Earlier this week I posted on this site and said on the air at KFXK Fox 51 words to the effect that with the Supreme Court having just punted on same-sex marriage, we on the right would do well to accept defeat on this issue and move on.
I stand by that regrettable belief but boy, a lot of you folks are upset. Here is just one example.
In comments on my Tuesday post at YouTell MeTexas.com Maxwell said,
“I’m glad social conservatives didn’t capitulate and have fought back on the “wedge issue” of abortion which the high court supposedly “settled”. Pro-life is now a majority position and states are passing reasonable science-based restrictions. Maybe you should consider becoming a democrat? [sic]”
Oh, c’mon Maxwell. Washington’s retreat from the Battle of Long Island didn’t make him a Redcoat. He went on to win the war. And if you think I, of all people, bear any resemblance to a Democrat, you haven’t been paying attention.
Besides, you make my point even though you didn’t mean to. Pro-life leads pro-choice – 48 percent vs. 45 percent according to Gallup. But that’s a narrow edge and it’s a plurality not a majority.
Same-sex marriage, however, has a solid majority in most polls. Gallup has it at 55 percent – with a trend line that is headed upward.
As of this writing, same-sex marriage is now legal in something like 34 states. Yes, it’s true that such is largely the result of actions taken by courts rather than legislatures or voters. But if the polls are to be believed, same-sex marriage could pass on a ballot or in a state legislature today in places where it wouldn’t have been possible even five years ago.
Let me say again: I oppose same-sex marriage. I have been rather eloquent on the subject (if I do say so). Here’s part of what I said in May 2012:
“What the unique institution of marriage does is instill a cultural force that encourages adults to arrange their lives so that as many children as possible are raised under the nurturing and protection of a committed relationship between parents that share the same roof.
“…my opposition to gay marriage is not the product of bigotry and homophobia. My opposition derives from my un-provable yet palpable fear that redefining marriage would constitute an irrevocable diminishment of what’s left of the last bulwark against the rampant societal chaos that will only get worse when marriage and child rearing are at last fully and finally disassociated.”
Yet for all that turn of phrase we nevertheless lost this one. I’m not happy about it. I think it’s a defeat that the country will come to regret.
But further litigation of same-sex marriage right now takes up precious bandwidth that could be used on issues we can still win.
And win we must this time, Maxwell, and it will take more than just our base to do it.
Lose again, and we get us another President Clinton.
I take it that we should not continue to litigate FOR religious freedom and the right to restrict membership (freedom of association) to followers of Biblical Marriage in religious institutions where Gay Marriage is an abomination as defined by the scriptures. If protection of religious freedom (as practiced in Christian institutions) is not supported in future court decisions and in the polls, then are you recommending that Christians support an agnostic Republican (neutral on religious issues) who doesn’t defend religious freedom but is a genuine fiscal Conservative that might appeal to the Gay supporters? Is this really a solution to the Marxist Democrats that you fear would otherwise win if freedom of religion was emphasized by the Republican candidate?
I take it that we should suppress our right to practice religious freedom in favor of free enterprise and a healthy economy in order to win elections. Most Christians blame the corruption and decay of our culture and political system (including unaccountable courts, bureaucracies and welfare state) on the drift AWAY from Biblical principles enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitution is being replaced with the Marxist dogma forced by the Left that dominates the Democrats, the political system and the courts. This spells doom for morality, accountability, and responsible living. The proof is exhibited in the illegitimate birth rate and the explosion of the welfare state for the last 50 years. The free enterprise system CANNOT long exist in that culture no matter how much you might desire that religious issues take a lesser (transparent) place at the election box.
Sounds like you still don’t get it. Large pluralities in 38 or so states voted to maintain natural marriage and Commie-fornia even voted against homo-marriage TWICE. North Carolina voted overwhelmingly for natural marriage just 2 years ago. You are foolishly defending the actions of homo-activist judges influenced by a well-monied homosexual lobby. You point to disembodied “polls” put out by left-leaning media outlets and use that as evidence that the majority have suddenly changed their views?? There’s a reason the homoactivists do not want their marriage mockery put to a popular vote….they will LOSE again in significant numbers. Why are you as a “conservative” so willing to fall for the LGBTQ agitprop of “inevitability”? You don’t drop your foundational principles just to appeal to so-called “moderates” or “independents”. Do you realize that Romney actually won the independent vote in 2012? What he lost was the 4 million base conservatives who sat home not wanting to vote for a democrat in republican clothing. You still don’t understand that without getting their base out, a party will LOSE national elections. Romney would’ve suffered an even worse defeat had he supported homo-marriage or any other liberal plank. You seem exceedingly naive and ignorant of recent political history, with all due respect.
