Kisses from California

Not all the news is bad for Republicans.

For example, California reared its ugly head today, as the state supreme court did its best Massachusetts imitation and said that gay marriage is a guaranteed right under the state constitution:

“In view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship,” Chief Justice Ronald M. George wrote of marriage for the majority, “the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples.”

Why is this good for the GOP? Well, Barack Obama doesn't have a position on gay marriage. Or, more accurately, he holds every position one can hold. Its confusing, which is where Barack wants to position himself on all important topics:

Obama says that he personally believes that "marriage is between a man and a woman" but also says that "equality is a moral imperative" for gay and lesbian Americans. He advocates the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) because "federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does." He supports granting civil unions for gay couples, and in 2006 he opposed a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. In March 2007, Obama initially avoided answering questions about a controversial statement by a U.S. general that "homosexual acts" are "immoral," but Obama later told CNN's Larry King, "I don't think that homosexuals are immoral any more than I think heterosexuals are immoral."

Either he will anger all parties, or please all of them, or something in between. Which will ultimately help to reveal him for who he is, a politician who will slice and dice any issue faster than a Vegimatic if it will get him elected, rather than the Messiah that democrats believe him to be.

John McCain is more in line with mainstream America on the abortion question:

McCain says marriage should be between a man and a woman and should be regulated by the states. He opposed a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage because "it usurps from the states a fundamental authority they have always possessed." McCain endorsed a 2006 Arizona ballot initiative to limit marriage to be between a man and a woman and said, "I'm proud to have led an effort in my home state to change our state constitution and to protect the sanctity of marriage as between a man and woman." He also supported the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which banned federal recognition of gay marriage and domestic partnerships. He supports the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and says that to "even reopen the issue" would be a "terrific mistake."

This is a topic that energizes the base for the GOP, and helps McCain remind folks that he does hold some conservative positions.