The Republican party has approved a plank that not only seeks a ban on gay marriage, but seeks a ban on recognition of same-sex unions of any kind. Reaction was fierce.

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/s...dstory&rsNum=2

And from another story: http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/s...=wn_wire_story

What do you suppose the Log Cabin Republicans, especially, will do?

"With respect to the question of relationships, my general view is that freedom means freedom for everybody,"

That pretty much sums up my views on the gay marriage question.

But let's look at the politics -- in more than a few states, gay marriage is on the same ballot as the Presidential election. It's obvious that this is a wedge issue Republicans hope will benefit Bush in November. It should be just as obvious that come Nov. 3, the urgency of this issue will die a very quick and quiet death.

I think the "no civil unions" bit will backfire on them. Gay marriage, maybe they had a wedge issue. Extending that ban to "no civil unions" will turn off a lot of people.

I'm REALLY curious what the Log Cabin Republicans will do. The plank pretty much boots them out of the party.

The Log Cabin folks have threatened to withhold their endorsement from Bush. They have a "major announcement" planned for this week.

Meanwhile, moderate Republicans like N.Y. Gov. George Pataki and Arlen Specter are urging them to stay in the party and fight against the religious right.

It seems clear that the religious right already owns the party at the process level: they wrote the plank on gay marriage. What's left to fight over?

...the "let the states decide about civil unions, no homosexual marriage" position will carry the day, regardless of planks or fringe groups.

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I agree that it will eventually shake out that way.

You ever notice, though, that the only reason civil unions have become a consensus choice is because of the threat of gay marriage? Back when Vermont first approved civil unions, THAT drew a storm of protest from the anti-gay crowd. Then came gay marriage. Now many in that same crowd are saying "Why do they need marriage? Let them have civil unions."

It sure looks like a fallback position.

Morality does seem to be in something of a rear-guard action these days.

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Fair enough. Of course, I don't think being gay or straight has anything to do with morality. But that's an argument on which few minds change.