants government enforced acceptance and to use the power of the government to change society and culture. If you don’t tow the liberal line then you get labelled a hateful bigot. You don’t like big government and cradle-to-grave entitlement? You hate black people and are a vicious racist.
We’ll see even worse infringements of religious liberty than we already have all on the alter of the supposed “right” to a marriage license.
gwelf on January 29, 2013 at 11:15 AM
There is no anti gay movement. Nice try.
There is and anti gay marriage movement however.
Mimzey on January 29, 2013 at 11:16 AM
I guess Ken Mehlman forgot this:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/2010-11-03-gay-marriage-iowa-election_N.htm
At a certain point you have to wonder whether these guys have been bought off by the Democrats. They HAVE to know about this stuff.
Doomberg on January 29, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Exactly. We saw what trying to run as liberal-lite got us. If that didn’t work. I assure you by everything I hold dear that trying to imitate liberals full-out will not work.
MelonCollie on January 29, 2013 at 11:17 AM
I sure hope you support legalized polygamy. You wouldn’t want to be a bigot who opposed true marriage equality would you?
gwelf on January 29, 2013 at 11:17 AM
I could almost respect that more than thinking they are actually that dumb and gullible.
Mimzey on January 29, 2013 at 11:18 AM
It’s not just social conservatism anymore. The RINOs started pounding on fiscal conservatives after the most recent electoral defeat. We’re seeing a total and complete collapse of the Republican Party platform across the board. We MUST get a new second party going before it’s too late. The GOP is too corrupt and unsalvageable and it will take too long to pry the current leadership’s fingers away from the levers of power.
Doomberg on January 29, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Why should they ONLY come out for gay marriage? Why is this GOP strategist recommending that they remain opposed to marriage equality?
blink on January 29, 2013 at 11:20 AM
ZachV, can you be counted on to support True Marriage Equality? Or will you be a bigot by opposing the right for everyone to marry as they please (or remaining silent on the issue)?
blink on January 29, 2013 at 11:22 AM
Republicans just need to drop the (R) and put a (D) next to their names.
portlandon on January 29, 2013 at 11:24 AM
thuja, I still don’t have you on my list. You’ve never confirmed your support for True Marriage Equality. Can we change that this morning and get you to confirm?
blink on January 29, 2013 at 11:24 AM
BS. In 2011 the Indiana legislature voted on amending the State Constitution to ban gay marriage. Every Republican but one voted to do so. There are three more votes necessary on the issue to pass it and since 2011 on 1 other Republican, Luke Kenley, has backed off but there have been many more Republicans elected since then who support it. Not only is anti-gay marriage out of committe it’s in the process of being enshrined in the state constition.
tommyboy on January 29, 2013 at 11:26 AM
Abortion, that is the key, and if millions more babies need to die so the GOP can win elections then so be it.
Bishop on January 29, 2013 at 11:26 AM
If they discuss the subject at all, which I have a hard time believing is on people’s top five concern list, just say to put it on the ballot and let the people decide.
Cindy Munford on January 29, 2013 at 11:27 AM
Note the emphasis (mine)
The GOP would do well to incorporate that into the 2016 platform. Given the ever-increasing poll numbers showing more and more Americans that would be for allowing gay couples to marry, it’s only inevitable.
JetBoy on January 29, 2013 at 11:28 AM
Marxist infiltration and indoctrination.
SWalker on January 29, 2013 at 11:28 AM
The thing that kills me is when these people point how popular or unpopular something is with the youth as a reason to change a principled position. Except of course when the youth seem to prefer something they don’t like then we need to draw a line in the sand.
gwelf on January 29, 2013 at 11:29 AM
If it wasn’t for the lawsuits and the very real threat of loss of religious freedom, we really wouldn’t give a hoot about the pervert battalion.
MelonCollie on January 29, 2013 at 11:29 AM
I believe abortion on demand is a great national shame on America and is even inherently evil. But there’s no way Roe gets overturned…or even that we’ll see more restrictions.
JetBoy on January 29, 2013 at 11:30 AM
No kidding. Video games are more popular with kids than getting jobs. We better get on board with obozo’s jobs killing agenda so the youth will like us more. Maybe hand out free video games, but not violent ones.
Flange on January 29, 2013 at 11:32 AM
You can make a principled argument for gay civil marriage (I will disagree with it but such arguments can be made). But poll numbers and popularity isn’t one of them.
The socialist super state is also pretty popular among the youth too.
Your statement also implies that somehow this will stop the Democrats from smearing conservatives as hateful bigots. It won’t. They’ll never stop calling conservatives hateful bigots (e.g., we’ll be hateful bigots because we don’t think religious institutions should be providing adoptions services to gay couples, paying for other people’s abortions etc).
gwelf on January 29, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Global Wormening too, the GOP needs to embrace AGW and start demanding gigantic subsidies for alternative energy projects regardless of how pathetically ineffective they have proven to be.
This is about ELECTIONS, you hick flyover rubes, and GOP congressman need to make sure they can keep their pay and perks. So line up, shut up, and do as you’re told.
Bishop on January 29, 2013 at 11:33 AM
So you’ll fight to the death for gay marriage but not to save the life if an unborn child…
Priorities…
Skywise on January 29, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Exactly; the hypocrisy is so thick you could cut out a cluebat-shaped object and hit the trolls somewhere sensitive with it.
Not to mention that deciding where to stand on principled positions based on what my moralless, clueless generation THINKS is ‘popular’ or ‘right’ is as idiotic as electing the son of a Muslim and a tribal as President twice.
MelonCollie on January 29, 2013 at 11:34 AM
JetBoy, you are on record for specifically opposing True Marriage Equality. Do you want to change that, or are you going to continue to be bigoted about it?
blink on January 29, 2013 at 11:36 AM
If that’s the standard then he should be for legalizing polygamy and incest. And why limit it to Adults? Children can love too.
tommyboy on January 29, 2013 at 11:38 AM
John 18:38
thuja on January 29, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Well, it’s nice to see when someone has the intellectual honesty to see an issue they personally don’t agree with but can see the validity of the argument presented. So cheers on that. But poll numbers certainly do show more support over recent years for civil gay marriage.
As for younger Americans being more supportive of gay marriage, it is what it is…they do count.
I would certainly expect liberals/Democrats to badmouth conservatives/GOPers over everything they can. That’s never going to change no matter what Republicans do. Most of the time their attacks on the Right aren’t even factual.
JetBoy on January 29, 2013 at 11:40 AM
The answer? John 17:17
tommyboy on January 29, 2013 at 11:45 AM
I don’t doubt it’s popular. I’m just saying this is a really lousy reason to support something.
When socialism seems popular the proposed solution isn’t to cave in to grab more votes. The solution is to message better and govern better to win over votes by persuasion and effective governance.
There are those in the GOP and who are fiscal conservatives/libertarians etc who support gay civil marriages for specific reasons. A debate can – and is – had on whether these reasons are sound ones or whether or not they do involve true conservative or libertarian principles but that’s a debate about ideas and is the process of trying to win over hearts and minds. Which I’m fine with. I just think the idea that policy should shift with political winds – instead of a reasoned and decided position – is a bad one.
gwelf on January 29, 2013 at 11:48 AM
+1
thirtyandseven on January 29, 2013 at 11:49 AM
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