They’ll never stop fighting the culture wars: Why the GOP won’t seize its “opportunity” to give up e

They’ll never stop fighting the culture wars: Why the GOP won’t seize its “opportunity” to give up extremism

SCOTUS decisions on marriage equality and Obamacare could let 2016 contenders turn the page. But they don’t want to

JOAN WALSH

Writing for the New York Times on Sunday, Jonathan Martin thought he found some good news for the GOP in the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality. Here’s how the headline put it: “As Left Wins Culture Battles, GOP Gains Opportunity to Pivot for 2016.”

That’s an “opportunity,” indeed.

Former Bush speechwriter David Frum laid it out this way: “Every once in a while, we bring down the curtain on the politics of a prior era. The stage is now cleared for the next generation of issues. And Republicans can say, ‘Whether you’re gay, black or a recent migrant to our country, we are going to welcome you as a fully cherished member of our coalition.’ ”

Or not.

Former Minnesota Tim Pawlenty tried another angle: Decisions about Obamacare, marriage equality and the Confederate flag get divisive issues off the table for the GOP. “Whether the presidential candidates agree or disagree with the results of all this, it allows them to say these issues have been settled and move on to things that offer more of a political home-field advantage,” the optimistic Pawlenty suggested. He neglected to say what those issues are. But there’s no evidence anyone is doing that.

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http://www.salon.com/2015/06/29/theyll_never_stop_fighting_the_culture_wars_why_the_gop_wont_seize_its_opportunity_to_give_up_extremism/