Tag: GOP

Posted on

Public isn’t buying into Washington “scandals” as President Obama’s approval continues to rise

Very interesting development here.

After a week of Benghazi, IRS, and Associated Press phone records “scandals,” you’d think the GOP would be gleeful at bringing down President Obama in the public’s eyes.

Kinda not the case.

In fact, the President’s approval ratings have gone UP while the GOP’s numbers have dropped.

A new CNN poll shows that President Obama’s approval rating is at 53%, up two points from the previous poll.

Clearly, the American people are not buying into the false narrative promulgated by the media and the Republican Party, as a majority of respondents believe that the president and his statements on the “scandals” are “mostly true.”  The GOP was not so lucky.  From the CNN poll:

The poll found that 59 percent of respondents view the GOP unfavorably, a record that has only shown up one other time in the poll’s results since tracking began in 1992.

The Republican Party’s net favorability ratings are down 8 points in the past two months. The amount of respondents viewing the GOP favorably fell from 38 percent to 35 percent, while the number of people who view the party unfavorably climbed five points, up from 54 percent in March.

A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll showed similar results. When asked their approval on what each is proposing to do, 45% approve of President Obama’s proposals, only 29% approve of the congressional GOP proposals. Check out the video below:

(source)

Posted on

Andrew Sullivan on GOP claims of “worst Washington scandal since Watergate”

“Has this president broken the law, lied under oath, or authorized war crimes?

“Has he traded arms for hostages with Iran?

“Has he knowingly sent his cabinet out to tell lies about his sex life?

“Has he sat by idly as an American city was destroyed by a hurricane? Has he started a war with no planning for an occupation?

“Has he started a war based on a lie, and destroyed the US’ credibility and moral standing while he was at it, leaving nothing but a smoldering and now rekindled civil sectarian war?

“So far as I can tell, this president has done nothing illegal, unethical or even wrong.” – Andrew Sullivan, in response to conservative claims that “We are in the midst of the worst Washington scandal since Watergate.”

(h/t JMG)

Posted on

The White House trumps tweet by Speaker Boehner

John Boehner, Speaker of the House, thought he would play along today with a current, popular hashtag on Twitter among the Tea people #ObamaCareInThreeWords as the House GOP tried for the 37th time to repeal the healthcare reform legislation:

Then, the White House decided to play along.  FTW:

To which the Speaker then tweeted:

It’s hardly “arrogance of power” for the White House to point out the obvious – that “ObamaCare” IS the law of the land.

Time to stop wasting the people’s time, Mr. Speaker. Time to get something done that actually accomplishes something.

The country is waiting.

(via JMG)

Posted on

Sen. Jeff Flake: A GOP Presidential candidate who supports marriage equality is “inevitable”

During an appearance on Meet The Press, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake said that he felt it was inevitable that there would one day be a GOP presidential candidate, and that he or she would receive wide support:

CHUCK TODD (HOST): Let me ask you on gay marriage. Could you support a Republican presidential candidate some day who supported same-sex marriage?

FLAKE: Oh, I think that’s inevitable. There will be one and he will receive bipartisan support — or she will. So I think that yes, the answer is yes.

TODD: And where are you on this issue, you say it’s inevitable. Are you — Lisa Murkowski, a Republican colleague of yours called it evolving on the issue. Are you evolving to use her words on this issue?

FLAKE: I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman I still hold to the traditional definition of marriage.

TODD: Is there something that you — are you thinking about it? Can you imagine changing your position before you left the U.S. Senate?

FLAKE: I can’t. I tell you, in the past I’ve supported repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I’ve supported the [The Employment] Nondiscrimination Act as well, but I hold to the traditional definition of marriage.

Although support for marriage equality has risen at an amazing rate across all demographics, I think it will be a while before the GOP actually chooses a presidential candidate who supports same-sex marriage.

I appreciate Sen. Flake’s support on ENDA and the repeal of DADT, but he clearly could use a little more “evolution” on the topic of marriage equality.

(source)

Posted on

Would a positive SCOTUS ruling on marriage equality be a blessing for the GOP?

A lot of smart political writers are coming to the same conclusion that a ruling in favor of marriage equality by SCOTUS would actually be a favor to much of the Republican party. The thinking seems to be that many GOP pols are “trapped” in toeing the party line but would much rather move on from a subject whose future seems clear.

Note two recent but separate essays by Michelangelo Signorile and Josh Barro. Both smart guys, both know the subject and politics well.

First, from Michelangelo Signorile, writing for the Huffington Post.

“Are GOP leaders secretly hoping that the Supreme Court, after it hears arguments on marriage equality next week, rules in favor of equality? That’s certainly what a few were saying at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week, though not for attribution. [snip]

“The remark this week from Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus that it is kind of ok now for Republicans to support marriage equality — or at least that they wouldn’t be thrown under the bus — combined with Scott Walker’s mixed messages on the issue, Rick Santorum’s continued belligerence, Marco Rubio’s defensiveness (opposing gay marriage “does not make me a bigot”) and Senator Inhofe’s sheer speechlessness underscore that the GOP is in turmoil on the issue.

