Are immigrants the new gay? (Repubs desperate for a wedge issue)

[pinto]

Republicans have based many of their recent electoral successes on minority wedge issues.

They have cultivated a committed base, done well with turn out and held their ground in the public press. All on the back of simplistic presentations of hot button issues.

Faced with the broad support in America for reproductive choice, conservative extremists have chosen an additional series of issues to inflame their partisans. Building on local issues, they have parlayed minority viewpoints into the general discourse.

And politically, they have inserted wedge issues into the electoral process. It is no coincidence that any number of same sex marriage state propositions ran concurrently with our last presidential elections. They reeled in a minority with the hoopla, while many looked the other way.

Just because reproductive choice, and to an extent, homosexuality, among other wedge issues, are now a part of mainstream America, there's no great impetus for the Republicans to disavow past successful political campaign maneuvers.

They will look for a new one.

Unless we say No. And No again.

[davidinalameda]

1. gays are still the new gays

the repugs are still working the latino vote because they know that they need it to win

they're still good at bashing gays though

[pinto]

4. Yeah.

[msongs]

2. only if they want to lose texas, arizona, new mexico..... nt

[babylonsister]

3. No. Why? I don't even see it, and I sure don't need another 'issue'!

[TwilightGardener]

5. Fear of the "other" is always a winning issue for them: Muslims, gays, Mexican immigrants...

...any group that stokes a raw, emotional negative outcry among the people in this country who aren't operating on their higher brains.

[pinto]

6. I agree. They have opted for a 'fear' agenda. It's totally counter to our history.

[pinto]

8. And, on follow up, intimidation based on fear.

[2rth2pwr]

7. "the new gay" , "the gays"

Here a gay, there a gay, everywhere a gay gay.

it's teh gays!!!11!!1!!


What in the hell is going on around here?

[pinto]

9. Just a reflection on political 'spin'. No more, no less.

It grows tiresome, no?

[Bluebear]

10. "New gay"?? Hell no, the GOP isn't finished with us gays yet.

[pinto]

11. Probably so. Yet their mantra grows old. The most recent generation doesn't seem

to buy it, all in all. Gradual but definite change, imho.

[Cronus Protagonist]

12. No, Transgender is the new gay

Don't you watch TV?

:P

[Beerboy]

13. The tee-vee is telling people that AIDS came from

a Haitian illegal immigrant in 1969.
They've wrapped it up all in time for Halloween.