As Left Wins Culture Battles, G.O.P. Gains Opportunity to Pivot for 2016

… Privately, some of the strategists advising Republican hopefuls believe the last week has been nothing short of a gift from above — a great unburdening on issues of race and sexuality, and on health care a disaster averted. Rhetorical opposition to the Affordable Care Act will still be de […] Read more »

In a fast-changing culture, can the GOP get in step with modern America?

… Across the cultural landscape, the national consensus is evolving rapidly, epitomized by this year’s convulsions of celebrity, social issues and politics — from the acceptance of Caitlyn Jenner’s gender identity to Pope Francis’s climate-change decree to the widespread shunning of the Confederate flag. Then came Friday’s landmark Supreme Court […] Read more »

G.O.P. Hopefuls Denounce Marriage Equality Ruling

Across the country, among people of all ages and religions, the acceptance of same-sex marriage has grown with stunning speed. But not in the leadership of the Republican Party. … With public opinion moving so unambiguously away from support for restricting marriage to heterosexual couples, the Republican National Committee has […] Read more »

A GOP conundrum: How does a 2016 candidate play the gay marriage ruling?

… Republicans running for president face a choice in responding to the court’s ruling. They could try to use the strong emotions same-sex marriages evoke as a way to mobilize conservative voters in primaries, but potentially at the cost of undermining their campaigns in next year’s general election. Or they […] Read more »