For the second time in two days, the Supreme Court struck at the heart of the Republican Party platform.
Yet the response to Friday’s ruling to give same-sex couples the right to marry was mild in comparison with the outrage that followed the high court’s decision Thursday to uphold President Barack Obama’s health care law. Friday’s ruling instead drew tepid responses from several Republicans who, in many cases, would like that issue to fade away.
The sharp contrast highlights the political challenges for a Republican Party searching for a winning playbook in 2016.
The GOP’s presidential class is ready to bet big their opposition to Obama’s health care law will resonate with voters. But facing a seismic shift in public opinion on gay marriage, several of the party’s most ambitious appear ready to turn the page on a social issue the GOP used for a generation to motivate its most passionate voters to turn out at the polls.
Perhaps no Republican presidential candidate better illustrated the contrast than former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who was ready with a fiery statement and a video, “This is not the end of the fight,” to decry the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the Affordable Care Act.
In a fundraising email, Bush warned that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton would offer “more of the same.” ”That is why I need you to make a one time-emergency contribution of $50, $25 or $10 to my campaign to ensure that NEVER happens.”
A day later, after the marriage ruling, Bush made no such fundraising pitch, offering only a one-paragraph statement. States should be allowed to make the decision, he said, adding, “I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments.”
Polls show what’s motivating the temperance of some in the GOP: Americans are now more likely than not to support same-sex marriage, with some surveys showing as many as 6 in 10 in favor. The shift over 10 years has been dramatic. Polling by the Pew Research Center found support for same-sex marriage growing from 36 percent in 2005 to 57 percent in a poll conducted in May.
While most Republicans remain opposed to same-sex marriage, 59 percent of those between age 18 and 34 supported marriage rights for gay couples in Pew’s most recent poll.
To be sure, several Republicans running for president condemned the court’s same-sex marriage decision and pledged to continue to fight. “Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that,” said Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who entered the race this week.
“It doesn’t settle anything,” National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown said in an interview before the ruling, comparing the gay marriage decision to the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade. “It’s just like Roe. Do you think Roe settled the abortion debate?”
The anti-gay marriage organization has given each Republican presidential contender two weeks to return a signed pledge that, among other things locks candidates into supporting a constitutional amendment “that protects marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”
Some members of the GOP field signaled their openness to that idea on Friday. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker called Friday’s ruling “a grave mistake” and said “the only alternative left for the American people is to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage.”
Still, several GOP candidates — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Bush among them — have said they would not support such an amendment. Rubio was also among those who tried to stake a middle ground on Friday.
“While I disagree with this decision, we live in a republic and must abide by the law,” Rubio said, echoing a statement by Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich, who is expected to enter the 2016 contest in the coming weeks. Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said, “The governor has always believed in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, but our nation’s highest court has spoken and we must respect its decision.”
Unlike the marriage issue, Republican opposition to health care needs no qualifiers. The first paid advertisement in response to the court’s health care ruling came within an hour from Americans for Prosperity, a nonprofit advocacy group founded by billionaire energy executives Charles and David Koch.
“We’ve been fighting this law for six years, and we’re going to make sure it stays right on the front burner,” said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity. “We’ve always known repeal would be a long-term effort. We’ve never counted on the courts to do it for us. This law is fatally flawed and unpopular, so it makes perfect sense for candidates to keep talking about how it’s harming people.”
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Associated Press News Survey Specialist Emily Swanson contributed to this report.
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Copyright © 2015 Capitol Hill Blue
Copyright © 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
23 thoughts on “Supreme Court hands major defeats to Republicans”
I think Republicans knew the gay marriage thing would pass but they are more entitled to be disappointed because they have a deep and abiding belief in the Bible and are not being religious hypocrites. However, the Obamacare decision might be in their best interest since so many Exchanges have spent multi-millions of dollars and are still closing due to incompetence and lack of pre-planning. So that means the government will have even more people on the dole, and that is the government that is over $18 trillion in the hole and rising. Obamacare may die on its own without help from Republicans. Personally, it is hurting my family whose costs have doubled and they have experienced all the other negative aspects of it, so we shall see……..