Actually, you made Maxwell’s point for him. If being anti-abortion is just a plurality as you say, why are so many states passing sane restrictions on abortion across the country with popular voter support?? When Washington retreated to Long Island to regroup, he damn sure didn’t give up on his principles of freedom from tyranny; and “liberty or death” remained his ultimate goal for the colonist patriots of which just a minority of the colonist population actually risked their lives, their treasures, and their sacred honor. You sound like a Colin Powell wanna be. Says he’s a Republican, but votes for leftist Democrats like Obama. No thanks.
Pithy points would help guys.
Simplify also.
Actually Romney lost because the Evangelicals would not vote for a Mormon.
No denigrating comments make a point more elegantly; you hurt your otherwise well written letter .
JMHO
There is no way that Mr. Gleiser is a flaming Liberal in Conservative clothing! I have read and contributed to this blog for many years. It is consistently logical and thought provoking. Of course, Mr. Gleiser doesn’t need my praise. This comment is not pandering or he wouldn’t post it (if he does). On this subject he simply happens to be wrong, and rarely so. I have to admire his willingness to post verrrry critical comments that obviously have little long term history with this blog or knowledge of his ability to raise current issues that are important to Conservatives. I enjoy reading the arguments being made, both pro and con. Obviously the authors have spent some time preparing them.
I have only one comment to add. Our society MUST retain and support the fundamental foundation of a civil society: the nuclear family (mother, father, and children) to survive. If this is not shouted from the mountain tops by Conservative candidates our society we will become more corrupt, and suicidal.
The family unit as Biblically defined is the root/rock of our civilization. It is from this unit that all higher level accountability in government extends. Without it we have a foundation of quicksand and we are doomed to a future of tyranny by the destroyers of Liberty. We should not be a society of free-lance and unaccountable individuals possessed with ego-mania and no conscience pursuing self-gratification at all costs.
Paul,
Your recent editorial on “the loss to gay marriage” sounds much like pragmatism to me. Quite unfortunately, pragmatism signals retreat into an ideal-less rut. Without the values intrinsic to ideals, there remains no cause other than the hope to win the next political race. Once a culture becomes pragmatic, without the values to guide it, it begins the inevitable process of decline. And it may proceed to “completion” very quickly, just as did Sodom. Do we think America should in any respect deserve a more favorable judgment? I just pray that I will be found standing faithful – on the right side – when fire again falls from Heaven.
Well, it may take “more” than our conservative base to win, but without the base voting, repubs will ALWAYS lose presidential elections. Do the math before stupidly abandoning core conservative issues.
When are people going to realize that compromising is not an option. It seems that the elite republicans have not learned this crucial point when it comes to being elected. They compromise the very principles this country was founded on just to get elected. If they do this, in truth, just what kind of representive are they for US at crucial times when principles and their support are needed. Morals have gone down the sewer in this country for a very long time and it seems even the churches are lax in supporting moral values anymore. More and more are supporting gay marriage just to get along. The threat of removing the churches from being tax exempt for instance has done just what the liberals thought it would in getting what they want. We live in very troubling times people and we need to start putting our foot down instead of just going along to get along. hillary can be defeated if people would just stand up for what is right. We do need to pick our battles in order to win the war. One battle that needs to be fought is allowing the elite republicans to ram their choices down our throats…such as Mccain, Dole and Romney. They were defeated before it was even started, hince, just giving the office of president to the likes of clinton and obama. In accepting the elites choices, it is WE, THE PEOPLE who have dropped the ball. It doesn’t matter what the liberal cause is, we allow the liberals to run over us because we don’t stand our ground. And by liberals, I mean those in the republican party as well as democraps. We have lost our backbone, our standing up for what is right and staying the course. Gay marriage is just a symptom of what is wrong with this country…we need a CURE!
As a progressive, I find this blog a great place to learn about the frustrations of the right-wing of the Republican Party as our nation continues to move further Left. The mainstream of the Republican Party and its leadership have read the “writing on the wall – MILLENNIUM”. The numbers don’t lie (see below). It is all about political power and to be in charge of the purse strings in Washington. It is NOT about rigid interpretation of the Constitution or appealing to the religious-right Conservatives or TEA Party groups that try to have a place in the Republican Party. Isn’t it obvious that their ideas are NOT welcome?
