Local Republicans continue to shoot themselves in the foot. When the bigger threat is Democrats; they're more worried about the gays.I received an email from local Republican major domo Linda Boyd - who has done more to set the Republican Party back 50 years than any Democrat could ever hope to - urging attendance at a Republican program to "save marriage."
This event is supporting the campaign intended to completely sink the Republican Party, well actually it's the effort to overturn legal same-sex marriage in California, Proposition 8.
With Republicans ranging from Governor Schwarzenegger to Councilman Dennis Zine to Anti-Bilingual Crusader Ward Connerly to Comedian Dennis Miller opposed to the measure, the local party is going against traditional Republican values of personal liberty and limited government to appease an aging, shrinking but still vocal element of the party who is willing to consign the GOP to permanent minority status.
No doubt, and with all due respect to Christians (I am one), Catholics, Mormons, Conservative Jews and others of faith who find homosexuality inconsistent with their religous beliefs, the local GOP is pandering to this special interest group. However these groups are quick to jump up when government infringes on their personal liberty; they are completely inconsistent when it comes to Proposition 8. Activist Lourdes Rivas issues a challenge to religious opponents of same-sex marriage.
The Republican Party is shrinking in California. We can not attempt to grow if we adopt arcane, unfair positions such as this. Even Ronald Reagan in 1978 found it against true conservative principles to prohibit gays and lesbians from serving as teachers and opposed the Briggs initiative, Proposition 6.
As a Republican male who likes girls (a lot!) and wants to marry one, I am not threatened by gays and lesbians who choose to marry. As a libertarian leaning individual I believe its an issue of fundamental rights. Therefore I will vote no on Proposition 8.
