Ain't What It Used to Be

[courtesy of Blog for America]

Karl Rove and the Republicans have gotten a lot of mileage out of scaring people about gay marriage.  In many ways, the 2004 anti-marriage equality ballot initiatives proved to be an important factor in George Bush's reelection.  But it looks like the homophobic, fear-mongering train has come off the rails.  From McClatchy:

Yet it's not as solid a boost as it was for President Bush in 2004, when more Americans opposed gay marriage, and social conservatives surged to polling places to approve constitutional amendments banning it in 13 states, including such pivotal presidential election battlegrounds as Missouri and Ohio.

"This year is very different than 2004," said Joe Solmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest advocacy group for gays, lesbians and transgenders.

He said that other issues such as Iraq, the economy and rising gasoline and food prices had pushed marriage down on the national priority list. And Americans have grown somewhat more tolerant of same-sex marriage, he said.

What do you think?  With California's recent court ruling legalizing marriage equality, will this issue drive voters to John McCain?  Will evangelical voters come out in force for Sen. McCain's campaign?  Or, have we turned a page in the so-called "culture wars"?

Danny
Communications Director