During my years in politics, I've learned that there are three main types of politicos.
First, there are those who are well-ahead of public on the issues and advocate for them even if not popular (i.e., the visionary type). Al Gore is an excellent example, as he tried to raise the red flag on the environment and was one of the very early opponents of the Iraq War. Similarly, former President George H.W. Bush was also prescient on many foreign policy matters during his term, especially his unpopular decision not to march to Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf War. Howard Dean is another.
The second type are a category I'd describe as the stubborn old goats. Those politicos cling to positions well after the real debate is over and public opinion has embraced it. Sen. James Inhofe's continued blather about global warming being a hoax is a classic example, as are those who continue to argue against stem cell research.
The third type are the calculating political opportunists. These folks generally have few core values and try to anticipate a tipping point on a major issue and then quickly shift allegiances so that they can be on the "right side" as things settle. These people don't simply flip on issues due to the prevailing political winds. Instead, they are very thoughtful and calculating, always looking to get a strong head start on upcoming political change and positioning themselves to profit on their timing. You might call them political ambulance chasers.
Per a story on CNN today, allow me to highlight a classic example of this latter type:
Steve Schmidt, a key architect of John McCain's presidential campaign, is making his first public return to Washington a bold one.
Schmidt will use a speech Friday to Log Cabin Republicans, a gay rights group, to urge conservative Republicans to drop their opposition to same-sex marriage, CNN has learned.
"There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage," Schmidt will say, according to speech excerpts obtained by CNN. "I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one's liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage."
...In his speech Friday, Schmidt will acknowledge that his is a "minority view" in the GOP, but will also say, "I'm confident American public opinion will continue to move on the question toward majority support, and sooner or later the Republican Party will catch up to it."
I think there is little doubt that the recent developments on the gay marriage front (Iowa Supreme Court decision, Vermont state law, introduction of legislation in New York) have forced the issue beyond the tipping point. Those first dominoes have fallen and nothing is going to stop this from being accepted public policy in a matter of years, especially in a place like California where Schmidt resides and does business.
So while it is great to see people like Schmidt so dramatically shift their positions on such a hot-button political issue, we should all clearly realize see this for what it is: political ambulance chasing. But we should welcome him to the scene nonetheless.
Mark Nickolas is the managing editor of Political Base.
Follow Mark Nickolas on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mnickolas
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CBS has recently released a series of emails between Palin and McCain strategist Steve Schmidt that happened during the campaign. The date? Joe the Plumber minus three hours.
The gay marriage debate is emblematic of the chaotic political climate that has crystallized since the last election. I would posit that the current turmoil is, in large part, less about contrasting ideologies--which I see as symptomatic--than the beginnings of a demographic shift in the present and emergent voting populace.
I am 29 (A "Cold-Y" Millenial who remembers Reagan and the fall of the USSR)...let me give you an idea of just why the ascension of my generation has such profound political implications. My teenage years--where I was unusually politically engaged for my age--took place through the Clinton election, the "Gingrich revolution/Class of '94" and the myriad of political folly that ensued. My first presidential vote was cast for Al Gore, with the resulting tenure of G.W. Bush cementing my resolve in the area of grassroots organizing.
The trend that is quite clearly emerging suggests the shift in influence from the Boom generation to generations X and Y. As a whole, both of the aforementioned have much more liberal (in the non-political sense) attitudes toward race and sexuality. As my grandparent's generation passes and the Boom generation ages, these more progressive stances come to represent the majority opinion on social mores.
Schmidt recognizes that these values are, demographically, almost assured to be the future conventional wisdom and, as such, sees the wisdom in hopping on the bandwagon.
He is still an opportunist.
It won't go un-noticed.
http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid60725.asp
Bravo to Steve Schmidt for finally being able to embrace and publicly state his support for the truth on the issue of LGBTQ rights.
But I think we should "welcome him to the scene" without labeling him as anything. Why make it any more difficult for others on his side to do the right thing?
I hated most of the campaign he ran against Obama, but they were desperately trying to win instead of respectably lose.
If you knew what Schmidt has done in California, you wouldn't have written this. But it's just blogging, right?
Gays will ever regret it if they fall for this one. The leopard cannot change its skin overnight, more so, at will.
Steve Schmidt is a fraud.
great article.
I was just wondering how you survived the 8 years of Bush. Does this bad economy mean anything to you?
It seems that there are some in the LGBT community who will embrace the present day GOP with all its racist and horrid slants if only they would just endorse gay marriage..
It's pretty curious and shocking...and Charles Moran comes to mind as one heck of a racist, hatefilled gay guy, even though he argues endlessly and unconvincingly for what he says are his "fiscally conservative" reasons for being a part of this farce...
Carol