Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS is out with a new ad defending GOP Rep. Cory Gardner from criticism of
his constant flailing on choice, personhood, and contraception, but instead of directly defending Gardner, the ad dismisses women who care about his views as "single-issue voters" and instead attacks Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) for supporting President Obama. Here's the transcript:
WOMAN 1: I want a real conversation about the issues important that matter.
WOMAN 2: Unfortunately, after 15 years in Washington, political scare tactics are all Mark Udall has left.
WOMAN 3: We aren't single-issue voters. We care about good jobs that support our families.
WOMAN 4: And making ends meet.
WOMAN 2: Shouldn't Mark Udall talk about the issues?
WOMAN 3: Udall voted against Keystone.
WOMAN 4: Udall votes with Obama 99 percent of the time.
VOICEOVER: Let's vote no on Mark Udall.
Whoever wrote the script clearly intended to attack Udall, but saying that women who care about whether a candidate has a 19th century view of reproductive freedom are "single-issue voters" makes the ad an attack on them. Moreover, by not addressing the concerns of these alleged "single-issue voters," the ad implicitly acknowledges that there isn't a credible way to defend Gardner's
perpetually shifting position on personhood, contraception, and choice.
And, as Greg Sargent points out, the ad is a tacit acknowledgement that social issues aren't what they used to be for the GOP. Their culture wars no longer offer them a path to victory. Instead, as Laura Clawson notes, social issues have become a liability for Republicans—a problem to be managed, not a wedge to be exploited.