Ghost Of George Wallace Haunts Gay Marriage Debate

[ruggerson]

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&refer=columnist_woolner&sid=aOgNhIQiWaH4

(Bloomberg) -- Alabama voters taught a racial moderate named George Wallace a lesson in 1958 when they rejected him for governor and elected instead an unambiguous race-baiter.

``I was out-niggered,'' Wallace told a campaign official, according to historical accounts. ``I will never be out-niggered again.''

He wasn't. Alabama rewarded his conversion by electing him governor the next time around. ``Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!'' he shouted to a roaring crowd at his 1963 inauguration.

These days the language is less mean-spirited and more restrained, but the tactic is the same. Cynical politicians promote their careers by inflaming fear and prejudice against an unpopular group, no matter how hurtful the tactic or dishonest the rhetoric. If it helps their careers to vote to deny full legal rights to a segment of the population, so be it.

Hence the sudden interest in reviving a constitutional ban on gay marriage. In Washington, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee last week sent the proposal to the full Senate, recommending approval by a strict party-line vote.

(more)

[Xeric]

1. So how many Democrats

will decide they don't want to be out-faggoted and toss us over the side? Cathy Cox's cowardice is not a good sign. If Democrats don't show a spine they will lose anyway.

[Tesha]

2. Basically? All of them.

> So how many Democrats will decide they don't want
> to be out-faggoted and toss us over the side?

Basically? All of them. And most of DU as well.

Tesha

[Toucano]

4. Too many, but not enough.

It won't pass the Senate, but it will influence lower elections.

That lesson was leaned by former hostage Terry Anderson's 2004 campaign for the Ohio senate.

Despite the Repubican governor, attorney general, and others speaking out against the state's anti-gay ammendment, the underqualified republican candidate who favored it crushed the former marine with better economic policies for the region's poor.

Another republican who opposed the amendment was defeated by the Democrat who campaigned in favor of it.

Yeah, the world turned upside down.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Same goes for immigration.

I was just thinking about Wallace in a thread about Lou Dobbs quoting white supremacists. People were saying "oh, he's not a racist, he's just telling it how it is."

That's the same sort of thing too many people used to say about Wallace.