[Lerkfish]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar..._gay_marriage/

NEW YORK -- Members of the Republican Party's platform committee yesterday strengthened the party's official opposition to same-sex marriages, a day after Vice President Dick Cheney broke with the Bush administration by saying the matter of gay marriage should be left to the states to decide.

The draft platform already included a call for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage nationwide, an element that was not in previous party platforms. And the section on social issues was amended yesterday to go further, with language added stating that the benefits of marriage ''should be preserved for that unique and special union of one man and one woman," a statement that appears to reject Vermont-style civil unions in addition to gay marriage.

''We believe and the social science confirms that the well-being of children is best accomplished in the environment of the home, nurtured by their mother and father, anchored by the bonds of marriage," the draft platform reads.

The plank was approved last night without discussion or deliberation by the 110-member platform committee, which was meeting at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. The committee also approved language that affirms the GOP's support for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion.

Earlier in the day, the additional language on marriage and abortion was endorsed by a panel of delegates who were charged with crafting the platform's statements on family issues. The panel's 16 members had previously rejected efforts by gay-rights and abortion-rights groups to temper the language with more neutral statements.

The entire platform is to be voted on by the delegates at next week's Republican National Convention.

The platform's positions on gay marriage and abortion rights reflect the Bush administration's close association with the positions of the party's conservative wing, and appear to run counter to the party's efforts to convey a more centrist image, especially during next week's convention.


Gay-rights groups denounced the platform as discriminatory, and seized on Cheney's Tuesday comments to make their point

Yesterday, Cheney made a daylong campaign bus tour through eastern Pennsylvania, stopping at two rallies and a town hall meeting. Mary Cheney, the Cheneys' gay daughter, traveled with her father but remained offstage.


The vice president was instead introduced by his wife, Lynne Cheney, and his other daughter, Liz Cheney Perry, who was accompanied by her three daughters.


''My other daughter, Mary, is somewhere around here," Lynne Cheney told a cheering crowd of about 2,200 gathered at a high school gym in Pottsville, Pa. ''I believe she's working."

Patrick C. Guerriero, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, the largest group of gay Republicans, said the party's platform is ''insulting" to swing voters and Republicans who support gay rights. Guerriero, formerly mayor of Melrose and briefly a candidate for lieutenant governor, added that it is also politically unwise to alienate the moderate voters whom the party needs to attract.

So, no room for gays in the current republican platform, it seems. Sorry, Simey (not being snide, I truly am sorry).

I think its sad that the hard right republicans cannot even understand that there are gays in all families, regardless of political viewpoint.
If the repubs keep moving right this hard, eventually they'll undercut the base of supporters they now have, even though they will be strengthening their extremists bases's fervor....but the higher fervor of a smaller wedge will not overcome the increasing distaste of the more centrist repubs.

[dcolton]

Originally posted by Lerkfish:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar..._gay_marriage/


So, no room for gays in the current republican platform, it seems. Sorry, Simey (not being snide, I truly am sorry).

I think its sad that the hard right republicans cannot even understand that there are gays in all families, regardless of political viewpoint.
If the repubs keep moving right this hard, eventually they'll undercut the base of supporters they now have, even though they will be strengthening their extremists bases's fervor....but the higher fervor of a smaller wedge will not overcome the increasing distaste of the more centrist repubs.

No room for gays? Where do you get that from?

Anyway, do you think this is a way to get Cheney off the ticket?

[chris v]

Originally posted by dcolton:
No room for gays? Where do you get that from?

Anyway, do you think this is a way to get Cheney off the ticket?

Dropping Cheney off the ticket at this late date would create chaos. If there's one thing Rove would like to avoid, chaos would be it. I suspect they'll "stay the course" with Cheney, out of fear that the Dems and press would all shout "Bush Campaign in Chaos!" even if tossing him was really the best idea. One thinks that if Bush/Rove had wanted Cheney out, they would have done it quietly in 2003.

[Saad]

Originally posted by dcolton:
No room for gays? Where do you get that from?

Anyway, do you think this is a way to get Cheney off the ticket?

Even with his opinion of gay marriage, Cheney is an asset for Bush to excite hs base without soiling his hands. Not supporting equal rights for straight couples and gay couples could certainly alienate many gays, an could easily be considered 'anti-gay'.

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by chris v:
Dropping Cheney off the ticket at this late date would create chaos. If there's one thing Rove would like to avoid, chaos would be it. I suspect they'll "stay the course" with Cheney, out of fear that the Dems and press would all shout "Bush Campaign in Chaos!" even if tossing him was really the best idea. One thinks that if Bush/Rove had wanted Cheney out, they would have done it quietly in 2003.

Right on.

You can bet Cheney couldn't quit if he wanted at this point.

No political party would tolerate that. He'd be accused of everything they can think of to ensure he's in hiding for the rest of his days.

Not to mention you can bet he's got some contracts going, giving the RNC some ability to respond.