Iowa Conservatives & GOP Politics

[East]

I would love both parties to split...that would finally leave me to vote my conscience because I am weary of casting my vote against someone...I would much rather for for the candidate I choose.

My actual political profile is somewhere between Green, Peace and Freedom and Democratic Socialist which is why I am an Independent but the current version of the Republican forces me to vote Democrat...sometimes I have to plug my nose to do it.

I do vote Republican on a local level occasionally...locally Dems tend to over legislate everything but the Republican must be pro choice and pro gay or no dice. You can find socially liberal/fiscally conservative Republicans in California.

[azulai]

NEW IOWA POLL: American Research Group, Inc. 2012 Iowa Republican Caucus, July 12, 2011


Bachmann 21%
Romney 18%
Paul 14%
Palin 11%
Gingrich 8%
Santorum 5%
Huntsman 3%
Pawlenty/Perry/Cain/Giuliani 2% each

[fredv3b]

What I don't understand is why the fiscally conservative Republicans don't split from the party? I realize it would cost them the voting base that the religious zealots bring, but why not try to build up a serious alternative political group option?

Would you want to spend your political career building up support for your party so that the generation after you get elected to office? I am sure in part it's a case of personal political expediency. In any case it was the party of the federalists and the fiscally conservatives first, Regan brought the religious right in, they still regard it as their party.

[East]

NEW IOWA POLL: American Research Group, Inc. 2012 Iowa Republican Caucus, July 12, 2011


Bachmann 21%
Romney 18%
Paul 14%
Palin 11%
Gingrich 8%
Santorum 5%
Huntsman 3%
Pawlenty/Perry/Cain/Giuliani 2% each

One word.... YIKES!

Bachmann is channeling Anita Bryant.

[azulai]

APNewsBreak: Romney rejects gay marriage pledge
Here are a few excerpts:

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign said Tuesday that he will not sign a conservative Iowa Christian group's far-reaching pledge opposing gay marriage, making him the first Republican presidential candidate to reject it.

Andrea Saul, a spokeswoman for Romney, told The Associated Press in a written statement Tuesday that Romney "strongly supports traditional marriage," but that the oath "contained references and provisions that were undignified and inappropriate for a presidential campaign."

Romney, who supported rights for gay couples in Massachusetts, was criticized in Iowa by some Iowa social conservatives during his 2008 campaign, when he finished second in the caucuses after aggressively courting Christian conservatives.

In his second bid, Romney, who leads in national GOP polls, has cast himself as a national figure more focused on the economy, and has said he would not spend as much time and money campaigning in Iowa as he did during his $10 million effort for the 2008 caucuses.

[DarkDaisuke]

I'm kind of pissed at Santorum since he seemed to be ok with gays at least. This now just sealed the deal hes completely anti-gay. Choice my fucking ass. Bachmann and Santorum can take both a boot up the ass before I even think about voting for them!

[Psyche2011]

I've been keeping up with this as well, and it honestly doesn't faze me in the least, because I expect it from Republicans.
What gets me is that a number of these candidates don't have the "testicular fortitude" to come out and say, "I hate gays". You know it, I know it, let's get on with life. Noooo. Worse, some of them use the Red Herring fallacy by saying "I have friends/family who are gay, and we get along just great". How blind do they think we are? Bachmann has actually come out against her lesbian half-sister, but since running, she's been mum, aside from signing this "pledge", which is SIGNIFICANTLY more "tolerant" than you'd expect from someone like her.
Another thing: is it just me, or do gay rights seem like political red herrings, in regards to the US? DADT should be repealed by now, but it's not, and still exists in name. And in the face of a default on the debt, suddenly New York legalizes gay marriage. I'm not saying these shouldn't be causes for celebration; I just hate feeling like all these issues are used for is taking attention away from the economy, deficit, and job market by riling up everyone across the board. I believe that these issues need to be RECOGNIZED, not used as political ploys. Any other opinions?

[princealbertofb]

Psyche, you're right:
People's private business : : : : : > > > > PRIVATE BUSINESS!!
The country's economy, jobs, taxes : : : : : : >>>>> Every citizen's business!!

[fredv3b]

I am sorry PA, you have lost me. Gay marriage, DADT, etc. are all about public activities.

[azulai]

Would you want to spend your political career building up support for your party so that the generation after you get elected to office? I am sure in part it's a case of personal political expediency. In any case it was the party of the federalists and the fiscally conservatives first, Regan brought the religious right in, they still regard it as their party.

Thanks, Fred. I guess I was thinking of guys like Ted Olson and there were a couple of other big names who supported marriage equality in NY (I would need to look them up) who seem to not be afraid to go against the religious right. I just think someone has to realize the need for younger members who polls show tend to be more supportive of equality. Thanks for explaining the Regan thing, I didn't realize that.