This is just an example just how screwed up our two party’s are. they all knew that the Obamacare should have been repeeled both the Dems. and the Repb’s. But they have grown so used to Arguing about anything that comes up that means a good or bad thing for the People they will not get the job done . This supreme Court is a group of butt kissers! And need to be recalled and replaced starting with the leader if any one can call him that . it is the same with the House and the senate the leaders are not there to do the Job they swore to do and it seems that if Obama wants it no mater what the Republicans fight against what ever it is he wants and gets him and the Democrats beat, but just at the last moment the (leaders Boehner and McConnell) do there Traitorious stance instead of going ahead and winning what ever they are voting on theses two supposed Republicans who look like turn coats and vote for Obama. They can’t even replace any billit theve been asked to do such as the Obamacare and replace it with another workable insurance. Which if they had any Brains they would go the route of having the Dems replace the 5- million they stole from Medicare to even have the money to run this bill in in place of Medicare with intentions of eventually getting rid of Mecicare which worked very well for many years until the Rich guys figured a way to save there pet deals and if any money was needed they could steal it from Medicare and Social security. until they finally got in in to dire straights from stealing to much from both and they had to figure some thing else.. That’s when Wonderman came into the Picture he promised to change the whole picture of America if given the Chance. He made many outrageous promises that once he got the Presidents Job. then all Hell broke loose he started flying around the world telling all our Alies we were crooks and no good people he started right of trying to change our America an he has just about goy it accomplished he has the Country in a turmoil. he set the works of Martin Luther Kings works back 60 years Raceism is worse now sence He and his cronies are going to the areas to split the American people apart and it is inticing the riots such as Al Sharpton , Obama, Erik Holder, and the Black Panthers, agitating causing the people to riot and destroy other peoples personnel properties such as the stores ans there true side comes out when they start tearing the Stores up and stealing merchandise that is against the law they should all be put in Jail but if your a Black person they let you get away with it by causing problems with the Cops white or Black if they try and stop this type of activity but they all know the cops will be labeled Raceist. it is time the true patriots that have any power to get the recall of the Supreme court and many of the leaders such as Obama , Hillary, and holder should be recalled and charged on derilection of duty to America and give them all three Criminal charges on gun running and possable association to Murder of Americans.
BTW – America is NOT a theocracy, so it does not matter what God did, or did not, do, or what He says, or feels, about anything here.
God did not institute marriage. He instituted shacking up. He told Adam & Eve to “go forth, and multiply” but never gave them: a wedding, a marriage license, a ceremony, or mentioned the words ‘marriage’, or ‘wedding’. Big Human Government instituted marriage, and it’s licensing, as a way of building, and maintaining, tax rolls.
This IS the end of the fight. The GOP lost. They will go on losing until they are extinct. The trouble with building your base out of angry, rich, old, women hating, homophobic, gun nut, males is that…there are not very many of them, and-being 70 years old, and older, mostly-they are dying off steadily. Younger voters are becoming Democrats. So are hispanic voters. The GOP is going the way of The Whig Party.
I think this is a political gift. This week has been VERY GOOD for Republicans.
Opposing Gay Marriage was a loser for Republicans, but now it is off the table. Settled law. NON issue. Going forward, no need to discuss it. Republicans didn’t “legalize” it, there was no legislation, no votes, they did not have to go “on the record”. It was handled by 9 judges that do not have to be elected. Republicans didn’t “lose” anything.
Wouldn’t every politician want the same for every controversial issue? Republicans now need to shut their mouths, honor the system that is in place in this country and celebrate…more freedom, less government. That IS what this ruling means and that IS what the Republicans want. Isn’t it?
Obamacare? It was not the Republican party that brought the lawsuit that challenged the wording of the law. Republicans did not write the law. Republicans did not vote for the law. It is not their issue. Why put it into their cart?
Once something is established, and Obamacare IS established, then it is foolish to think that it can simply be repealed. It cannot. It CAN be “replaced”. As we have seen, Obamacare is poorly crafted, poorly written and full of flaws. Obama himself has changed it dozens of times.
