Unfortunately, the Supreme Court created an unwinnable situation for those that believe marriage is marriage. They adopted the far left language in their decision and opened the flood gates. If there had been a national backlash, we could still have an upperhand on the issue, but there was not. Even a lot of solid Republicans I know have basically dropped any major opposition. There does need to be a shift on this issue, even if not an outright cave. Simply saying ‘I believe in traditional marriage’ is an ineffective position. A candidate needs to provide something more substantive, even if they still hold the same views. Not the equivalent of ‘I’m personally pro-life, but not for making it illegal.’ It needs to be a discussion point...’I believe marriage is marriage, but I believe we do need to look at state laws to see how same sex couples are affected by the legal and economic sides of our current laws.” Essentially, adopt a civil-union option without calling it that.
I agree that once you let the Left define the issue you have already lost.
There is no such thing as "gay marriage". Never was, never will be. Pass all the laws you want, it changes the underlying reality not one whit.
Because, as you say, marriage is marriage. Moral or natural law pre-exists civil law. If written law is out of line with natural law, it isn't law. People have lost touch with that, and good luck finding anyone, Repubs included, who is prepared to explain it to them.
What is a “same-sex couple.”
If it is a couple of people of the same sex who are friends, what conceivable change is needed in the laws? None.
If it is a couple of people of the same sex who habitually practice some sort of sexual congress, what does that have to do with marriage? Nothing.
Anyone who says that the existence of such couples has anything to do with marriage is promoting a lie, and should be treated like a liar.
People who are not married to each other, regardless of whether or not they are in any sort of sexual relationship with each other, have always been able to form legal and financial partnerships, own property together, etc.
Yes, thank you Justice Kennedy for demonizing any supporters of traditional marriage in a legal opinion. I will not forgive him for that.