“The GOP’s only hope, it seems, is for the Supreme Court to take the issue off the table entirely. It’s ironic (and grotesque) that the party that has been the most vociferously anti-gay, the party that brutally attacked LGBT people for decades and exploited homophobia for political gain, may be praying that the justices next week begin the process of giving gays full equality.”

And then from Josh Barro writing for Bloomberg News

“A Supreme Court decision imposing gay marriage nationwide will not only make this problem go away, but it will also give Republican politicians a useful scapegoat to impotently shake their fists at. They can say they wish they could continue the fight against gay marriage, but alas, those judicial activists at the Supreme Court have made it impossible. And then, gradually, everyone who cares about stopping gay marriage will grow old and die, and we can stop talking about the issue.

[snip]

“Gay marriage opponents are going to lose the fight; the only question is whether they will lose it in a way that is quick and painless or long and ugly. If Anthony Kennedy or John Roberts vote to strike down all the state bans on gay marriage, Republicans will be furious with them, but the justices will in fact have done the party a huge favor.”

Posted on

John Boehner, John McCain not changing position on marriage equality

Although Ohio Sen. Rob Portman made public his “evolution” on marriage equality last week, many of the GOP stalwarts are sticking to their guns on the issue.

House Speaker John Boehner, appearing yesterday on ABC’s This Week: “Rob [Portman] is a great friend and a long-time ally. And I appreciate that he’s decided to change his views on this.I believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. It’s what I grew up with. It’s what I believe. It’s what my church teaches me. And I can’t imagine that position would ever change.”

Sen. John McCain agrees: “I respect anyone else’s decision and we all learn in life and grow and mature. I have changed my position on other issues in my life, but on this one, I had not contemplated changing my position.”

Posted on

Sen. Rob Portman now supports marriage equality

 

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman has become the first sitting GOP senator to announce his support for marriage equality:

“I’m announcing today a change of heart on an issue a lot of people feel strongly about. It has to do with gay couples’ opportunity to marry. During my career in the House and also the last few years in the Senate I’ve taken a position against gay marriage rooted in part in my faith and my faith tradition..
“I had a very personal experience which is my son came to Jane, my wife and I, told us he was gay and that it was not a choice, that’s just part of who he is and that he had been that way since he could remember.”

From Sen. Portman’s op-ed for the Columbus Dispatch: 

“The process of citizens persuading fellow citizens is how consensus is built and enduring change is forged. That’s why I believe change should come about through the democratic process in the states.  Judicial intervention from Washington would circumvent that process as it’s moving in the direction of recognizing marriage for same-sex couples. An expansive court ruling would run the risk of deepening divisions rather than resolving them.

“I’ve thought a great deal about this issue, and like millions of Americans in recent years, I’ve changed my mind on the question of marriage for same-sex couples. As we strive as a nation to form a more perfect union, I believe all of our sons and daughters ought to have the same opportunity to experience the joy and stability of marriage.”

Reactions from across the political spectrum:  

Log Cabin Republicans: “If there was any doubt that the conservative logjam on the issue of civil marriage for committed gay and lesbian couples has broken, Senator Portman’s support for the freedom to marry has erased it. Senator Portman’s evolution on this issue highlights how personal it is for Americans — whether they’re the Junior Senator from Ohio or your next-door neighbor, all Americans have a gay friend, colleague or family member, and understand them to be as deserving as their straight counterparts of the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that are the promise of the United States.”

 Human Rights Campaign: “Like countless dads across the country, Senator Portman has made the basic and courageous choice to put parenting before politics. When it comes to marriage equality, all Americans are on the same journey toward recognizing our common humanity. But while 8 in 10 Americans know a gay or lesbian person, it still takes unique courage to speak out publicly for equality. We are very grateful to Senator Portman for his virtuous stand in support of this civil rights cause.”  

Freedom to Marry Ohio: “The honorable U.S. Sen. Portman is the first Republican member of the United States Senate to endorse the freedom to marry, but we believe he will not be the last. We are moved by the love and support U.S. Sen. Portman and his wife are showing their son. We appreciate the fact that the Senator wants his son to be able to marry and form a family to find the same happiness and security as his parents. Each day you can feel the momentum building toward ending marriage discrimination in Ohio. We are going to work even harder with our wonderful volunteers across the state to collect the signatures needed to put this amendment before voters.”

Posted on

Gov. Bobby Jindal – “GOP doesn’t need to embrace marriage equality”

Regarding supporting marriage equality, as some other high profile GOP pols have recently, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, one of the likely 2016 presidential candidates (who will run but not get the nomination) said today on Meet The Press: “Look, I believe in  the traditional definition of marriage.”

Think about it, kids.  In about two years, when the campaign starts to heat up, how much further along the equality road are we going to be?  And how bad and out of touch will these guys look?

SRSLY.

(via CrooksAndLiars)