California's Supreme Court ruled that gay couples in the nation's biggest state can marry. (PHOTO CREDIT: AP PHOTO)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
There's a chance the issue of gay marriage could make an appearance in yet another election cycle.
The ruling by California's Supreme Court yesterday to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage has put the issue back in the political spotlight. It's something the three presidential candidates pretty much agree on. John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton all oppose gay marriage – saying marriage should be between a man and a woman. They also say it should be up to the individual states to decide.
In 2004, Republicans used the issue of gay marriage to get socially conservative voters to come out and support President Bush in the battleground state of Ohio. But four years later it's very much an open question whether voters facing a shaky economy, skyrocketing gasoline prices, an ongoing war in Iraq will even make gay marriage a priority.
One Republican strategist told The New York Times, "At best, it doesn't move voters, and at worst for Republicans, it works against them." He says the GOP could face a backlash for focusing on gay marriage when there is so much more at stake. A gay rights group also says it doesn't see this being "the same kind of issue that it was in 2004."
A poll taken last fall found that 55% of those surveyed said gay marriage would be not at all important or not too important in their vote for president. And that was before gasoline was flirting with $4 a gallon and the economy was staring at a recession.
Here’s my question to you: Will California's decision to legalize gay marriage be a factor in the presidential election?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Susan from Georgia writes:
I don’t think so, Jack. We have too many crises in front of us. There will be some Republican hacks trying to bring this to the forefront, but I am more worried about how I can pay $4 for a gallon of gas than I am in what happens privately between two people.
Bill from New London, Connecticut writes:
The Republicans would probably love to bring up the debate. They want to scare voters into thinking Democrats are appeasing terrorists, performing late-term abortions, and teaching their children how to be gay. They try this kind of thing each and every time. It's gotten old.
Terry from Chandler, Arizona writes:
It very well may be an issue, a very divisive issue. It will be made even more divisive by the right-wing Christian militia that wants to control the Republican Party.
James writes:
As a gay guy, I say no it will not. I don’t really care if it is legal or not, and I don’t think with all the crap going on today anyone else will either! That is one of the reasons Bush was put in office, and I don’t think people will be that stupid again! There are too many other things that are more important.
Charles from Houston writes:
Well, Republicans can't win on issues relating to the Iraq War, the economy, gas prices, health care, or much anything else for that matter. So, as a cornered animal scrambling for an escape route, they will bring up the pathetically irrelevant issue of gay marriage.
Eddy from New York City writes:
Jack, Gas prices are at a record high, the value of the dollar is sinking, we’re fighting two wars, Americans are losing their homes and we are facing the greatest challenges of this generations. To even think that gay marriage should be a priority is what I think is wrong with this country.