Social Issues Top GOP Pre-Election Agenda

[NoCalMike 0]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060415/ap_on_...icans_checklist

 

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer

2 hours, 28 minutes ago

 

WASHINGTON - Protection of marriage amendment? Check. Anti-flag burning legislation? Check. New abortion limits? Check.

 

Between now and the November elections, Republicans are penciling in plans to take action on social issues important to religious conservatives, the foundation of the GOP base, as they defend their congressional majority.

 

In a year where an unpopular war in Iraq has helped drive President Bush's approval ratings below 40 percent, core conservatives whose turnout in November is vital to the party want assurances that they are not being taken for granted.

 

"It seems like for only six months, every two years — right around election time — that we're even noticed," said Tom McClusky of the Family Research Council.

 

"Some of these better pass," he added. "You notice when it's just lip service being paid."

 

Former presidential candidate Gary Bauer agreed that the effort matters.

 

"If they get to these things this summer, which we expect that they will, that will go a long way toward energizing the values voters at the base of the Republican Party," said Bauer, head of Americans United to Preserve Marriage.

 

GOP leaders long have known that the war and merely riding the coattails of a second-term president could disillusion their base.

 

If there was any doubt, conservatives issued a concise warning last month. Four groups representing evangelical Christians said an internal survey found that 63 percent of "values voters" — identified as evangelical Christians whose priorities include outlawing abortion and banning same-sex marriage — "feel Congress has not kept its promises to act on a pro-family agenda."

 

The Family Research Council, which headlined the survey, also announced it would hold a "Values Voter Summit" in September to "raise the bar of achievement for this Congress." At the top of the agenda could be a call for new leadership in Congress if those in power have not acted on social conservatives' issues.

 

Some leaders read the warning signs early.

 

The House has approved an amendment to the Constitution to outlaw flag burning and passed a bill to crack down on the practice of minors' crossing state lines for abortions to evade legal limits in their own states

 

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and a possible presidential candidate in 2008, announced early this year that the Senate would consider those and the anti-gay marriage amendment that has failed in both chambers despite Bush's endorsement.

 

"When America's values are under attack, we need to act," Frist told the Conservative Political Action Conference in February.

 

Those were sweet words to Bauer's ears.

 

"The marriage amendment is in a class by itself because of what's at stake," Bauer said.

 

House Republican officials close to the scheduling process said the marriage amendment is headed for a House vote in July.

 

Sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record), R-Kan., also a possible presidential candidate, the measure would have the Constitution define marriage as the union between a man and a woman — in effect rescinding a 2004 Massachusetts law that made gay marriage legal.

 

Sending the proposed amendment to the states for ratification may not win the two-thirds majority required in the House and Senate. But committing to a vote in June is a gesture of good faith that would resonate with social conservatives, Bauer said.

 

The amendment banning flag desecration, a perennial vote and favorite of some conservatives, would need the same majority for ratification. Frist has promised to bring it up in June. The amendment was ratified by the House last year but was not brought to a vote in the Senate after 35 senators declared their opposition.

 

The bill to curb abortions among minors has long been on Frist's list of legislative priorities. Legislation imposing penalties on anyone who helps a minor cross state lines to obtain an abortion won easy passage in House last year.

 

Frist has promised to bring a similar bill to the Senate floor before the year is out.

 

Not on the Senate's schedule, however, is a bill allowing taxpayers to underwrite human embryonic stem cell research, a science still in its infancy that could lead to cures for many diseases.

 

Social conservatives, including Bush, say that the process by which the cells are derived is morally akin to abortion because the fertilized egg is destroyed.

 

Frist, a surgeon who enraged many in the GOP base last year when he supported a House-passed bill to fund the process, had planned a Senate vote on the matter by Easter. Congress adjourned for the holiday this month without such a debate anywhere on the Senate's calendar.

 

 

--So it looks like another round of partisan squabbling is coming up, on issues that aren't going to get any attention post-election, all in the name of rousing up one's base......Don't you just LOOOOOOOOVE election years?

[Dobbs 3K 0]

How about doing something about an issue that actually affects most Americans? Like how about the fact that gas is going up AGAIN?

[EricMM 0]

What, pray tell, do you think anyone can do about that?

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Promote alternative energy sources (I know this wouldn't decrease the price at the pump, but it would ultimately solve the problem), increase oil production, tap into reserves, start stealing from Iraq's supply...I don't really care what they do. There's like, a bunch of different solutions the government could put forward if they wanted to.

 

Instead, they cater to their base with an agenda that isn't going to accomplish anything except allow a bunch of white guys in suits to pat themselves on their backs.

[EricMM 0]

There were things that could have effected the price today, there are things that will effect the price tomorrow.

 

But there is NOTHING today that will help TODAY, because it's out of their hands. But Bush gets blame because hey, he's in charge, and he's been in charge for SIX YEARS.

[Stephen Joseph 0]

opec isnt going to go w/o a fight

 

face it, no political party will do squat but help themselves

[SuperJerk 0]

I'm glad to see there's a group of voters that cares more about whether or not the flag gets burned than how incompetent the executive branch has become in the last 5 years.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Lets start the Election year drinking game..

