While the so-called Religious Ultra Right are salivating for the coming Supreme Court "Armaggedon..."
...I question whether the Democrats and liberals are picking the right fight?
Many in the liberal left are treating "abortion rights" AS IF it were THE major issue to all of America... It simply isn't.
Abortion Rights are important to only a small segment of the American population... Just as "Gay Marriage" is important to only a small segment of the public.
By pushing Abortion Rights and Gay Marriage the Democrats hand the Republican Rich the PERFECT ISSUES with which to attract Bubba White Men, and the Religious and Rural Poor.
Gay Marriage and Abortion are CHEAP ISSUES...They don't cost Republicans a thing! Its all about hype and promises of pie-in-the-sky "Constitutional Amendments" ....and no money has to be spent to achieve the bogus "social and moral" goals...
Thus, and most importantly, the Tax Cuts for the Rich can keep on going!
And the looting of pension plans and 401ks! And the shipping of jobs to China and India can continue unabated...
IF THE DEMOCRATS WANT A FIGHT WITH THE REPUBLICANS...THEY SHOULD MAKE IT A FIGHT ON ECONOMIC ISSUES...
It should be all about THE RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE...
Not the Right to have an abortion without "notification" of the husband and/or parents in the case of minors.
These spousal/parental "notification" arguments are small potatoes socially.
Very few people are actually impacted by them...BUT, THESE ISSUES ARE THE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE REPUBLICANS POLITICALLY!
Gay "marriage" verus "civil unions" was HUGE FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE LAST ELECTION... But if "civil unions" are functionally and legally the same as "marriage"...why have a major fight just over the name! It makes no sense...
But, to Republicans it means the control of the Congress and the White House and the ability to have continued the looting of the economy by Wall Street and International Capital!
IN SHORT, IF THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH REPUBLICANS AND THEIR "CONSERVATIVES" ...IT SHOULD BE ON ECONOMIC AND NOT SOCIAL ISSUES.
Why do women "choose" abortion...? Most often its because of lack of money...or the need to work to support themselves. And of course, the lack of reliable health care.
Democrats should be highlighting--THE CAUSES OF ABORTION...AND NOT THE "RIGHT TO HAVE AN ABORTION."
This approach would shut up the Republican Rich up straightaway;
Because Wall Street Republicans have no desire to provide a social safety net for the working class Bubbas who support them politically "on moral grounds!"
BY ALLOWING THE REPUBLICANS TO TAKE THE "MORAL HIGH GROUND"... ON THE CHEAP;
THE DEMOCRATS ARE FORFEITING THE GAME TO THE ULTRA-RIGHT... AND THUS, ALLOWING INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL TO "WIN" AMONG BUBBA REPUBLICANS AND THE RURAL WHITE POOR.
BY APPROACHING THESE "SOCIAL ISSUES" IN ECONOMIC TERMS...THE DEMOCRATS COULD, PERHAPS, WIN THEIR LONG ARGUMENT WITH THE RURAL POOR AND THE BUBBA RELIGOUS ULTRA-RIGHT...
SO WHY DO DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO ARGUE FROM THEIR WEAKEST POSITIONS?
WHEN MERELY CHANGING THE "TERMS" OF THE DEBATE TO ECONOMIC MATTERS COULD MAKE THE REPUBLICAN "MORAL" ARGUMENTS LOOK LIKE MERE TECHNICALITIES...?
Democrats simply have to learn to define themselves...and not allow their opponents to define them...and that process starts with defining the terms of the debate... But are they up to it?
