For the second time in a month Republican legal activists have struck a major blow for gay rights.
While gay activists on the left are urging Senate Democrats to repeal the Military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, gay Republicans have beaten them to the punch with a court ruling which may put an end to the policy without legislative action.…
Article comments
26 - jeannie danna
Realistically, as with the general population, most Repblicans are somewhat indifferent to this issue because it really has no impact on them.
Which brings all of you back to my original comment:
Votes are votes.
JD
27 - Jordan Richardson
Dave, if "most Republicans" are indifferent to homosexuality, why is there such a demand for Republicans to stay in the closet and not be "blatant" about their sexuality while they're under the tent of the GOP?
I think if you were being honest with yourself, you'd note that being truly realistic requires a thorough examination of how GOP policies and social stances filter through the party as a whole. What message does the GOP send with respect to their policies on gay marriage and acceptance of homosexuals, for instance?
If you really want to see change within the GOP on these issues, it's best not to start from a position of denial.
I don't think the majority of Republicans are anti-gay, by the way. I do think, however, that the majority of Republican voters are anti-gay and Republican policies reflect that because a more accepting, welcoming party would deter the traditional "values voters" the GOP drools after.
28 - Clavos
I do think, however, that the majority of Republican voters are anti-gay...
Sadly, I think the majority of the country is anti-gay, including,ironically, the majorities of such minority groups as African Americans and Latinos.
29 - handyguy
I am skeptical of classifying the Log Cabin Republicans as typical GOP members, or a vanguard of a larger, more open minded group of Republicans.
I think most members of the LCR would be much more likely to align with fiscally conservative/socially liberal Democrats than with the Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin wing of the Tea Party.
Susan Collins would seem to be more the LCR type of Republican -- and Dave has slimed her and permanently written her off because she voted for the stimulus.
30 - Clavos
I think most members of the LCR would be much more likely to align with fiscally conservative/socially liberal Democrats...
And yet...
They're Republicans.
Go figure.
31 - handyguy
Susan Collins is a Republican. Mark Warner is a Democrat. The differences between them are pretty narrow.
32 - handyguy
There are still plenty of prejudiced and/or ignorant people, but recent polling shows 70% or more support repeal of DADT, and about half the country is now comfortable with the idea of gay marriage. That's a big change from just a few years ago.
33 - Clavos
...recent polling shows 70% or more support repeal of DADT, and about half the country is now comfortable with the idea of gay marriage.
Assuming, of course, they are answering the polls honestly -- questionable, on such a volatile issue.
34 - handyguy
Whether they are precise to the last decimal point is another matter. But those numbers have moved steadily into the "more tolerant" range for years now.
35 - zingzing
"But those numbers have moved steadily into the "more tolerant" range for years now."
that's because old people die. shrug. what? it's the truth...
36 - handyguy
Ha. Yeah. Well, old liberals die too. But I take your point. There's a strong generational difference on gay issues.
37 - Glenn Contrarian
DAVE!
"Republicans strike another blow for gay rights"
How's the premise for your article compare with what YOU said in comment #1 in this article?
And don't pin your hopes on gay Republicans. They may be gay, but they aren't going to move the basic agenda of the party to the left at all.
The strongest base of the Republican party is Texas...and their 2010 state party platform includes:
The Platform advocates the re-criminalization of sodomy, making it a felony to perform a same sex marriage, and opposes the "acceptance" and "normalization" of homosexual behavior. The GOP platform also opposes granting any legal privileges to homosexuals, including the ability to adopt children, same sex insurance, or retirement benefits. The GOP platform is an attempt by the conservative sector of the Texas Republican party to preserve the "traditional" family unit and curb the spread of communicable diseases in the population such as HIV/AIDS that stigmatizes the gay community.
In your article you say one thing. In your comment to me you said another. Your own state's party platform strongly opposes your article's premise.
I despise rank hypocrisy. That's why I'll never again be a Republican (unless they do a 180-degree change back to what they were under Lincoln).
38 - Mika Galipeau
Unfortunately, with the current shift of the Republican party, it may become increasingly uncomfortable for openly gay Republicans to be welcomed.
This shift could decrease the influence of the GOP's previously diverse base. Imagine being a gay republican in Texas right now, where your party's official platform states that you are a degenerate by virtue of your being.
Open-minded Republicans are fast discovering that there is no longer a party that consistently represents their interests.
Politics are fluid, and it is my hope that the Tea Party and theological sway comes full circle sooner rather than later.
39 - Fingal O'Flahertie
As I dolefully predicted in comment #1 to this thread, what you called "Another Blow for Gay Rights" struck by Republicans will have no practical effect, since today Republican senators defeated an attempt by Democrats to repeal DADT.
Meaning the trial court decision that you extolled must now work its way through the federal appeals system. That could take years, and possibly wind up in the Supreme Court, which is as sure to defeat it as were Republican senators today.
It's a dismal situation. But looking for Republicans to fix it is just plain silly. It goes against the grain of everything the GOP stands for.
40 - zingzing
yay! republicans. idiots. a unanimous vote against! to their credit, however, reid attached all sorts of stuff republicans hate, like opening a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. i dunno why he'd do that, but that's politics these days. reid plays too many games, methinks. the senate is one big bout of constipation.
41 - handyguy
The "Dream Act" [for immigrants] probably has more support than DADT, actually. I'm not sure Reid thought he would really push it through. Both he and the GOP are playing election-year politics.
They will have to pass a Defense authorization sometime.
42 - El Bicho
where's Dave's article entitled "Republicans Strike Another Blow Against Gay Rights" discussing the Montana GOP's platform where they list on their website: "We support the clear will of the people of Montana expressed by legislation to keep homosexual acts illegal"?
I am guessing it's going to be a long wait.
43 - zingzing
"They will have to pass a Defense authorization sometime."
are you talking about that engine for that fighter jet? that one's actually fought by obama. if it wasn't the immigration act, i'm not sure what it was. reid attached a lot of shit to it though. there must be something in there that republicans can ALL say no to, as i don't believe that all republicans are bigots. only some. a lot. many. most. nearly all. 99%.
somewhere in there.
44 - Fingal O'Flahertie
DADT DOA? LOL! The latest wrinkle in this case is that the same District Court judge who last month ruled that the U.S. military's ban on openly gay service members violates the Constitution, has today issued a worldwide injunction stopping enforcement of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
This is yet another meaningless development. As I pointed out in my comments #1 and #39 on this thread, opponents of DADT have scored a nice symbolic victory that will have no practical effect. Next step? The U.S. Department of Justice simply appeals this ban, and the Appeals Court issues a stay while it considers the merits. If the ban is upheld, DoJ will undoubtedly appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which just as certainly will overturn the ban once and for all.
Meaning we're right back at square one. The only way to get rid of DADT is for Congress to repeal that asinine law, and there ain't a snowball's chance in hell of that happening.