Gays should marry like decent people

Timothy Kincaid of Box Turtle Bulletin asks the question: What does "conservative" mean? Does it mean a set of political positions? Does it mean a way of thinking to preserve a particular way of life? Which of these is more conservative: The Republican playboy who invests in risky schemes or the progressive Democrat with a wife, children, college fund, mortgage, and retirement savings?

Kincaid asks these questions because so many Republicans believe preserving a way of life and a particular set of political positions are the same thing. That leads to many in conservative regions concluding that if one doesn't believe the same political principles one can't possibly be working towards preservation of a way of life. Gays can't possibly be for the "right to marry, raise kids, live in a white picket fence neighborhood, volunteer for the local boy scout troop, and march in the Halloween Parade" (a big controversy in Anoka, Minn. at the moment). Gays only want marriage to destroy it from the inside. It must be true because people with strong (political) conservative credentials, who "obviously" are for tradition and family, say so.

Which is why it is so important for a bona fide conservative to spell out the conservative reason for gay marriage. He speaks their language, complete with appropriate allusions and dog whistles.

Kincaid brings all this up now because the latest person to speak the conservative reason for gay marriage is Ken Melman. He's famous for the 2004 Bush strategy of putting a slew of marriage protection amendments to help Bush keep his job. Melmen later came out as gay (I believe after Bush left office) and is working to make amends.

When this message eventually wins them over we'll hear conservatives rant about how gay guys should find a good man, get married, and raise a family like decent people.

Commenter Ray adds that unless one speaks the conservative language, many conservatives simply don't hear the message. And a conservative speaker is the only one who can point out what ideas aren't conservative. Too many Fundie religious leaders believe their religious views alone give them conservative cred and are surprised to learn their views are "actually more closely associated with liberalism’s tendency to nanny the country by force of law."