| New York Daily News | - |
The
tumult over gay marriage and the Confederate flag could spell an
electoral day of reckoning for Republicans - and both they and the
Democrats know it.
Republican party's views on gay marriage, Confederate Flag put the GOP on defense
BY Celeste Katz
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Saturday, June 27, 2015, 11:03 PM
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© Steve Nesius / Reuters/REUTERS Louisiana Gov. and GOP presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal (pictured) has vowed to fight the high court’s decree regarding gay marriage on religious freedom grounds.
The split Supreme Court ruling pushed some GOP leaders angling for the 2016 presidential nomination to amp up the rhetoric on traditional marriage.
“Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that,” said Louisiana Gov. and GOP presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal, who has vowed to fight the high court’s decree on religious freedom grounds.
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And the debate over the flying of the Stars and Bars - a sign of hate to some and pride to others - after a massacre in Charleston had others trying to skirt the issue by calling it a matter of choice for individual states, as did Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, whose South Carolina campaign co-chairs are spearheading the battle to save the flag.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP Conservative commentator S.E. Cupp says people who personally find gay marriage offensive don't have to change their minds - but the GOP has to find a more 'accepting' tone if it wants to flourish.
Conservative commentator S.E. Cupp says people who personally find gay marriage offensive don't have to change their minds - but the GOP has to find a more "accepting" tone if it wants to flourish.
"Republicans will be left behind if they fail to acknowledge where the rest of the country is on gay marriage," she said.
As to the flag, Cupp said, it's "divisive," and "unless they're worried about winning the segregationist vote, Republicans needn't be afraid to say that."
SHAWN THEW/EPA Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called flying the Confederate Flag a matter of choice for individual states.
"The Grand Old Party is devolving into the Party of the Troglodytes - seemingly looking to alienate one constituency after another," consultant and Clinton Administration veteran Chris Lehane told the Daily News.
"It is hard to be a national party that can win a presidential campaign in the U.S. of today by being a 21st Century Know Nothing Party that is anti-civil rights, anti-immigration, anti-climate," Lehane said, adding that the GOP is "executing with impressive, disciplined precision on a strategy designed to shrink their electoral tent."
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who has overseen an organized effort to broaden the GOP's appeal to new voters, pointedly noted the vast array of views held by the dozen or more people looking at the 2016 nomination.
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images As to the Confederate Flag, Cupp said, it's 'divisive,' and 'unless they're worried about winning the segregationist vote, Republicans needn't be afraid to say that.'
Primary contests, of course, are often races to the outskirts of the political spectrum, with the victorious candidates on both sides ultimately tacking back to the center for general election appeal.
Overall, "The Republicans have a much more serious 'base-versus-general-electorate' split than the Democrats do," notes Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.
"The GOP base insists that the Republican presidential candidates condemn the Supreme Court decision - and they do, with some fervency. But 57% of the electorate favors gay marriage, and 75% or more of young voters do," Sabato said.
And therein, he said, lies the problem for the GOP on the marriage issue - and perhaps more broadly looking ahead to 2016 and beyond.
Once the battle line is drawn, he said, "There's no obvious way for the eventual Republican nominee to retreat for the fall - and Democrats are handed a hot issue to use to the fullest."
ckatz@nydailynews.com
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