A way for Kerry to avoid being protrayed a pro-Gay marriage

[mot78]

Like it or not, our nominee can't come out and support gay marriage, especially since it seems a quarter of Democrats and Independants oppose it. Kerry says he's against gay marriage, yet he voted against the DOMA, and there's supposedly an incident where he said he'll support a MA state amendment banning full gay marriage as long as civil unions were stil allowed.
What Kerry should do to justify opposing the federal amendment is say this: "Many Republicans oppose amending the constitution, so you can't portray me as a radical on the issue." By hiding behind Republicans like Chuck Hagel and Nighthorse Campbell, Kerry can neutralize the issue.
...BTW he should also mention that the judges MA state judges who voted ruled in favor of gay marriage were mostly Republicans.

[tobius]

1. he is for amending the state constitution and voted against doma. nt

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. Kerry believes Equal Rights should be an opt-in choice for states

It has a lot of very business-friendly potential.

That should be a great talking point to counter misinformed people who try to smear him as a liberal.

[Imajika]

3. The bar will be set much higher for Kerry....

..on this issue.

The media will perceive this to be a weakness for Kerry and Democrats in general, and it doesn't help that Kerry appears to be trying to have it both ways.

Kerry will probably wind up having to say that he thought the DOMA was not needed at the time, but now perhaps he'd reconsider. I think he is already going in that direction.

At the end of the day, Kerry will have to oppose gay marriage in principle but also support civil unions, oppose a federal constitutional amendment, support a state constitutional amendment for Massachusetts and paint Bush as too hateful and venomous to be trusted with the issue.

Kerry will just have to be Bush-lite on this subject. He just doesn't have a lot of choice in the matter. If he plays his cards right, the public may accept Kerry's indecisiveness because it will appear he is the candidate that is not so eager to slam gays and make permanent something society may well regret later.

Saying that, if this issue doesn't quiet down, at least until the election is over, it is quite possible the majority of public opinion that currently opposes gay marriage will become further inflamed, which will only help Bush and increase the risk of a major backlash against progressive interests everywhere.

Imajika

[tobius]

4. what would be Kerrys answer to: Why do you oppose gay marriage?

He is pretty good at positioing himself, but I'd like to hear his answer.

[abracadabra]

5. just say "it's not about what I oppose as much as what I represent"-

-slither like a snake right on out of it just like any skilled politician should be able to do. Then change the topic to whatever he wants--.
It's traditional.

[Imajika]

6. I don't know what his answer is..

..but I believe Kerry has already said he is personally against gay marriage.

Bush will have an easy time answering that one. Bush will talk about God, marriage between a man and woman being the bedrock of our society, etc, etc, etc.

Kerry will struggle with it, but I am sure his staff is working on a canned answer as we speak.

Imajika