2016 Postmortem

Eugene

(61,900 posts) Mon Mar 25, 2013, 08:56 AM Mar 2013

Rove: "I could" see a 2016 GOP candidate supporting same-sex marriage

Source: CBS News

By JAKE MILLER / CBS NEWS/ March 24, 2013, 2:42 PM

Rove: "I could" see a 2016 GOP candidate supporting same-sex marriage

"I could" see a Republican candidate for president in 2016 endorsing same-sex marriage, Republican strategist Karl Rove told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, further underscoring just how quickly public attitudes on the issue are changing.

In recent years, Rove has very publicly tried to nudge his party closer to the center of public opinion on a variety of topics - a task he has taken on with renewed urgency in the wake of Republicans' 2012 election losses. Given polls showing a quickly increasing base of support for same-sex marriage, it is understandable that the electability-minded Rove could envision a GOP candidate publicly supporting the right of gay couples to get married.

But he didn't always think support for gay rights could be smart politics. In 2004, Rove was the chief strategist for then-President Bush's reelection campaign, and was credited with helping engineer anti-gay marriage ballot initiatives in several states - most crucially, Ohio - to gin up turnout among an evangelical Christian base that largely supported the incumbent. Bush was reelected by a slim margin, and many analysts credited the swollen turnout among evangelicals for his victory.

In terms of public opinion, though, 2004 was light years away from today. A recent poll from The Washington Post and ABC News showed 58 percent of Americans in favor of same-sex marriage, the highest such number ever recorded. Only 36 percent of respondents were opposed to gay marriage. Even 34 percent of Republicans in the survey said they support gay marriage (59 percent were opposed.)

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13 replies

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Highlight:

Rove: "I could" see a 2016 GOP candidate supporting same-sex marriage (Original Post) Eugene Mar 2013 OP

All their scapegoats have come back to butt them in the ass union_maid Mar 2013 #1

There is a reason for that, Karl DFW Mar 2013 #2

He has a turd in his pocket. santamargarita Mar 2013 #3

You "COULD" could you? The Democratic WILL support same sex marriage. yellowcanine Mar 2013 #4

So could I, Karl... BlueDemKev Mar 2013 #5

That'll be a first for both sides marshall Mar 2013 #6

I don't know about YOUR candidate... brooklynite Mar 2013 #8

I was referring to candidates in the primaries marshall Mar 2013 #9

WAIT! - There's an important backpedal... brooklynite Mar 2013 #7

Bookend that with FRC's Tony Perkins and the Huck-ster... JHB Mar 2013 #10

He did say 'candidtate' and not 'nominee' Sheepshank Mar 2013 #11

I could see Karl marrying Eric Cantor in 2017. sofa king Mar 2013 #12

Yeah, good luck with that getting through the Cha Mar 2013 #13

union_maid

(3,502 posts)

1. All their scapegoats have come back to butt them in the ass

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 09:32 AM

Mar 2013

From Willie Horton to LGBT people to undocumented immigrants the politics of hate and fear are exacting a toll on the poor GOP. And their policies regarding women's issue? Forget about it. This is about the most satifying thing going on in politics today.

DFW

(54,403 posts)

2. There is a reason for that, Karl

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 12:07 PM

Mar 2013

ALL your whacko friends lost in the last election. You can either be like Paul Ryan and try the same losing formula again, or you can use a little logic and figure out that if a majority of people in our country are comfortable with something, you could do worse than support candidates who are equally as comfortable with it.

One stumbling block you might want to watch out for: the teabaggers are not only out there in full force, but now with LOTS of Koch money to pay for them to spread their hateful message, and ALL of it at your party's expense. Don't say we didn't warn ya............

santamargarita

(3,170 posts)

3. He has a turd in his pocket.

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 02:46 PM

Mar 2013

yellowcanine

(35,699 posts)

4. You "COULD" could you? The Democratic WILL support same sex marriage.

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 04:54 PM

Mar 2013

No "COULD" about it. That is the difference between the two parties today.

And you "COULD" just as easily have a Repub candidate who does not support marriage equality. Particularly if your buddies the baggers have any say in the matter.

BlueDemKev

(3,003 posts)

5. So could I, Karl...

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 05:53 PM

Mar 2013

...in my dreams!

marshall

(6,665 posts)

6. That'll be a first for both sides

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 09:23 PM

Mar 2013

Neither party has ever had a candidate who supports marriage equality.

brooklynite

(94,591 posts)

8. I don't know about YOUR candidate...

Reply to marshall (Reply #6)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 09:46 PM

Mar 2013

...but MY candidate announced his support of Gay Marriage last year.

marshall

(6,665 posts)

9. I was referring to candidates in the primaries

Reply to brooklynite (Reply #8)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 11:50 PM

Mar 2013

I think by the next election cycle it will be a foregone conclusion.

brooklynite

(94,591 posts)

7. WAIT! - There's an important backpedal...

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 09:45 PM

Mar 2013

Rove then came out and said he could see a Republican "candidate" supporting Gay Marriage...just not the Republican "nominee"...

JHB

(37,160 posts)

10. Bookend that with FRC's Tony Perkins and the Huck-ster...

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Wed Mar 27, 2013, 07:01 AM

Mar 2013

Tony Perkins Threatens GOP: Support Marriage Equality And Evangelicals Will Form Third Party
by David Badash on March 26, 2013
Tony Perkins is threatening a possible third party if the GOP abandons its evangelical base and supports same-sex marriage — which latest polls show almost six in ten Americans already do.

Perkins is the head of the anti-gay hate group, Family Research Council. His predecessor, Gary Bauer (FRC was not certified as a hate group under Bauer) today threatened the same at the National Organization For Marriage‘s anti-gay hate rally:

“Let me say to my party: if you bail out on this issue, I will leave the party and I will take as many people with me as I possibly can.”

In a press release, Perkins last week wrote:

If the RNC abandons marriage, evangelicals will either sit the elections out completely–or move to create a third party. Either option puts Republicans on the path to a permanent minority.

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/tony-perkins-threatens-gop-support-marriage-equality-and-evangelicals-will-form-third-party/politics/2013/03/26/63452

also:

Mike Huckabee Threatens GOP: Support Marriage Equality And Evangelicals Will Form Third Party
By David Badash

Mike Huckabee is threatening the GOP, warning them that if they support same-sex marriage, evangelicals will form a third party. Former Family Research Council president Gary Bauer and current FRC president Tony Perkins have recently both echoed those words.

When asked by the website Newsmax “if he sees the GOP ever pivoting and backing gay marriage,” Huckabee admitted they might.

The rest: http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/mike-huckabee-threatens-gop-support-marriage-equality-and-evangelicals-will-form-third-party/politics/2013/03/26/63444

The Huck article via Will Pitt:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022572691

Sheepshank

(12,504 posts)

11. He did say 'candidtate' and not 'nominee'

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Wed Mar 27, 2013, 10:37 AM

Mar 2013

which leaves Huntsman on the outs of his own party yet again.

I suspect he may try again...and there you have the candidtate any normal personal may also have predicted. Rove is not all that astutue, mind reading, not much of a seer and revelator.

His relevancy is over.

sofa king

(10,857 posts)

12. I could see Karl marrying Eric Cantor in 2017.

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Wed Mar 27, 2013, 12:12 PM

Mar 2013

Cha

(297,285 posts)

13. Yeah, good luck with that getting through the

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Wed Mar 27, 2013, 02:59 PM

Mar 2013

teabagger primaries. Where "severely conservative" is code for the biggest lying asshole.

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