Is the GOP Finally Accepting the Inevitability of Gay Marriage?

Yesterday I had lunch with Wayne Coleman who had been the GOP candidate for the Virginia Senate seat vacated by Ralph Northam when he became Lt. Governor.  Coleman lost the election by less than a dozen votes and will admit that as a first time candidate he had made some missteps and had been portrayed negatively.  Having run for political office myself 20 years ago, I know all too well that they are few things more brutal and that the media and one's opponent will do all they can to destroy you.   At the time I ran for office, I was depicted as being "Christian Right" - I joked with Coleman that I guess I'd had the last laugh on that one.  Our lunch meeting was in follow up to our conversation at the HRBOR Third Thursday in March and the purpose was to (i) allow Coleman to let me get to know him and prove to me that he is no bigot, and (ii) for me to enlighten him on LGBT issues and prove to him that I am not a wild eyed bomb thrower.  I think we both accomplished our goals and I could easily see Coleman at a dinner party at our home in the future.  We both agree that the Christofascists are killing the GOP.

How does this relate to the title of this post?  Because it underscores that some in the GOP are coming to realize that not only is same sex marriage on a nationwide basis is inevitable, but that it is something that they need to support. A piece in The Daily Beast looks at the changing attitudes within the GOP outside of the Christofascist/Tea Party elements of the GOP.  Here are some excerpts:

Conventioneers at the Nevada Republican Party just did a remarkable thing. They decided Republicans should be consistent with their philosophy of more freedom and less government—so they eliminated opposition to gay marriage from their party platform.

And now there is a move to change anti-gay language in the national GOP platform. A group called Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, which includes Margaret Hoover (who is married to Daily Beast editor in chief John Avlon), Abby Huntsman, Meghan McCain, and Tyler Deaton, announced Wednesday that they are launching a $1 million campaign to eliminate harsh language and replace it with unifying framing, while still respecting differing views on marriage within the party.

The goal of the campaign is to reform the national platform. To do so, Young Conservatives are traveling to the four early primary states—New Hampshire, Iowa, Nevada, and South Carolina—this spring and summer to talk to elected and rank-and-file Republicans.

The reform-the-platform campaign is a response to the Republican National Committee Growth and Opportunity Project report (PDF) and the College Republicans report (PDF), both of which say the party has a major problem with younger voters.

Gay marriage is the last frontier of civil rights in this country. But the train is at last leaving the station.  And it’s picking up steam fast. Recent polling reveals that 61 percent of Republicans under 30 now support gay marriage. Ten federal court judges in a row have now ruled favorably on the issue, two of them appointed by Republican presidents.

Towering Republican figures such as Ted Olson, who successfully argued the recount before the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore, and former Wyoming senator Alan Simpson, who recently starred in an ad extolling the values of marriage for everyone, are helping to lead the fight, sending a strong signal that it’s time the GOP shifted gears.

Obviously, once gay marriage goes mainstream even within the GOP hate groups like Family Research Council and The Family Foundation here in Virginia will be facing major fundraising catastrophes and folks like Tony Perkins, Brian Brown and Victoria Cobb may be faced with the terrifying prospects of (i) having to get real jobs instead of peddling hate, and (ii) no longer being able to force their hate/fear based religion on others.

Democrat Jennifer Wexton Wins Virginia 33rd District Senate Race

With the election of Ralph Northam and Mark Herring to statewide office, Republicans h, Jr. 37.50%ad hoped to manage to take control of the Virginia Senate.  Based on tonight's results in the 33rd Senate District, Democrats will now control the Senate so long as Lynwood Lewis prevails in the recount for the 6th Senate District.   With 100% of precincts reporting, the uncertified results are as follows:

Democrat Jennifer T. Wexton 52.71%
Republican John C. L. Whitbeck 37.50%
Independent Joe T. May  9.78%

That's right, even with the Independent and Republican votes combined, Jennifer Wexton (pictured at right above) would have won.  The Democrat Party made the following announcement:

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) Executive Director Michael Sargeant has released the following statement on today's win by Democrat Jennifer Wexton in the special election for Virginia's 33rd Senate District: 

"I want to congratulate Senator-Elect Jennifer Wexton on her victory in tonight's special election for the Virginia Senate," said Sargeant.  "Wexton's victory marks not only the continuation of Democrats' 2012 effort that won majorities in eight state legislative chambers, but also the beginning of a 2014 election cycle about which the DLCC feels strongly optimistic."

"I also wish to recognize the team effort - including the Wexton Campaign, Governor McAuliffe, the Virginia Senate Democrats, and the DLCC - that made this victory possible," Sargeant continued.

"Tonight's victory shows Virginians' eagerness for pragmatic, Democratic leadership after watching the Tea Party run amok in their state.  Senator-Elect Wexton is a dedicated public servant, and we wish her well in the state Senate." 

