They're back: Social issues overtake US politics

WASHINGTON (AP) — All of a sudden, abortion, contraception and gay marriage are at the center of American political discourse, with the struggling — though improving — economy pushed to the background.

Social issues don't typically dominate the discussion in shaky economies. But they do raise emotions important to factors like voter turnout. And they can be key tools for political candidates clamoring for attention, campaign cash or just a change of subject in an election year.

"The public is reacting to what it's hearing about," said Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center. In a political season, he said, "when the red meat is thrown out there, the politicians are going to go after it."

And a cascade of cultural political developments inspired a new set of talking points for the year's crop of political hopefuls:

—Supporters of Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services, helped force the resignation of Susan G. Komen For the Cure executive Karen Handel after the breast cancer research group cut grants to the organization, then reversed course.

—Catholic bishops began sparring with the White House over a new requirement that Catholic-affiliated institutions such as hospitals and schools must provide insurance coverage for birth control for their employees even though the church opposes artificial contraception. On Friday, Obama announced an update to the policy. Under the change, religious employers will not have to cover birth control for their employees. The government, instead, will demand that insurance companies be directly responsible for providing contraception.

—A federal appeals court in California struck down the state's gay marriage ban, prompting criticism from the Republican presidential candidates and others who charged that unelected judges were overruling the will of voters.

Relative to the edict by Benito Obamalini mandating organizations to provide birth control for free... The left can attempt to craft this entirely as a social issue, they can attempt to make this entirely about birth control if they chose. Unfortunately for the left, the issue of our government stepping far outside the boundaries of what it should be doing is not being hidden. To many, self included, this is yet another example of an out of control President piXXXNg on our Constitution.

“A mandate edicted by the pres-ent ordering who shall provide care and what type is far more than a “social” issue. It’s a Constitutional one. And he is breaking the law. Don’t let the press obfuscate th real issue here.”

It’s always about values. If all you care about is the economy then you’ll vote for Obama if the unemployment rate drops for a few months.

Actually, I say - GOOD! The problem that we conservatives and more appropriately - REPUBLICANS- have is our lack of packaging - not the product! Individual conservatism works every single day in our lives: household budgets, living within ones means, moral values, family values, pride, setting and meeting goals. These all work!

Unfortunately, we have idiots like Mittens trying to sell a product that he doesn’t believe in and don’t even know how it works! THAT is bad packaging!

If we, as a society, continue to accept that popping out kids to get more and more of the government dole is a good thing, then we will continue to PAY MORE TAXES! However, if we go back to when being on the dole meant being ashamed and more importantly, living like a pauper, then people would want to provide for themselves, opening up opportunities and businesses and ideas to new generations raising all boats!

Public housing and section 8 housing should be no better than the worst of military housing - PERIOD! Heck, even squad bays, would be better than these Taj Mahals they are building today - the new government housing in Houston has MARBLE counters and floors! MARBLE - WTF?

If WIC can tell you what items are and are not acceptable, then why the heck can’t they drop steak, lobster and nine dollar an ounce cheese off the list of acceptable LoneStar card purchases? Even worse, some Freepers have stated that these people should be allowed the same graces and niceties that we all have - BS! When they start paying for it, THEN they can get niceties - until then, they get beans, rice, ground beef, bologna and bread!

Social issues are the moral fabric which tells us how much we are going to have to spend to continue to make that fine fabric! Until REPUBLICANS understand that THIS is from wince we conservatives are coming - we will continue to fall deeper and deeper into this morass which we currently find ourselves STUCK!

Awesome reply. Everything you said was spot on. And your conclusion is so good, it deserves a repost in bold font!

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