Colorado Republicans Abandon Social Issues

Back in 2005, after Democrats took control of the state legislature for the first time in 40 years yet Republicans continued to hammer away on nonsensical social issues, then-Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff shot back, "We're talking about the budget, and they're talking about bestiality."

And last fall, after social conservatives' anti-abortion ballot measure, Amendment 48, failed by landslide margins statewide (including 65-35% in El Paso County, home to Focus on the Family), I wrote, "Social issues are like rocking in a rocking chair. They give you something to do, but they really don't take you anywhere."

After losing the governor's mansion, two Senate seats, the majority of House delegation (Dems hold a 5-2 advantage), and control of the state legislature for five straight years, Republicans appear to have finally learned their lesson.

Longtime political reporter Lynn Bartels writes on the front page of today's Denver Post, "Stung by electoral defeats and eager to take advantage of voter unease, Colorado Republicans are largely avoiding discussion of divisive social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage to instead focus on the economy and jobs."

But voters shouldn't be fooled -- the campaigns may have changed, but the opinions haven't:

Republicans recognize the talking points have changed.

"It doesn't mean that anyone has relinquished their convictions or given up hope of seeing their convictions in policy at some point," said former state Senate President John Andrews, R-Centennial.

It remains to be seen if this political kumbayah can survive a divisive Republican primary that lasts until next summer. The intolerant wing of the Republican party is notoriously intolerant of its own candidates.

Comments

[JahfreFireEater]

Secular conservatism is the only political paradigm that respects every individual no matter if they are from the far-left or the far right. Every other "ism" has at its core, the tenet of total elimination of the opposition...by force. Secular conservatism rests on 5 principles:
1. Rule of Law - as opposed to the arbitrary rule of men that the left and the right crave.
2. Individual Liberty - The far-left and far-right see oppression of the individual and elimination of diversity as the only way for their victory.
3. Limited government - NOT just small government, of smaller government, but LIMITED government. Limits that were supposed to be embodied in the US Constitution but have horribly failed as both the right and the left have turned us into a nation of slaves to the government.
4. Free Enterprise - no government manipulation or regulation on business is the only way to let the failures fail and encourage the best and brightest to lead the way.
5. the freedom to defend the other 4 principles against all oppressors both foreign and domestic.

Anyone who attends regular GOP meetings know today's headline is just pot stirring nonsense. Unfortunately the GOP is still run by social conservatives who abhor these 5 tenets of secular conservatism...but it is still the only game in town. Dems could never give up their fear and hatred and the need to control their neighbors long enough to embrace any of these principles.
-Jahfre Fire Eater

[antmousie]

Seems to be a mirror of the national Repubs. Those who are fiscal conservatives seem to be afraid to admit that the one minded social conservatives are hurting the party. Works better for Dems. Maybe, they can get some sort of health care reform passed. I hope.

[propitiousmoment]

Let them eat each other. We'll get on with the business of repairing the country.