Pheonixops
Proud Liberal
Speaking as a Liberal and a Moderate , I have no problem with gay marriage in the least . How does two homosexuals marrying each mess up my heterosexual marriage? In my opinion, this "gay marriage" issue is just a bunch of nosy bigots/homophobes sticking their nose into other people's business.Moderates and independents don't overwhelmingly support gay marriage.really, honestly...I don't think gay marriage is really that big of an issue that will give an advantage for one opinioin or the other. Truth be told, those who are passionate about t are voting one side no matter what and those on the fence don't really care about gay marriage.Anti gay marriage = curmudgeon.
But I somehow doubt Jindal, like Obama, is anti gay marriage. Hes smarter than at least THAT.
His base needs him to be against it sort of like Obama needed some of those independents who were against it...so was against it.
No pragmatic human is against gay marriage. Not 1.
Jindal has nothing that the other candidates don't have more of. So he needs a way to distinguish himself from the presidental contender pack. Its a risk free proposition for him. If it works (unlikely), he gains the Republican nod. If it fails (likely), it still plays well in LA.
So why not double down on gay marriage. Sure, it fucks the party as a whole by helping the democrats refocus the campaign on an issue that Republicans don't do well in. But GOP politicians fucking the party for their own political advantage is part and parcel to the new GOP.
In other words, it doesn't really matter. Jindal's position on gay marriage will have no effect on his electablity.
On a one issue note, you're probably right. But as a narrative of how backward and anti-freedom the GOP is, the optics on this are a partisans wet dream. Elections aren't won or lost among liberals or conservatives. But among moderates and independents. Both of which support gay marriage.
Consider it another voice in the chorus. Yet another example of how the GOP's values don't line up with the voters they need to win the presidency.
Moderates and Independents do support gay marriage:
Moderates and independents support gay marriage at higher rates than the general public. And the general public already supports gay marriage by 13 points. Moderates have moved almost as much on gay marriage as liberals have.
And the ones who do...It isn't anywhere near their number one issue. Independents and moderates understand that supporting traditional family values is not far right as some like to portray it.
I never said it was their number one issue. I said "on a one issue note, you're probably right. But as a narrative of how backward and anti-freedom the GOP is, the optics on this are a partisan's wet dream. Elections aren't won or lost among liberals or conservatives. But among moderates and independents. Both of which support gay marriage.".
This issue is a voice in the chorus, one issue among many where the views of republicans don't mesh with the values of the folks conservatives need to win the presidency: namely, independents and moderates.
Especially when self identified liberals are at an all time high. While self identified conservatives are one point off an all time low.