Politics It’s Gay Marriage, Stupid.
The Democrats accused Republicans of raising the issue even as they ignored what the Democrats said were more pressing problems, including the war in Iraq, an expanding conflict in the Middle East, high gasoline prices and North Korean missile tests.But Representative Jack Kingston, Republican of Georgia, said the marriage issue was “just as important and a top-tier issue as any of those.”
The Republican from Georgia is right. And Democrats need to stop saying (pretending) and/or implying that gay marriage isn’t a pressing issue. Yes, flag burning is a non-issue! But gay marriage? Gay marriage is the zeitgeist. Courts in NY, Nebraska, Connecticut all just issued decisions on big cases. And, obviously, there’s a case about it in Washington’s Supreme Court.
When Democrats pooh-pooh GOP efforts to weigh in on the issueno matter how much Democrats think the GOP position is hateful or lulu or annoying or wrongit makes the Democrats look oblivious and condescending. And most important: It makes Democrats look scared. It makes Democrats look like the father of teenage girl who doesn’t want to talk about sex because he wants to pretend it’s not an issue for her.
Yes, the Iraq war and the expanding war in the Middle East are pressings issues. Gasoline prices are a pressing issue. N. Korea is a pressing issue. Health care is a big issue. And… so is gay marriage. Democrats should stop saying it isn’t.
Thank god somebody finally said that...