Oregon Republicans Endorse Gay Marriage

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

DYLAN SCOTT – MARCH 10, 2014, 11:44 AM EDT

Republicans at a Oregon political conference voted by a 2-to-1 margin this weekend to endorse gay marriage.

The Oregonian reported that Republican attendees at the Dorchester Conference, an annual political organizing event, voted 233-162 in favor of a measure legalizing gay marriage in Oregon that will appear on the November ballot.

The result might be a little skewed: Social conservatives boycotted the event, which has a history of taking more liberal stances, according to the newspaper. But it still demonstrates the growing GOP division over the issue.

"I believe this is a wedge issue that forces young people into the Democratic Party's hands," Jacob Vandever, a Republican legislative candidate who voted for the measure, told The Oregonian. Same-sex marriages are currently prohibited under the Oregon constitution. The proposed ballot measure would amend the constitution to recognize them.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/oregon-republicans-gay-marriage

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[onehandle]

1. Being a Republican means you support the GOPNRAteahadists agenda from coast to coast.

Resign or switch parties, or you are just one of them.

[MNBrewer]

2. Sux when your "wedge issue" starts wedging the other way, doesn't it?

hehe.

[KamaAina]

3. Um, Josh, 233-162 is not a 2-1 margin.

It's not even 60 percent.

[davidpdx]

14. Good point

Bad writing on the part of the author

[SpankMe]

4. This is sad news.

Republicans typically get 10-15% of the gay vote. But, in the election for George W. Bush's second term about 30% of gays voted Republican.

The more pro-gay (or, rather, less anti-gay) Republicans become, the less impetus gays have to vote progressive or Democratic. We will soon lose an important voting block.

I favor full equality for LGBT folks in every aspect. But, frankly, I'd rather Republicans hold on to their anti-gay stance until Dems can solidify the Congress.

[totodeinhere]

9. It is never sad news if someone becomes more accepting of LGBT rights. The

politics of it be damned, the rights of LGBT's are more important. And please give the community more credit. They are not going to start voting en masse for Republicans just because the party's organization in one blue state becomes more tolerant.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. If Straight White folks voted like LGBT and African American people no Republican

would ever win an election in the US. So take your bigoted attitude and place it where it should dwell. Thanks.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

11. You can't be serious.

What a disgusting post.

[yardwork]

12. Do you have a citation for that 30% figure?

LGBT folks are among the most loyal Democratic voting blocs. After all, we are fabulous.

[TlalocW]

5. Does he mean, "Endorse Gay Marriage By Accident?"

Only way I see that happening.

TlalocW

[iandhr]

6. Republicans making a pragmatic choice?

This must be a mistake.

[JudyM]

13. +1 A coolly cynical pragmatic choice, no less. nt

[LeftishBrit]

7. In the UK, David Cameron's Tory-led government introduced gay marriage

One of the few good things he's done (another is that he's pro-choice on reproductive rights). Still horrible on economic and public-services issues, however.

Perhaps the Oregon Republicans are like him, i.e. horrible right-wingers but at least not theocrats.

[OutNow]

8. Not really

Read the entire article. The Republican meeting that supported marriage equality was a meeting of the sane wing of the party. Yes, there are sane Republicans in Oregon, but they don't control the party. The insane Republicans had their own meeting at the same time as the Dorchester Conference.

BTW - the current Republican Party Chairman is Art Roberson. Yes, the guy that runs against Pete DeFazio every two years. The guy that wants to end public education and use radioactive waste in the foundation of your house. That Art Robinson. Oh, he is opposed to marriage equality. No big surprise there.

[davidpdx]

15. The fact that social conservatives stayed away

pretty much negates the idea that Oregon Republicans support gay marriage. It is the social conservatives that have dominated in the state over the last 20 years.