A Lesson for Republicans in Indiana

[DonViejo]

First Read: “Here’s the bad news for Republicans: The political fight over religious freedom and gay rights that erupted in Indiana has forced Gov. Mike Pence to retreat; put the Republican 2016 contenders to the RIGHT of Pence; and further exposed that the GOP is in a different place on gay rights than the rest of the country. That includes big business. But here’s the good news for the party: They’re learning this lesson early — as opposed to having it play out next spring or even in the fall of 2016.”

Jonathan Bernstein: “The positions that play well in a small bubble of party politics and on Fox News may go wrong when the larger November 2016 electorate is exposed to them.”

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http://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=103724390&f=17571&u=37190363&c=4919798

[clarice]

1. Bernstein ????

[DonViejo]

3. Yeah, Bernstein. What's the problem?

[AlinPA]

2. The anti-gay laws will be a winner for them in their GOP primaries. "T hate gays and love God more

than the other GOP primary candidate so vote for me!" Pence could go to the top of the Fox "news" polls if he announced that he is running.

[brush]

6. Oh please, please, please let them run on this

Last edited Wed Apr 1, 2015, 09:59 PM - Edit history (1)

It's still only 2015 but all 10 of the repug candidates have backed Pence on this. They're all playing to the hard right teapublican base. Great! Let them

Us dems just have to keep this miscalculation of the repugs in the news, and bring it really hard come general election time that the hard right bigoted base of the repugs does not constitute a big enough percentage of the electorate to win a general election in a presidential year.

[AlinPA]

7. Our candidates should run on tolerance. Say it: " Bush, Cruz, ...(whoever) are intolerant bigots".

"We believe in equal rights for everyone- Republicans do not" Just say it!

[brush]

8. Just say it! I agree. nt

[walkingman]

4. I might be wrong but

I get the feeling that the outrage from the public was insignificant until business began to to get involved. That sends a clear message that as a citizen you don't count - if you are a profit center you are in control.

Facism.

[D_Master81]

5. agreed

this was a total groupthink situation. For those on DU that don't know how ridiculously RED the state of Indiana is, the senate in IN is controlled by the Repubs 40-10, the house is close to 70-30. The Dems in this state might as well not even show up really, as anything the Repubs want to do they can do and there's nothing to stop them. They got together and thought this bill was good for "religious freedoms" but refused to see the possible backlash that would ensue, or just refused to care. Even after 30 law profs warned them they passed it anyway.

The problem however in this state is that after 2010, the Repubs gerrymandered like crazy so I don't see the dems making a huge dent in the house and senate, but I could def see Pence getting booted. This state isn't as red as it looks from the outside in statewide races. I hope to see that play out in 16 and get some balance back again