It should not be too difficult to write something better and present it. At the moment Obama would probably never sign it, but wouldn’t it be a better plan to offer something TO VOTE FOR in 2016? If Democrats block the better option or Obama vetos it…EVEN BETTER! Get it out tjere, get people excited, get them interested…and then give them the choice. Vote for Republicans and BETTER healthcare, or vote for this flawed piece of trash that Democrats refuse to change.
I would like to announce here that I am NOT running for President.
Bravo SDRSr, the Republicans are desperate idiots at this point – the American people have left their ideals behind and are moving forward. The religious right, which was their foundation, has compromised itself with hypocrisy and hatred, and the new generation of Americans will not stand for it. Neither has anything to hang on to anymore. They need to “get with the program”.
The majority of Americans DO NOT agree with the SCOTUS and Obama, this is a political ploy to get votes for Hillary. One more year of this disgusting administration.
Liberals will be happy when we all have a bicycle, free everything, remember nothing is free for everyone.
I’m fine with this ruling. But did Obama really have to light up the WH in what he indulges in the closets? We lost our way
“Supreme Court hands major defeats to Americans”
FIFY Capitol hill blue
I hope Republicans keep shouting their hate and intolerance for others. At election time all voters will remember is that Conservatives = Hate.
I hope the Republicans continue these attacks against Obamacare and SSM because doing so may well deny them the White House. When the Affordable Care was being debated, the Republicans refused to work with the Democrats and come up with a viable health plan for all Americans. They simply wanted to see a failed presidency. Is the Affordable Care Act perfect? No, not by a long shot. I would have preferred a single payer system, like Medicare, but the Republicans jettisoned that idea quickly. As to same sex marriage — the Republicans are simply out of touch with where this country and most of the West is on this issue. Gays who marry are not going to destroy the Republic; in fact, their unions may help strengthen marriage.
The one glaring fault of the GOP stars is that in the name of “religion” they pretend that by hating gays they are actually making a stand for faith and defining marriage as between a man and a woman. If they were as immersed in their faith as they say, they would know that they can “hate the sin” but God commanded them to “love the sinner” as he does. No human is less than because these people have twisted his word to fit their own insecurity and small world view. God may have more to say about their hatred in the name of religion than what any one person chooses is right for themselves. That their hatred of many classes of human beings feeds their religious righteousness just looks more everyday like a jihad….and threatens the well being of all. They are no different than the radical Muslims that they criticize and threaten to wipe off the face of the earth. Or no?
Our society has been changed forever …
On the the REAL issue of the country Republicans! HOW are you going to fix them?
Not to the REPUBLICANS..but to the Nation!
Go ahead Republicans, commit Political Suicide, overturn, repeal, dismantle, what ever. To many now have what they could not afford under your time in power. You have attempted over 50 times over the last 5 years to kill Obamacare and failed. Soon many more will also have it. So throw 6, 12, 34 million people back on the streets with no medical insurance and see how they vote.
Great get off your lazy tail-end go to work, pay for your own OBAMA CARE so we that do work do not have to pay for yours!
Yes that is the whole idea behind OBAMA CARE, pay for all the lazy people that are capable of working but do not want to!
love to see them whine like babies when they don’t get their way.
Couldn’t have happened to more deserving bastards.
What’s done is done, and now much is in the Hands of God. Look to the future and see where we are going. The Big 3 of the Armageddon Prophesies is all that is left to come. In order for Barak Insane Obama to be certified as the 7 Headed Beast he must receive his 3rd term. One of the big 3 Bible prophesies must come to pass before the next presidential election so that Obama gets his 3rd. But mass death and destruction on a Biblical level will not turn atheists to God, they call it Manifest Destiny and blame all things on nature or conspiring religious zealots. Only when God the Father chooses to show himself in All His Glory will the Atheists turn from their chosen path. Good people of God, family men and women cry that homosexual degenerates, baby murdering abortionists, and communist thieves have the power, and will Gods people rally to fight, secede and take war? Probably not as easily as the left will return death for death, but nonetheless factions will take action over prayer. It’s all in Gods Hand and He has spoken already, so it must be for me to wait for Gods next move.
Anyway yesterday was truly a sad day in American history. Sodom has risen from the dead.
The Republicans didn’t lose big….America & our future children lost big….
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