Let's Get This Straight. . . . .

The House of Representatives has scheduled a vote on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Never mind that very few people consider this issue as important as the war or the economy or integrity in government. Never mind that there are real questions about whether such an amendment would infringe on the religious liberties of those religious organizations that have chosen to bless same-sex unions, granting them God's blessing but not the state's. Never mind that this amendment, having been rejected by the Senate, isn't going anywhere. Never mind that the amendment might not get the support of the requisite two thirds of the states. The House is going to vote.
There's only one reason: The Republicans, who desperately need votes, are convinced that this issue will bring out people who would not otherwise vote to support Republican candidates. They want to at least associate Democrats with opposition to an amendment that shouldn't pass. What the Republicans do not want is a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage; such an amendment would deprive them of an issue that reliably brings out ill-informed people who the rest of us wish wouldn't vote anyway.
Don't believe these voters are all that bad or sufficiently numerous? Trust me; they are. In Virginia some years ago, Jim Gilmore ran for governor on the slogan "No Car Tax," which was a promise to end the personal property tax. (It wasn't quite what it seemed because the state couldn't end a county tax; it was actually a plan to reimburse. But it got Gilmore elected, and a few weeks later, the personal property tax bills went out. They had to. Gilmore's plan hadn't been passed by the legislature. Anyhow, people got their property tax bills, and some of those who had voted on the basis of the car tax immediately went to the revenue offices to point out that they were sure that the bill was a mistake; after all, they had voted for Mr. Gilmore, so they didn't have to pay the tax anymore. And when the economy went down the toilet, it became impossible to complete the plan.
It's time for Democrats to point out that the Republicans often make proposals that history teaches them will not succeed. The Republicans do this because they sound good to people who don't understand the issues or legislative processes very well. This is how we get Republican elected officials who can't cope with real issues; they're too busy promoting issues that aren't real.