Some conservative organizations sharply disagreed with Bush and pressed him to seek a constitutional amendment that would ban both gay marriage and civil unions.
"Civil unions are a government endorsement of homosexuality," said Robert Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute, an affiliate of Concerned Women For America. "But I don't think President Bush has thought about it in that way. He seems to be striving for neutrality while defending marriage itself."
From this MSNBC article
So Bush favors civil unions now and is pissing off his base. I couldn't be happier. Not because I think Bush's support of civil unions is any sort of serious policy shift (filp-flop?), but because I think he has decided that his gay rights tactic was wrong.
That's a win for three reasons:
1) The toothpaste don't go back in the tube.
There's no way Bush can just brush off the stench of his horrid federal marriage amendment. People know him to be the anti-gay candidate and a last minute tack to the center won't change that.
2) The religious right are absolutists.
Thay never just wanted the FMA, they really want biblical rule which includes outlawing homosexuality. They oppose civil unions of any sort, and they are hyper-aware of the election right now. This isn't going to help turn out their vote, although I suspect it won't hurt it too much either.
3) That wedge isn't big enough anymore.
This about-face has made it clear that running the gay wedge isn't seen to be a winner for Bush. This means that candidates will think twice about doing it in the future and makes it known that pissing of the gays can cost you politically. The issue isn't as charged as it used to be for the average voter and that's good for us.