Can The GOP Leopard Really Change Its Spots?

For the upcoming mid-terms, some GOP politicians are going for a little image makeover on some social issues.  Not exactly "reinventing the party,"  but maybe a half-step in the right direction.  Maybe.


In today's political euphemisms, "women's health" is code for abortion rights.  Republicans have been  anti-abortion forever.  Repealing Roe v. Wade is always a plank in their national platform.

So here comes Ohio's Wonder Guv, John Kasich, with a new ad telling us he's all about women's health.  Because he has a wife and two daughters and they're, like, women, see?  And he's in favor of breast cancer research, a disease that impacts mostly women.  And he expanded MedicAid to bring health care to more Ohioans, about half of which are women.

But . . . Kaysuck appointed two unqualified anti-abortion zealots to the State Medical Board, and signed the GOP-crafted state budget bill which contains extreme anti-abortion provisions and funding cuts.  So much for women's health advocacy.


Some of the more practical R's around the country are reevaluating their party's long-held opposition to gay marriage and LGBT rights.  DOMA, the old anti-gay federal law, is dead.  The Supreme Court just refused to hear appeals to restore unconstitutional marriage bans in five states.  Even DOMA proponent Ohio Sen. Robbie Portman is now OK with gay marriage (because his own son came out.)

But . . . Kaysuck is still against gay marriage, the Ohio constitution still prohibits it, and the Wonder Guv defends that prohibition.  When a federal judge ordered Ohio to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, Kasich objected and ordered AG Mike DeWine to appeal the ruling.  So . . . yeah.

(And on the wacko end of the spectrum, former Arkansas governor, failed presidential candidate and current Fox-bot Mike Huckabee has threatened to leave the GOP if they ever support gay marriage.  Hey Huckabee!  Huck off!!)

After all these years of Republicans peddling hate and fear, a suddenly softer stance seems merely convenient.  Their talk is cheap.