McCain Strategist Warns GOP Risks Becoming 'Religious Party'

FOX ^

[Sub-Driver]

McCain Strategist Warns GOP Risks Becoming 'Religious Party' Steve Schmidt urges Republicans to begin voicing more support for civil unions and gay rights.

FOXNews.com

Friday, April 17, 2009

John McCain's top adviser from the presidential campaign urged fellow Republicans on Friday to warm up to gay rights and warned that the GOP risks becoming the "religious party" with its opposition to same-sex marriage.

Steve Schmidt, in his first political appearance since the election, spoke at the Washington, D.C., convention for the Log Cabin Republicans -- a grassroots group for gay and lesbian Republicans.

He urged Republicans, in the near-term, to endorse civil unions and stop using the Bible as rationale for gay-marriage opposition.

"If you put public policy issues to a religious test, you risk becoming a religious party," he said. "And in a free country a political party cannot be viable in the long-term if it is seen as a sectarian party."

[GregB]

McCain and all his groupies can bugger off!!!!!!Go Sarah Go!!!!

[itsahoot]

Like it or not, it’s sage advice.

Yep if you want to remain a loser party keep it up.

[ravingnutter]

For the gay union advice I have for him, he doesn’t even need a partner, he can do it to himself.

[Reagan Man]

Steve Schmidt is following Michael Steele’s lead. Push back on the conservative agenda, in favor of more moderate and liberal policies. Like Steele, Schmidt says embrace the abortion rights agenda and special rights for homos. And while you’re at it, you religious fanatics, throw the Bible in the trash.

My advice to Steve Schmidt -— join the Democratic Party.

[KeyesPlease]

“I’m not religious and I’m against queer unions. I use nature and common sense as my rationale.”

I’m with you on this. Amazing that nature and common sense count for so little in politics these days.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>GDMFSOAB

Agreed.

[stockpirate]

It’s no good advice in any way shape or form.

Let all homo’s go to the Democrat Party.

[itsahoot]

What the Republican party is today is not what he created in 1964.

He didn't create Reagan, Reagan was the better man.

[proud American in Canada]

Here's some sage advice for the GOP--take the pro-family, anti-gaystapo message to the Black and Hispanic communities where it will resonate like nobody's business.

Exactly!

[BillyBoy]

Goldwater didn't create the Republican Party in 1964. It was created 110 years earlier in 1854, by socially-conservative Christians who were morally opposed to slavery and felt the Whigs and Dems weren't doing anything about it.

[mulligan]

Hard to believe or understand why there are so many “sick” people in America today. Sad and very destructive.

[Never on my watch]

I cannot understand why anyone is sending any money to GOP in general and McCain and his fellow RINOs in particular.

Since the last election and into the future, the GOP does not get another penny from me until they get their heads right. And they don't seem interested.

[Unam Sanctam]

OK, so I guess I should give up my religious beliefs?

[Perdogg]

Right. Goldwater moved the party right, then was joined by conservative dems in the 70s and 80s.

Reagan made it a federalist, not religious party.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Stuff it McLoser.

[Antoninus]

Exactly!

They won't do that because the higher-ups in the GOP are every bit as "gay-friendly" as they are in the Democrat party. We need a true house-cleaning. If the GOP doesn't wise up soon, that's just what might happen in 2010.

[PALIN SMITH]

Two Asteroids named Common Sense and Outrage will hit America on Election Day, 2010.

All the Dinosaurs and Rinosaurs will face extinction on that day!!

[puroresu]

I didn't know Goldwater ran on a platform of “gay rights” and same-sex “marriage” in 1964. He endorsed those things only late in life after he found out that supporting such nonsense could get him some good press (for the first time in his career).

The McCain clique is using the same issue to get back in good standing with the media. McCain basked in the media glow as a “maverick” Republican for years until he ended up as Obama’s campaign opponent. Then, the media turned on him like the vipers they are. Now that the election is over, McCain and his lame daughter and cronies want the media's support again. Supporting the homo agenda and attacking religious conservatives is a sure ticket to get the leftist media drooling for you.

[italianquaker]

His advice in 08 really helped us, so what does this buffoon have to tell us

[Las Vegas Ron]

Like it or not, it’s sage advice.

Yeah right, let's just throw out everything that made this Country what it is.

It is a well known tactic for the commies to change the meaning of words to get their way, think of the impact it has on contracts, and specifically the Constitution, specifically the meaning of the word regulated as in the 2nd Amendment

This is but another reason, not religious, to deny homosexual marriage. There is no such meaning of the word.