There's no denying the economy is the main focus of politicians contending to be the next president of the United States. Last night's GOP debate on Fox News focused largely on the subject, but other topics, like foreign policy and social issues, were also discussed.
There were only a handful of questions directed to candidates about same-sex marriage, and there weren't any surprises in the answers.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney took the first question on marriage when he was asked if he believed state lawmakers have the right to legalize same-sex unions as recently happened in New York.
65-year-old singer and icon Cher (too fabulous for a last name) erupted in gay-allied fury all over Minn. Rep. and presidential contender Michele Bachmann. Cher tweeted on Sunday night:
Just got spam letter from M. Bachman! My reply ! Woman go bake 2 school take history ! & if I was on my deathbed & your best friend was JESUS!!! I WOULDNT VOTE 4 YOUR GAY HATING, BULLY LOVING , POSER CHRISTIAN ASS ! Got One From The TEA PARTY 2.l ! Head STILL SPINNING !Not HAPPY With Leaders.of DEMS & PRES. EIither wtf!
Despite the heavy-handed misspellings—perhaps righteous fury has that effect?—Cher is echoing the sentiment that many in the gay community can vibe to: A sentiment that wonders how it is 2011 and a presidential hopeful can retain hope in an ever-diversifying nation and still be married to a man whose clinic still practices conversion therapy.
Cher replied to this then-new information exactly a month ago:
Margaret Hoover, a Fox News analyst and author of “American Individualism,” was on the O'Reilly Factor last night to discuss the perceived split in the conservative movement between its base and the movement commonly known as the Tea Party.
Hoover, a self-proclaimed Republican, argued that the GOP runs the risk of losing the next generation of voters because of the party's stance on social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.
“We're going to save the Republican Party by connecting to the next generation,” Hoover told host Bill O'Reilly. “The next generation is 30 and under. They voted two to one for Barack Obama and their partisan identification solidifies after three presidential election cycles. They voted for John Kerry. They voted for Barack Obama. If we don't make inroads in the next 16 months, we're going to lose the next generation.”
Seriously, some people think Newt Gingrich is endorsing — at least kind of — gay marriage? So not true, people. Don’t be swayed by silly headlines.
The GOP presidential candidate and former Georgia congressman is being credited by some for perhaps going soft on the issue of gay marriage because the thrice married politician said this over the weekend in the wake of New York passing same-sex marriage legislation:
"Iowa was a very different case from New York," Gingrich said.
"I mean, Iowa was seven judges deciding that they would arbitrarily overturn the laws and the culture of the state of Iowa which is fundamentally different," Gingrich said. "I mean New York at least, whether you agree or disagree with the outcome, it is in the elected process and it is in the legislature and it is with the governor and that's the right venue."
It's just not going to be an easy campaign for GOP presidential contender Newt Gingrich. The Georgian and former Speaker of the House suffered another blow today as his campaign finance team reportedly quit, according to the Associated Press.
Gingrich also watched several high ranking campaign officials, including his campaign manager, quit en masse earlier this month after internal disagreements over how the campaign was being handled, according to ABC News.
Gingrich's entire paid staff in Iowa also resigned, citing his commitment to the campaign, according to the ABC News report.
Gingrich announced his intent to run for the Republican presidential nomination on May 9 via a Twitter post to followers.
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Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is the latest victim of the newest craze in civil disobedience against anti-gay Republican presidential candidates – the glitter bomb.
Newt Gingrich was struck in a similar by political activist Nick Espinosa while he was attending a Minnesota Family Council event back in May.
Pawlenty was hosting a book-signing event at the annual America's Health Insurance Plans conference when representatives from CodePink, an anti-war and women's advocacy group based in San Francisco, and the Center for Reproductive Rights showered Pawlenty with quite a bit of pink glitter and confetti.
“Where's your courage to stand for gay rights and reproductive rights,” one of the protesters shouted as she was escorted away from Pawlenty.
Last night, the Republican contenders seeking the nomination for the presidency of the United States participated in the second GOP debate of the 2012 election cycle. Held in New Hampshire, the debate was broadcast on CNN and was sponsored by the New Hampshire Union Leader.
Seven Republicans attended and answered a wide range of questions on topics from the economy and jobs to foreign policy and social issues. CNN's John King moderated.
Several LGBT issues were covered during the debate, including the upcoming repeal of the military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy and whether or not the candidates supported a federal constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.
Most candidates said that they would leave the decision to restate the policy to the military commanders, but Minn. Rep. Michele Bachmann said that if elected, she would keep “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in place.
GOP presidential candidate and Georgia resident Herman Cain says he would have no problem hiring an openly gay staffer to work for him if elected president. And he said so with the leader of the Iowa anti-gay marriage movement at his side.
The story was reported by Jennifer Jacobs at the Des Moines Register as part of the newspaper's "2012 Iowa Caucuses" special online section.
Cain was in Iowa on June 6 at a speech hosted by the Family Leader, headed up by Bob Vander Plaats. Vander Plaats and the Family Leader were part of a campaign to oust three Iowa Supreme Court judges after they voted to legalize gay marriage in the state in 2009. Joining Family Leader was the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage.