Comments on: Iowa’s Republicans not to reintroduce anti-marriage bills http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/11/29/39222 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Sat, 18 May 2013 21:32:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Mark F. http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/11/29/39222/comment-page-1#comment-111045 Mark F. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:20:41 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=39222#comment-111045 There is a disconnect between the number of GOP voters supporting gay rights and gay marriage (a significant minority) and the number of GOP politicians voting pro-gay (just a very few). There is a disconnect between the number of GOP voters supporting gay rights and gay marriage (a significant minority) and the number of GOP politicians voting pro-gay (just a very few).

]]> By: Bose in St. Peter MN http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/11/29/39222/comment-page-1#comment-111028 Bose in St. Peter MN Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:32:05 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=39222#comment-111028 I would think that Iowa Republicans lawmakers' self-interest in an election year is also at play here. They just lost an election in a Republican-leaning district, where NOM outsiders tried to make marriage equality a hot-button issue. Moderate voters seemed to see the anti-gay messaging as divisive and a distraction from core issues. There was palpable concern about turning control of the Iowa Senate over to Republicans. Despite the Republican party apparatus being radicalized, Iowans as a whole are pragmatic, with a large moderate middle. It's interesting that Speaker Paulsen appears more concerned about pissing off Independents than rallying the conservative fringe. I would think that Iowa Republicans lawmakers’ self-interest in an election year is also at play here.

They just lost an election in a Republican-leaning district, where NOM outsiders tried to make marriage equality a hot-button issue. Moderate voters seemed to see the anti-gay messaging as divisive and a distraction from core issues. There was palpable concern about turning control of the Iowa Senate over to Republicans.

Despite the Republican party apparatus being radicalized, Iowans as a whole are pragmatic, with a large moderate middle. It’s interesting that Speaker Paulsen appears more concerned about pissing off Independents than rallying the conservative fringe.

]]> By: Christopher Eberz http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/11/29/39222/comment-page-1#comment-111016 Christopher Eberz Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:31:55 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=39222#comment-111016 Poor NOM. Poor, poor NOM. Poor NOM. Poor, poor NOM.

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