Welcome To Charlotte, Where Everyone Wants To Talk Social Issues

From Talking Points Memo:

Stop us if you’ve heard this one: A major political party, trying to rekindle the flame of enthusiasm that died down to the embers after a presidential term that didn’t live up to expectations is turning to social issues — and fear of radical social change — to rally its base back to the polls.

No, it’s not the Republican Party of 2004. It’s the Democrats in 2012. With the establishment GOP and its nominee, Mitt Romney, trying to keep a lid on its social views, Democrats see a window of opportunity on same-sex marriage and abortion rights. And on the first night of their convention here, they hammered away at social messaging in a way that the conservative right could only dream about last week in Tampa.

More here.

This continues to fascinate me.

It's not that the Democrats are apparently now brave enough to rhetorically support stuff that they've always ostensibly supported as much as it's how the cultural wedge issues, used for decades now by the right, are now working in reverse, apparently. That is, issues like gay rights, abortion, race, and the like, have been go-to weapons for the GOP: the idea is to break apart Democratic coalitions on progressive economics by freaking out groups who would ordinarily be voting against the Republicans.

Oh, so you want better pay and more social services? Well, GAYS ARE GOING TO RAPE YOUR KIDS IN SCHOOL!!!! THE BLACKS ARE GOING TO STEAL YOUR CAR AND SLIT YOUR THROAT AND HAVE SEX WITH YOUR DAUGHTER!!! AND DEMOCRATS EAT FETUSES, I MEAN BABIES!!!

It seems like such alarmism no longer packs the punch it did back in the day. Not only that, but it also seems like embracing these social issues is having the effect on Republican coalitions that it used to have on the Democrats. Lots of Republicans now support gay rights, abortion rights, and are totally cool on race and immigration. They now have to think twice if they really want to support a party that seems batshit crazy as far as culture goes.

Pass the popcorn; this is getting fun!

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