WTF Is ‘Natural Marriage?’ - By Michelle Cottle

[DonViejo]

Michelle Cottle

When a group like the Family Research Council is losing a debate there's only one thing left to do: change the terms.

Today’s Politics 101 pop quiz: In the course of a fierce ideological battle, when it becomes clear that one side is getting its butt kicked, what are leaders of the losing team expected to do? A. Double down. B. Scare the crap out of their followers. C. Beg for money. D. All of the above.

No one really needs help with this one, do they?

So with public acceptance of gay marriage growing faster than Justin Bieber’s rap sheet, the culture warriors at the Family Research Council have been hawking their National Campaign in Defense of Natural Marriage. In multiple email calls to arms, FRC president Tony Perkins is urging people of “character and values” to “take a stand” by signing an on-line petition and, while they’re at it, donating a little something to this “counteroffensive.” By March 31, FRC wants—nay, “needs”—250,000 signatures and $1.1 million to “fund this demanding work of behalf of America’s families.” At that point, the e-petition will be deposited at the feet of the group’s latest hero, Sen. Ted Cruz, “in a public display of support for natural marriage.” Perkins pleads/warns/threatens: “I want to encourage you: natural marriage is not a lost cause in America—unless we give up and let the same-sex ‘marriage’ advocates have their way because we failed to stand up for what is right.”

Now, as a political obsessive subscribed to an unhealthy number of email lists, I receive a daily flood of overwrought solicitations from across the spectrum. Most I toss after a quick glance. But Perkins’s latest entreaties stopped me, not because of their tone or topic but because of their language. Specifically, I somehow missed the moment when “natural marriage” became the preferred term of anti-gay-marriage crusaders. (Sadly, despite several interview requests, the folks at FRC were unavailable to discuss this matter.)

more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/27/the-family-research-council-s-natural-marriage-fight.html

[Wounded Bear]

1. Good point in there...

We've managed to drag the rhetoric to where they are actually using the word marriage, albeit in quotes to emphasize its illegitimacy, no doubt.

But they're using the word now. Really only a matter of time before the quotes go away and the vast majority start rolling their eyes when the subject is brought up.

[Shrike47]

2. Is natural marriage like what dogs have?

[TlalocW]

3. I'm on the FRC Email list as well

Along with some other conservative ones - Rick Santorum's is a hoot. I got this email as well, and I scanned through it and had a good laugh at:

Marriage has always been defined as a male-female union.

TlalocW