Republicans and Gays: Social conservatives are not going to abandon Bush

NRO ^ | Ponnuru | Ramesh

[Asclepius]

There is, as yet, no reason to expect that rank-and-file social conservatives are going to do anything other than run to the polls to reelect George W. Bush.

I'm lacing up my cross-trainers even now.

[sinkspur]

I would just make the point that the threats are idle. Social-conservative leaders have the bad habits of not setting priorities and of threatening more than they can deliver.

It's just bluster.

The thing is, like some posters on this board, the social conservatives threaten to stay home and risk electing a Democrat, not seeming to realize that they too, will have to live under the Democrat.

Under whom they will get nothing. Nothing.

[Utah Girl]

I'm one of those broken glass Republicans, I would crawl over broken glass to vote for President Bush. Am I happy with everything he has done? No, but he has done most of what I thought he would, plus he has turned out to be an excellent leader. I will work for his re-election campaign also.

[presidio9]

But I assume the White House will find a way to oppose gay marriage without appearing to pick on or to demonize gay people.

The gay rights lobby will not allow this. They have draw their line in the sand. Any attempt to court the gay vote will fail. So why bother?

[Utah Girl]

Exactly. Plus, Gary Bauer was one of the people who met with Marc Racicot and made the threats. Bauer is a pipsqueak, I don't trust his motives.

[IronJack]

These are Horowitz's neocon colors showing. Doctrinaire conservatives know that we don't need so-called "conservative" homosexuals on our side. We certainly don't need to sacrifice any principles to entice them to our cause. Doing so belies the moral validity of our stand and turns us into political whores, a neocon trademark.

[Ahban]

I have already written off the Republican party. More will do so everyday. I just hope it happens BEFORE disaster strikes.

[Asclepius]

Doing so belies the moral validity of our stand and turns us into political whores, a neocon trademark.

Dude. Neocons rule. Ask any Iraqi.

Pragmatism is the way, man. The way. Politics is the art of the possible.

[billbears]

Just another example of why the neocon agenda is not conservative. Keep taking us for granted, you do that. There won't be a leader that social conservatives have to listen to in order to stay home. Many will just stay home out of disgust

[deport]

Many will just stay home out of disgust

---

Makes perfect sense to me.....

[templar]

>i>Under whom they will get nothing. Nothing.

As opposed to getting what?

[skeeter]

Big deal. The 'social conservatives' are doing exactly what any other interest group does - trying to rattle the cage of their party's leadership in order to get their issues bumped up the priority list.

The correct response by the party's leadership is to rationally address their concerns, not tell a very important constituency to 'like it or lump it'. Its called politics.

[voteconstitutionparty]

David Horowitz is spinning for damage control. Senator Santorum should be supported,and Racicot should go. The state I live in hasn't given it's Electoral College votes to a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson so If I choose to use my vote to send a message it's not going to affect the outcome one bit. It may get the GOP to work harder for,and not take for granted it's most loyal base.

[wimpycat]

Hear, hear!

[Servant of the Nine]

The gay rights lobby will not allow this. They have draw their line in the sand. Any attempt to court the gay vote will fail. So why bother?

Really?
You know this how?

Based on their general competence in inside politics, I believe the Bush Whitehouse can develop a strategy beyond your conception or mine and beyond the ability of the Gay Mafia to spin.

Or do you contend that the Gay Mafia is smarter than the Bush Strategery Group?

So9

[The Old Hoosier]

they too, will have to live under the Democrat. Under whom they will get nothing. Nothing.

But if they blindly support bad Republicans, they will get LESS than nothing--both nothing and no party standing for their ideas.

[sinkspur]

As opposed to getting what?

As opposed to the solid social conservatism you are getting from Bush.

Bush talks to gays, appoints a gay or two to his administration, and you all-or-nothing unappeaseables are ready to abandon him.

Don't you realize that the far-right figures who would give you everything you want are simply unelectable (witness Howard Phillips and Pat Buchanan)?

I have to laugh like hell when I read on this board that Gore would have been no worse on social issues than Bush.

That's gross stupidity!

[sinkspur]

As opposed to getting what?

As opposed to the solid social conservatism you are getting from Bush.

Bush talks to gays, appoints a gay or two to his administration, and you all-or-nothing unappeaseables are ready to abandon him.

Don't you realize that the far-right figures who would give you everything you want are simply unelectable (witness Howard Phillips and Pat Buchanan)?

I have to laugh like hell when I read on this board that Gore would have been no worse on social issues than Bush.

That's gross stupidity!

[Princeliberty]

What conservative leader has threatened to not vote
for Bush? I don't think any have.