Barnes To McCain: Misuse The Gays

[ccharles000]

http://www.queerty.com/barnes-to-mccain-misuse-the-gays-20080707/

Harking back to Republican strategies past, conservative icon Fred Barnes, who edits The Weekly Standard, advised John McCain to “touch on” gay social issues, which will “energize” the right his way…


"Here’s what he needs to do, he needs to touch on some of the social issues which energize the right… In particular, gays in the military for one. We know Barack Obama is for allowing gays in the military, and Bill Clinton tried to do, but backed off. This is not a popular issue. Gay marriage is another one. These are both issues that I think McCain’s going to have to use. You can’t ignore the right. If he does, he’ll lose"
While such a plan may have worked in 2000 and 2004, recent polling suggests gay rights aren’t as much of a wedge issue. As On Top points out, a June, 2008 Gallup poll shows that Americans are evenly split on the morality of homosexuality. Meanwhile, a survey from last year found that 55% of citizens feel gays should be allowed to serve in the military. Even more compelling are the youth voters, who overwhelmingly support Obama and gay rights. If McCain tries to exploit the homos - well, he could further alienate that increasingly important voting bloc.

Could it be that Barnes is simply out of touch with electoral politics? We sure as shit hope so!

[DU9598]

1. Jerk

It should be a crime to invoke hatred of others to win elections.

[SuperTrouper]

2. It will not work

First, like you said, it will alienate the youth vote since they overwhelmingly support Obama's stance on gays in the military.
Secondly, McCain would alienate all the independent voters (who care more about real domestic issues thatn wedge issues) which he desperately needs to remain competitive with Obama.

It is not going to work, not this time.

[Tempest]

3. Study: Gays unlikely to undermine military

A study by four retired military officers concludes that Congress should repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for gays.

The study found that gay men and women serving in the armed forces were unlikely to undermine the ability to fight and win.

[sui generis]

4. snork, "the morality of homo-ishness"

SHOULD BE ALLOOOOOWWWWWWWEEED.

I love that phrase. They're already in the military, we're already living together, and nobody gives a fuck what anybody else's ideas of moe-rality are.

In fact let's just define the willingness to be offended by the existence of gays as "hoe-moe-rality."

[msongs]

5. "it" works just fine and they r trying it in calfiornia this year...

call me cynical but what connection is there between the anti-gay marriage intitiave and a presidential election year?

Msongs
Riverside CA

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Fried Brains, conservative icon - What would anyone expect from this creep?