Cross-posted at Lipamphleteer
In 2004, Republicans used ballot initiatives banning gay marriage in 11 states to drive Conservative turn-out and sway close elections. The New York Times explains:
But the ballot measures also appear to have acted like magnets for thousands of socially conservative voters in rural and suburban communities who might not otherwise have voted, even in this heated campaign, political analysts said. And in tight races, those voters - who historically have leaned heavily Republican - may have tipped the balance.
In Ohio, for instance, political analysts credit the ballot measure with increasing turnout in Republican bastions in the south and west, while also pushing swing voters in the Appalachian region of the southeast toward Mr. Bush. The president's extra-strong showing in those areas compensated for an extraordinarily large Democratic turnout in Cleveland and in Columbus, propelling him to a 136,000-vote victory.
It looks like Islamophobia is the new gay marriage. If you thought Republicans were exploiting mosque openings for political advantage in 2010, most prominently in New York City, you aight seen nothing yet. With Peter King's (a known
terrorist sympathizer) hearings on
Islamic radicalization scheduled to begin tomorrow, it looks like Anti-Sharia movements and Islamophobia will be the new gay marriage. After Oklahoma passed a
Sharia ban more
states are jumpingon the band wagon. This time around, Anti-Sharia initiatives will be a twofer for the GOP. In states that pass legislation before election day 2012, the Courts will likely find the acts unconstitutional. A federal Judge has already
enjoined the Oklahoma initiative. So, in the states that don't already have initiatives or bills, the GOP can push ballot initiatives. When Courts strike down Anti-Sharia legislation or initiatives in other states (the judge in OK enjoined the law in less than a month after passage), they can cry about judicial activism. Sounds like a win-win for the GOP.
For more go here, here, or here.