GOP hopes NJ gay marriage ruling will rally base in MO, TN and VA

[DeepModem Mom]

TIME: Will the Gay Marriage Ruling Rally the Base?
The New Jersey court decision may be just what Republicans need to motivate Christian conservatives in key Senate races in the South
By PERRY BACON, JR./WASHINGTON
Posted Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006

In terms of so-called “October Surprises” that might affect the election, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that opens the door to gay marriage certainly ranks below the congressional page scandal involving former Florida Rep. Mark Foley. But the decision could be a welcome boost for a White House and congressional Republicans who are worried about firing up the conservative base of their party.

Only Tuesday, Bush aides brought in a few dozen conservative radio talk show hosts to broadcast from the White House, where top officials such as Dick Cheney and Karl Rove tried to get them fired up about the importance of returning Republican majorities to Congress. And while GOP leaders have been warning about high taxes and weakened national security if Democrats were to regain control of Congress, Republicans can now emphasize their differences with Democrats on an issue Christian conservatives are particularly passionate about. Most congressional Democrats voted against a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage earlier this year. “It’s going to remind people this issue is paramount,” says the Rev. Louis Sheldon, who runs a conservative group called the Traditional Values Coalition.

Firing up the base is one thing, however. The open question is how much that impact will be felt in key races around the country. In New Jersey, Democratic incumbent Bob Menendez and Republican Tom Kean, who are both against gay marriage but for civil unions, are in a virtual tie in a crucial contest, and a Kean victory would almost certainly mean Republicans retained control of the Senate. But a Rutgers-Eagleton poll in June found 50% of people in the state favored gay marriage, while 44% opposed. And New Jersey is heavily Democratic, so it’s hard to see this decision putting Kean over the top.

What Republicans are hoping is that they can use the issue of gay marriage and the ruling to motivate conservatives in key states like Tennessee, Missouri and Virginia, where Republicans are in danger of losing Senate seats. Polls this year have shown small, but measurable drop-offs in enthusiasm from Christian conservatives and there’s some worry about whether they will stay home on Election Day, particularly after the Foley scandal, which some conservative leaders blamed on congressional Republicans for being too afraid to take action against Foley earlier because it might be perceived as anti-gay....

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1550823,00.html?cnn=yes

[Zybelline]

1. Dem October surprise : Foley proposes marriage to pages ! hee hee

why don't Dems organize some surprises ?

[aquart]

2. All they've got is their hatred and bigotry.

[greeneyedboy]

3. hogwash.

there's already an anti-marriage equality amendment on the TN ballot, and i don't think the mouthbreathers were going to stay home anyway.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/25/nj-supreme-court-gay-couples-entitled-to-equal-spousal-rights/

[w13rd0]

4. And once again...

...the GOP hopes that by appealing to the lowest common denominator and doing some vigorous gay bashing, they can once again pimp the conservative knuckledragging Christians to vote against their interests and rally for the GOP. If you aren't gay, it's NONE OF YOUR F'ING BUSINESS!!!! How do I, by wanting my gay partner to be able to visit me in the hospital, or be included on my will, or cohabitate, or just be recognized as the PERSON I LOVE, in ANY WAY WHATSOEVER threaten their unhealthy little utopian illusion of the world around them? Are they afraid that by knowing I'm a happy homosexual, their wives will decide they are sick of their drunk loutish asses and become lesbians? Seriously, why the hell is this an issue with these people? Don't like homosexuals, DON'T BE ONE!!!