HRC Back Story

Comparing the Republican party's response to the troubles of Craig vs. Vitter, Peter Canellos, Washington Bureau chief at the Boston Globe, writes in his must-read column today that gays have replaced minorities as the new favorite pariah for the GOP:

Gay issues have widely been perceived as an advantage for the Republican Party, which in 2004 placed referendums opposing gay marriage on ballots in swing states to draw social conservatives to the polls, where many supported GOP candidates.

Opposition to gay marriage, along with other forms of gay rights that emphasize the equality of gay and straight relationships, is a key point of connection between Republicans and voters who might otherwise oppose the GOP agenda.

In recent years, gay issues have functioned to help build a Republican coalition in a way similar to the role once played by race issues. In the '70s, '80s, and '90s, the national GOP came out strongly against programs to create special opportunities for racial minorities, thereby gaining substantial support among white social conservatives.[...]

There have been no shows of support for gays as the party now uses its opposition to some forms of gay rights as a key bridge to social conservatives.[...]

It's sad and telling that many Republican party leaders continue to prefer political strategies that divide the country instead of bringing people together. Still, public support is on our side - so the party may once again find itself on the wrong side of history as we make progress in our fight for equality.