The support of gay marriage is overwhelming in the millennium generation (ages 18 to 29). The Republicans are simply trying to stay in the game as they continue to lose relevance in modern times. The Conservative and religious-right wings of the Republican Party are simply blind to the unrelenting evolution of the country in the direction of shared prosperity, social justice, and abandonment of outdated concepts of the last century replete with inequality, bigotry and unfairness. Today, there is no longer any appeal to the vast majority of the youth and middle aged for the lifestyle restrictions that are supported by Social Conservatives.
Support (Yes) for Legal Same-Sex Marriage by age group from
1996 to 2014 – – – Gallup Poll (May 21, 2014)
Age Yes-2014 Change 1996-2014
18 to 29 78% +37%
30 to 49 54% +24%
50 to 64 48% +33%
65+ 42% +28%
http://www.gallup.com/poll/169640/sex-marriage-support-reaches-new-high.aspx
Same-Sex Marriage (SSM) is soon to be the Law-of-the-Land and discrimination of any kind by public or private institutions against gay couples will be a criminal offense. The gay family will have the same rights and benefits of any other married couple. Religious exceptions will not be granted just as racial discrimination was outlawed last century. The religious-right is wasting their time on a dead issue – – – they lost and its time to move on.
Re-posted with readable table
As a Progressive, I find this blog a great place to learn about the frustrations of the right-wing of the Republican Party as our nation continues to move further Left. The mainstream of the Republican Party and its leadership have read the “writing on the wall – MILLENNIUM”. The numbers don’t lie (see table below). It is all about political power and to be in charge of the purse strings in Washington. It is NOT about rigid interpretation of the Constitution or appealing to the religious-right Conservatives or TEA Party groups that try to have a place in the Republican Party. Isn’t it obvious that their ideas are NOT welcome?
The support of gay marriage is overwhelming in the Millennium generation (ages 18 to 29). The Republicans are simply trying to stay in the game as they continue to lose relevance in modern times. The Conservative and religious-right wings of the Republican Party are simply blind to the unrelenting evolution of the country in the direction of shared prosperity, social justice, and abandonment of outdated concepts of the last century replete with inequality, bigotry and unfairness. Today, there is no longer any appeal to the vast majority of the youth and middle aged for the lifestyle restrictions that are supported by Social Conservatives.
Support (Yes) for Legal Same-Sex Marriage by age group from
1996 to 2014 – – – Gallup Poll (May 21, 2014)
Age [Yes-2014] {Change 1996-2014}
18 to 29 [78%] {+37%}
30 to 49 [54%] {+24%}
50 to 64 [48%] {+33%}
65+ [42%] {+28%}
http://www.gallup.com/poll/169640/sex-marriage-support-reaches-new-high.aspx
Same-Sex Marriage (SSM) is soon to be the Law-of-the-Land and discrimination of any kind by public or private institutions against gay couples will be a criminal offense. The gay family will have the same rights and benefits of any other married couple. Religious exceptions will not be granted just as racial discrimination was outlawed last century. The religious-right is wasting their time on a dead issue – – – they lost and its time to move on.
A comment by “shared prosperity” makes an excellent case for how “progressive” values are nothing more than totalitarianism in drag. This fool actually thinks that the 1st amendment and it’s guarantees of free religious expression are going to be discarded in favor of what teenagers and 20-somethings happen to believe is currently hip. He/she/it ACTUALLY wrote that it should be a criminal offense for a private institution like a church-based group to discriminate on the basis of sinful behaviors and abominations to God. Therein lies the defect in liberalism/progressivism/marxism…….it is a naive ideology based on the utopian wishes of those have yet to grow up, chronologically or mentally. Their inherently fascist way of thinking is why their stupidity should never be taken lightly. Failed communist and marxist regimes throughout history illustrate the danger of these fools when they attain power. Over 100 million dead in the 20th century alone. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.
Have you checked out the tyrannical Houston city government and their new ordinances lately passed by the openly Lesbian mayor and her lemmings on the city council? Gay marriage was only the tip of the iceberg. The new ordinances have resulted in the subpoena of pastor’s speeches, personal counseling, other pastoral writings (email etc.) and media to see if they are “politically” involved in critical opinion regarding the LGBT movement. Their religious right to preach Biblical morality is now under attack and their tax exempt status is being threatened. See, I told you so! Did someone say “hate speech”, lately?
Eradication of religious freedom and the elimination of the influence of Christianity in our culture was really the diabolical goal of these Leftists from the beginning. Wake up people! The cancerous influence of the Progressive, Socialist, Marxist, LGBT movement is not going to stop until we live in an anti-Christ, secular, immoral society with the State being the new god of social justice and shared prosperity in which the Constitution will simply be an artifact in ancient history museums.