Republicans for Gay Unions.

[Mr. Harley]

The Religious Right and it's hijacking of the Republican party gets all the attention these days. But there ARE still social moderates in the party, who realize that there is a proud socially progressive tradition in the party.

So far all gay unions have been court orders. In Vermont this has resulted in civil unions, and in Massachusetts gay marriage. Two years ago legislation to permit gay civil unions failed to get out out of judiciary committee in Connecticut. Now that has changed.

I just listened to Andrew Roraback, a Republican state senator who from the context must be on that judiciary committe - it is joint from both houses. He stated, in an NPR interview broadcast on Monday. He is for the gay civil unions.

I was in Vermont before there were civil unions, I’ve been in Vermont since there were Civil Unions, the state looks the same to me, the state feels the same to me, my guess is if this passes in Connecticut it will be old news before we know it.

By the way, I consider NPR a moderate news source, they did not ask him any kind of leading questions and let him state his opinion (unlike much of the right and the rare left wing media outlet in the US). In fact they painted the governor's (Jodi Rell - Republican) opinion as more positive than I would have, showing how they were bending over backwards to be fair. They stated that she has voiced her support of civil unions.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, has not said whether she would sign the bill, saying she would study the precise wording if it comes to her desk. Rell has said she is in favor of civil rights for same-sex couples but believes marriage is between a man and a woman.

That was quoted from a gay source, which is slightly more guarded. Still, I do get the impression as long as the legislation is not to over-reaching, by her definition, she will sign it.

Please note - I support gay marraige, but I also believe in Real Politik and will be happy to see it before I die. As with any social change, it's only going to happen gradually, especially in the current divisive atmosphere in the United States.

[Sava]

"Republicans for gay marriage" sounds a lot like "Nazis for Jew tolerance"

the moderates should just abandon the party and create their own party... as long as they maintain their evil union with the wicked Religious Right, they are only compromising with evil and bigotry. And people who compromise with evil are just as bad.

[Odin]

"Liberal Republican" has become an oxymoron in this day and age. Minnesota is one of the few places that still has a bunch of them left (most of our living former governers, both Republican and Democrat voted for Kerry). Former Republican governor and philanthropist Elmer Anderson, who recently passed away, was an example. Now, with the election of Senator Coleman and Governor Pawlenty shows that the Liberal Republicans are fading away even here in Minnesota, once a bastion of progessivism, because the Republicans have latched on to the socially consrvative (but support the Democrats on the economy) folks in the western and southern parts of the state. What happened to all the New Deal and Great Society Democrats that have dominated Minnesota for so long? Sucked into the quagmire of morality politics no doubt.

[Ming]

Not all republicans are religious zealots... many are moderate or even liberal on many social issues...

Not all democrats are socialists or far left radicals...

Both parties have many members who lean more toward the middle than the extremes.

[Sava]

lies!

[Ming]

Originally posted by Sava
lies!

[Patroklos]

Sava, the personification of the left's death rattle

[Sava]

[Odin]

Originally posted by Ming

Not all republicans are religious zealots... many are moderate or even liberal on many social issues...

Not all democrats are socialists or far left radicals...

Both parties have many members who lean more toward the middle than the extremes.

I think the majority of Americans are "Communitarians" (not to be confused with Communist ), aka "religious progressives", socially to the right, but economically to the left. The Republicans have been wining because of social issues.

[Agathon]

Republicans hate both gays and unions. So it is no surprise that they'd hate gay unions.

Who didn't know that.

[Ming]

I think you will find many that are socially to the left, but economically on the right... That's where I am

I am pro choice...
The problem I have with welfare is how the program is run, not that I'm against the concept...
I have no problem with gay "marriages"...

But on economic issues, I'm conservative.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Odin
I think the majority of Americans are "Communitarians" (not to be confused with Communist ), aka "religious progressives", socially to the right, but economically to the left. The Republicans have been wining because of social issues.

I doubt it. Clinton's health plan was defeated because of religion.

[Japher]

I'm with Ming
(and not because he'd ban me if I wasn't)

A another, more important, note: Republicans for Gay Unions would make an interesting acronym, RGU... pronounced "argue"

I am so insightful, you are welcome.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ming
Not all republicans are religious zealots... many are moderate or even liberal on many social issues...

Not all democrats are socialists or far left radicals...

Both parties have many members who lean more toward the middle than the extremes.

Not all republicans are religious zealots, just the ones that got Georgey elected again.

Christian republicans are the US' moral savior, doncha know.

Boy scout leaders, priests...they make the world a better place.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Asher
Not all republicans are religious zealots, just the ones that got Georgey elected again.

Wrong... the religious zealots by themselves don't have enough clout to win a national election by themselves. If the dems had put up a moderate that the more reasonable republicans could have voted for... Bush would be in retirement already... Kerry wasn't that man.