 

1 shot anytime anyone says the phrase "The real issues"

 

You'll be dead by the end of the month.

[RepoMan 0]

With most voters not happy with the situation in Iraq and w/ the economy, I think the GOP is finally going to have a backlash w/ mainstream voters over pandering to cultural conservatives.

[Slayer 0]

I don't want to see Brownback near the presidency

 

No way, no how

[CanadianChris 0]

"It seems like for only six months, every two years — right around election time — that we're even noticed," said Tom McClusky of the Family Research Council.

I'm annoyed that it's even that often.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

With most voters not happy with the situation in Iraq and w/ the economy, I think the GOP is finally going to have a backlash w/ mainstream voters over pandering to cultural conservatives.

 

I agree. A lot of people are mad about how Iraq has gone, etc. Couple that with other domestic issues that have been neglected, and I wouldn't be feeling to safe right now if I'm a GOP Congressperson.

[Art Sandusky 0]

So now both parties are out of touch with the common voter. Great.

[snuffbox 0]

I don't want to see Brownback near the presidency

 

No way, no how

 

How about a Brownback VP? We could have him and Bill Frist both...then we'll get something done around here.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Bill Frist is part of the problem with this country. Despite being elected to a leadership position, he is a lap-dog for the executive branch and has minimized Congress' ability to keep a leash on the President. That's important whether you like the President or you don't.

 

He looked especially dumb in the middle of the ports deal, where 24 hours with the administration caused him to do a 180 of opinion. The GOP may like him, but the general public won't.

[snuffbox 0]

But if we can get Bill Frist elected maybe he would name the president of Purdue Pharmacy as Sec of Health/Human Services...our new health care plan in America could be 'OxyContin for everybody!'

 

And, on a side note, maybe we can finally make marijuana possesion an offense punishable by death.

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

But if we can get Bill Frist elected maybe he would name the president of Purdue Pharmacy as Sec of Health/Human Services...our new health care plan in America could be 'OxyContin for everybody!'

 

And, on a side note, maybe we can finally make marijuana possesion an offense punishable by death.

That's very harsh, and I don't even smoke the stuff. I mean, we don't do that for coke, do we?

[SuperJerk 0]

I don't want to see Brownback near the presidency

 

No way, no how

 

How about a Brownback VP? We could have him and Bill Frist both...then we'll get something done around here.

 

Dude...I just ate....

[jesse_ewiak 0]

Bill Frist is part of the problem with this country. Despite being elected to a leadership position, he is a lap-dog for the executive branch and has minimized Congress' ability to keep a leash on the President. That's important whether you like the President or you don't.

 

He looked especially dumb in the middle of the ports deal, where 24 hours with the administration caused him to do a 180 of opinion. The GOP may like him, but the general public won't.

 

Actually, the bloggers/Freepers of the GOP hate Frist because they see him as an ineffectual leader who hasn't ya' know, banned liberals yet. Also, the fact is that as a Senate Majority Leader, he does both suck and blow. Plus, he's already running for President, which will not end well for him, as Mr. Catkiller will either get run over in the primaries or get killed in the general.

 

As for the midterms, they're base elections. Which is why the GOP is trying this, because as a 'winger said on another board said, "I'll vote for who they tell me." This was in regards to a McCain nomination, but it's basically the same thing. The question is, will this save them in November? Honestly, I think the Democrats are going to win the House and it's going to really tight in the Senate.

[2GOLD 0]

So now both parties are out of touch with the common voter. Great.

 

We let it happen by constantly voting them all back in. Be nice if the country screwed over BOTH parties at the next HOP/Senate election and knocked them BOTH the hell out. Keep a couple of those who aren't completely out of it but for the most part, nail them all to the wall.

[Art Sandusky 0]

I seriously think polls should start asking people "If the government was overthrown and resulting completely new and multiple ruling parties kept the Constitution, would you be happy?" That's the only way the two-party system could ever be toppled.

[2GOLD 0]

I seriously think polls should start asking people "If the government was overthrown and resulting completely new and multiple ruling parties kept the Constitution, would you be happy?" That's the only way the two-party system could ever be toppled.

 

Pretty much and it's a shame we all let it get this bad. When you have two parties where it seems the leadership of both are lost and confused, there is no reason they should keep getting voted back in. Course people can't spend five minutes of their life to look at other party options and the media will have you believe those other parties aren't an option to begin with. Hell, the ONLY time the media shows a third party is when they are acting completely nuts. When they are doing good things and looking like they might have a clue, they don't exist. When they look like morons? Feature story!

 

Like here in DE, we had a GREAT third party candiate. Illustrated all of the positives of the democrat and republican candiates by combining the ideas into a very smart plan. It actually made sense and would have made both the upper and middle class of the state very happy. So what happens? The local media here ignores it in favor of telling how great the other two candiates were. Nevermind one was a corrupt judge and the other was a bitch who took over tax overpayment (about $500 per family on average) and gave her and her staff a F*CKING RAISE.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

 

A Man of the People.

[snuffbox 0]

...says keep hope alive.