New GOP Agenda Downplays Anti-Gay, Anti-Abortion Legislation

As part of their new "re-branding" initiative, House Republicans, to modest fanfare, unveiled their "American Families Agenda" last week. Ordinarily, a "families agenda" driven by the GOP would include a fairly predictable conservative wish list, built around anti-gay measures and legislation to promote state-sponsored religion.

It took Republicans an awfully long while, but it appears they've learned that this shtick needed to be retired, and replaced it with issues that people actually care about.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Moxo]

So the GOP is saying that the change we need is Democratic?? Interesting. So why don't they just endorse Obama or HRC?

[HollywoodBill]

When the history books are written, George W. Bush is going to hold the distinction of being the last Republican social conservative ever elected. Like the teetotalling First Lady, Lemonaid Lucie Hayes, Bush is going to be an historical oddity. His very strange brand of Republicanism, kept very hidden until his reelection, is a dead end for the Republican Party. He is the equivalent of Jimmy Carter who somehow managed to get into the White House but was found out before the damage of a second term could happen.

There will be no more hotlines from Dr Dobson to the White House. No more Biblical rantings. No more disgusting scenes like the Terri Schiavo carnival. No more of the appropriately named Tony Perkins. And best of all NO MORE BUSHES EVER AGAIN!.

The Republican Party is about to enter the 21st Century. The moralizing busybody brigade is being disbanded. The Revival Tent is folding and being consigned to the sideroads of the Bible Belt where it belongs.

[FLindependant]

Good luck with it GOP.

[NYC07]

The Repubs are as skilled at trickery as a Three Card Monte dealer. They show you what you are supposed believe but keep the real card in their hand.

[Pookie2112]

LOL - For as much damage as the GOP has done to itself, it's gonna take more than "slick" marketing slogans to fix it! And it'll take many, many years ... how bad do I feel ...

[dontshootme]

As much as he was a lightning rod, the Republican party desperately misses someone like Newt Gingrich. The Republicans current leadership consists almost entirely of intellectual midgets. Moreover, say what you want about Gingrich. He was an insufferable egotist, but he was entertaining.

In my opinion that is another byproduct of the Bush era. The Republicans under George W. became much more disciplined as a party, but along the way, they became much more calculating and heartless. They were more interested on wedge issues like gay rights, instead of being focused on governing the country.

Right now, the republican party has no leadership, no vision, no direction and no moral compass. They are a party adrift and they are going to get a serious whuppin this November.

[AnotherTry]

If Obama were stronger on gay issues, this tactic would have no chance of winning.

As it stands, McCain might sneak in with women and white males.

Obama should come out in favor of full marriage equalitiy. If he doesn't he could lose.

[jsarets]

GOP 2008: We apologize for screwing everything up. We've changed. Please vote for us. Please?

[incontempt]

When did someone apologize?? did i miss it?....there will be Zero forgiveness, and very little without apologies to america and her people.

Time behind bars is what alot of the R's need, we cannot allow this abuse of our country to go unchecked, a clear example must be made of this party and their cohorts and they should start with a mass public apology on the steps of the perspective "bully pulpits"

If Republicans wanted change, they would investigate and prosecute law breakers in their own party, maybe to show they are not mass hypocrit's they should lead the impeachment of Bush/Cheney...but they are not serious.

[NWGuy]

Anyone who thinks that just because the republicans don't put in print what their agenda is, that that agenda has, in fact, been changed, is fooling themselves. After several stinging defeats, the republicans are now saying anything they think will get votes, again demonstrating their lack of integrity. Regardless of what they may say on their published 'agenda', they have not strayed from their 'anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-anything or anyone who isn't like me', and their 'profits trump everything every time' dogma.

[AmandaRuth]

so what are they going to run on, shoveling money to the rich and corporations?

[HippieChick]

"shoveling money to the rich and corporations"

Sounds like a solid GOP slogan to me; I heard they are looking for a new one.

[liberaldemdave]

i can't imagine this making anyone but the log cabin republicans happy!

sure can't make the georgia republicans happy!

this over at dKos: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/19/135621/485/291/518373

Georgia Republican Party chairwoman Sue Everhart said Saturday that the party's presumed presidential nominee has a lot in common with Jesus Christ.

"John McCain is kind of like Jesus Christ on the cross," Everhart said as she began the second day of the state GOP convention. "He never denounced God, either."

[Moxo]

"John McCain is kind of like Jesus Christ on the cross," Everhart said as she began the second day of the state GOP convention. "He never denounced God, either."

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How sad though that the Republican party forsake more than 95% of Americans.

[2008andbeyond]

I still don't trust the current leaders of that party but at least this moves them in the correct direction. Perhpas the current young GOP moderates who are fiscally conservative but socially and envionmentally responsible, fair and equal may lead that party from the abyss. I give them until after Obama's second term to truly change for the better.

[HippieChick]

"the current young GOP moderates who are fiscally conservative but socially and envionmentally responsible, fair and equal"

When will these people come out of hiding? I certainly have never met one.

[clearthinker2008]

It's a con game.

[KarateKid]

They are becoming more and more like Democrats every passing day. LMAO.

Next thing you know, they'll be pushing Affirmative Action and back the Sierra Club. It takes a fraud to not stick to their guns and change positions, but the way McCain is flip flopping, is this any surprise.

Hey, Republicans, and especially you neocons, bend over and kiss me where the sun don't shine.

[incontempt]

Aye...Flip-Floppers...LOL

[lisakaz2]

I guess they want Geraldine Ferraro, Taylor Marsh and Erica Jong to vote for McCain. If they can buy HRC's campaign lies, they'l buy ours!