Back to the 6th District, I wish Lewis had run a stronger, more forceful campaign.  I continue to hope that he prevails, but it does suggest that running a strong campaign is critical and that one should never assume a cake walk.  

And win or lose, I still intend to meet with Republican Wayne Coleman and try to get the message across that anti-gay bigotry is a long term loser for the Virginia GOP regardless of whatever lies and bullshit Victoria Cobb and hate merchants at The  Family Foundation may claim.

Virginia 6th District: Lewis Ahead By 22 Votes over Coleman

Lewis

I hate to say it, but with only a margin of 22 votes in favor of Del. Lynwood Lewis, a lot of Democrats and progressives sat on their asses today and failed to vote.  Of course, these same folks will be the ones who whine and bitch the most if Coleman somehow wins and they suddenly see abortion completely outlawed, contraception restricted, and gay and minority rights utterly trashed under a GOP controlled Virginia Senate.  Unlike lazy Democrats, the extremists in the GOP base get out and vote regardless of cold temperature or inclement weather.  One can only hope that Lewis prevails. Once again I find myself thinking that maybe it is time to leave Virginia.  The Virginian Pilot reports as follows:

Democrat Lynwood Lewis, a longtime Eastern Shore state delegate, has a 22-vote lead over Republican Wayne Coleman, a Norfolk businessman, according to the preliminary results posted on the Virginia Board of Elections website.

The two candidates are vying to replace Virginia Sen. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, who was elected lieutenant governor.

The 6th District includes 25 precincts in Norfolk, one in Virginia Beach - the Chesapeake Beach precinct - and all of Accomack, Northampton and Mathews counties.

The race will help determine which party controls the Senate. The chamber is now split 20-20 between Republicans and Democrats.

Both parties have pulled out all the stops, pouring money into the campaigns.

 

Vote Today For Lynwood Lewis - 6th District Special Election Today

Given the rank ignorance that is now main stream thought in the Republican Party of Virginia as evidenced by the last post, it is all the more important that Del. Lynwood Lewis (pictured at left) be elected in today's special election to fill the seat vacated by Lt. Governor elect Ralph Northam.  Lewis' opponent, Wayne Coleman, is an adherent to all the usual bigotry and extremism that now defines the Republican Party of Virginia.  Coleman even blamed desegregation for the decline of public education in Virginia.  If you live in the 6th Senate District, PLEASE get out and vote for Lynwood Lewis today!  We do not need another Republican crackpot/extremist in the Virginia Senate.

Wayne Coleman - A Ken Cuccinelli Clone?

Another Cuccinelli?

The special election to fill the Virginia Senate seat vacated by Lt. Governor elect Ralph Northam is on Tuesday, January 7, 2014.  The race pits Democrat Lynwood Lewis against GOP newcomer Wayne Coleman.  Coleman is trying to depict himself as a new kind of Republican and a "different kind of candidate", but from his ads and the positions on his website, he is sadly just a warmed over version of the same old anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-minority Virginia Republican that voters rejected in November.  The world and Virginia are changing, yet Coleman wants to continue the same failed GOP policies that have placed a "Not Welcome" sign on Virginia for anyone who isn't a white, evangelical Christian, heterosexual.  Don't believe me?

First, most of Coleman's campaign ads sound as if they were pulled directly from Ken Cuccinelli's failed campaign, especially those attacking Lynwood Lewis on "Obamacare." These ads are little more than a dog whistle for the racists in the GOP base who cannot countenance a black man in the White House.  Why do I say this?  Because Coleman's ads ignore the fact that the Affordable Health Care Act is a FEDERAL LAW.  A Virginia state senator can do NOTHING to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act, yet Coleman dishonestly plays this dog whistle meme. The only thing a Virginia state senator can vote on is whether or not Virginia expands Medicaid and accepts federal funds that will otherwise go to other states.  Oh, and did I mention that Medicaid expansion would bring health care coverage to 400,000 Virginians and create thousands of health care industry jobs?

Second, Coleman's ads claim that Lewis is pursuing a "radical agenda."  This supposedly radical agenda is resisting GOP voter suppression efforts, ending the state sponsored GOP jihad against gays, and getting Republicans out of women's vaginas.  It is Coleman, not Lewis who is pushing the radical agenda.

For the record, Coleman's daughter has contacted me and she seems like a lovely person.  She claims that her father isn't a racist and the ad in which she is featured depicts Coleman as a good father.  Unfortunately, being a good father and person in his personal life doesn't carry over into the public policies that Coleman is espousing: God, guns, gay bashing - and voter disenfranchisement. I've offered to meet with Coleman and be proven wrong on my analysis, but he has not taken up the offer.

I encourage voters in the 6th District to get out and vote for Lynwood Lewis on Tuesday, January 7, 2014.  We need to block the GOP effort to take control of the Virginia Senate in order that the GOP's failed, backward in time facing agenda can be forced on all Virginians.

