You realize they are called "wedge issues" for a reason, right?

[mrgorth]

It seems some of you think they only wedge on the right side. We sit here in disbelief that union pipefitters vote republican because they don't understand "fags". In the meantime we demand that our representatives take a position guaranteed to lose union pipefitter votes. Do you think it's just a coincidence the republicans are pushing on this now? Let's try to remember something, Dean was supposed to be the standard bearer for progressives this year and he didn't push for gay marriage. He did civil unions and THAT was considered far out until now. If I was John Kerry or John Edward's advisors right now I would be telling them to be positively sponge soft on this issue. Do I want gay marriage? Yes. Do I want John Kerry to say that christian fundies are bigots? Yes. But these things are sure fire ways to get Bush and his amendment reelected. Don't let the GOP win on this. Let's let our guys bob and weave a little because if any of them get in I'm sure civil unions and letting states decide on marriage is much more preferable to having to overturn an amendment 20 years down the road. Do not get sucked into Rove's plan. Thank you.

[AP]

1. Bush is trying to win this election with the blue collar white male vote.

He's going to tank the dollar to increase US mnfg jobs (give them lots of overtime) this fall. He's going to run on gay marriage.

Dems better have a counter-strategy to get those voters.

[HereSince1628]

2. My preferred response...

"The only constitutional amendment I would strongly support is an
Equal Rights Amendment."

[Blue_Roses]

3. I agree

n/t

[lastknowngood]

4. Game set match we have lost this prez election turn your

energy to the house of reps.

[Paradox_Mystery]

6. Given all the redistricting games...

Wouldn't it actually be harder to take back the house than the white house? If, in your opinion, we can't do the one, why would we be able to do the other?

[maryallen]

8. What's your game here?

That's twice today I've read a post by you that claims the Dems will lose because of the gay marriage issue. Get a grip, man. It's a wedge issue. If handled properly, it will explode in the Repubs faces.

The obvious rebuttal to this is to change the subject to matters of vital concern to the nation:
Where are the WMD's???
What happened on 9/11???

Shout it loudly.
Shout it often and ...
Repeat, repeat, repeat.

[OHdem10]

5. MrGorth--you are

so correct. Your explanation is so clear and to the point.Last evening I heard a very credible reporter explain how this issue helps Bush no matter what. The Congress and Senate you will notice have been rather quite. Even DeLay said we do not want a quick knee-jerk reaction here. Bush gets out front and shores up his base--Religious Right andCultural Conservatives. Even if Congress does nothing his base see him as out front leading. This is very cynical and says something about his base. I prefer to believe he also using it as wedge--trying to force Kerry into a spot.This is as much about squeezing Dems as it is pleasing his base. Trying to make
them appesr wishy washy.

[mrgorth]

7. I think wishy washy is good on this one

we're not going to get his base but we can get the soccer moms who know lots of homosexuals and have no problem with them getting marriage and marriage-esque rights. By being wishy washy about this the dems can make Bush look like the bigot he is.