Daily Press and Virginian Pilot Endorse Lynwood Lewis

Listening to the political ads for the special election to fill the Virginia Senate seat of Lt. Governor elect Ralph Northam on January 7, 2014, is enlightening.  Despite what some have said about GOP candidate Wayne Coleman not being a typical Republican, his campaign ads are the same old angry attack ads that one has come to associate with the Virginia GOP.  In addition, Coleman has said little about what policies he supports other than the usual GOP sound bites, including the usual denunciations of gays and abortion.  Apparently, the Virginian Pilot and Daily Press have taken note.  Both have endorsed Democrat Lynwood Lewis for the 6th Senate District seat.  Here are highlights from the Daily Press endorsement:

The forces acting on the special election in Virginia Senate District 6 make the race a compelling one for voters and observers. All were weighed in our endorsement process, and made for a strong conclusion in favor of Del. Lynwood Lewis ascending to the General Assembly's upper chamber.

The Democrat, who faces Republican Wayne Coleman in the Jan. 7 election, has firm footing on the issues, a solid grounding in the district and a record of compromise. Those qualities make him a strong candidate for higher office and the better option in this race.

Democrat Lynwood Lewis, 52, is a five-term delegate who in November won another two years in the General Assembly serving residents of District 100. He is a native of Nassawadox who earned degrees at Hampden-Sydney College and the University of Richmond School of Law.

In terms of geographic size, District 6 may be the largest in the state, stretching from the Maryland state line down the eastern shore to central Norfolk and as far west as Mathews County. A majority of its population comes from Norfolk, but residents of Accomack and Northhampton counties are included with some from Matthews and Virginia Beach.

Del. Lewis has leveraged his public office to create jobs at Wallops Island on the eastern shore, advocated on behalf of expanding the port and been a determined defender of the environment. That he has accomplished these things as a Democrat in a Republican-controlled legislature speaks to his willingness and ability to compromise.

[A]s he touts his business acumen, Mr. Coleman also calls into question his preparedness for life in the public square. He recently appeared on a radio show and claimed that busing during integration led to the decline of public schools, an amazingly short-sighted and wrong-headed remark.

While Virginia's is a citizen legislature, its members should have at least some polish. Recent years have demonstrated the folly of empowering those prone to speaking before thinking. The commonwealth will struggle to project itself as a moderate, pro-business state without a government that reflects some level of maturity when discussing complex issues.

[T]he race here comes down to who best represents the district. In this case, Del. Lewis' record of moderate leadership while serving his constituents should win the day.  District 6 has a difficult decision to make early next year and there is no perfect candidate. Del. Lewis represents the better choice and voters should support him at the polls.

Conservative Blog Slams Wayne Coleman for Desegregation Remarks

While most of the GOP base in Virginia has become comprised of a mix of white supremacists, raging homophobes, religious fanatics and angry whites resentful over the loss of the white privilege that they long enjoyed, there are still pockets of sanity within the Virginia GOP.  Admittedly, these pockets of sanity are growing increasingly scare.  Some of these still sane Republicans can be found at the blog Bearing Drift.  They may not win any points with the Tea Party, but they do still have a grip on reality -something sadly missed from the GOP overall.  Here are highlights from Bearing Drift that trash GOP candidate Wayne Coleman (at right) who sought to blame all of Virginia's education challenges on scholl desegregation:

On a recent local morning radio program in Hampton Roads, Republican state Senate candidate Wayne Coleman decided that it would be a good time to comment about how busing in the 1970s was the downfall of education – despite not being asked that question specifically.

We live in an era where the black community votes as a bloc nearly 9:1 for the Democrats. And, in the urban environment of Norfolk, where the black population is 43%, and predominantly makes up the 6th Senate District, saying something that can only come across as offensive is not only wrong, but a losing proposition.

This was nothing but an unforced error.

The reality is that Coleman is, in the vernacular, an OWG (Old White Guy). Having an OWG say something on the radio that seems to come across as “things were better before desegregation” is not only likely to offend black voters, but to inspire them to vote Democrat. 

Coleman was already facing an uphill battle in the 6th District, which has only been held by a Republican for a handful of years over the past several decades. He needed to run a gaffe-free, perfect campaign in order to win.

He hasn’t. And all the explanations, retractions, and clarifications won’t help him now.

Additionally, it is well past time for blacks and whites to have a reasonable discussion on race. That won’t happen until everyone starts looking forward, with a vision of equality and community. Looking to the past and laying blame is not acknowledging the present and looking for solutions.

I hate to break the news to the author at Bearing Drift, but most of the GOP base is made up of OWG's.  And that's who Coleman was speaking to in the hope that their racism, homophobia and bigotry would make Coleman their darling.