Gay Marriage Ban Struck Down In Polk County

Gay Marriage Ban Struck Down In Polk County
National Ripple Effect?

Today's ruling in favor of gay marriage, in the largest county in the first (?) caucus state, could have a national ripple effect on the presidential campaign. Will the hot-button issue move to the national front burner again?

On the Democratic side, only long shot candidate Dennis Kucinich supports gay marriage. The other contenders support civil unions. But the ruling may increase pressure on the front runners to support true equality, and complicate the balancing act of attracting progressives to win a nomination without alienating general election swing voters. It would be interesting to see how a stance of persuasive leadership, ahead of public opinion, would play coming from a top tier candidate.

Larry Craig's sad, self-hateful story is the polar opposite of the committed, lifelong relationships of the six Iowa couples who were plaintiffs in this case. But the Republican Party's overnight abandonment of Craig illustrates the GOP's deep hostility to all things gay. The impact on the Republican nominating contest will be a race to condemn the ruling and outdo each other rhetorically. It may also re-focus attention on Rudy Giuliani's relatively moderate social views. Rudy's no gay marriage backer, but he's clearly more comfortable with gay issues and gay people than the rest of the field.

Republican legislators are already saying the gay marriage issue needs immediate attention in January's session. Will the motivated and enraged conservative base demand action even sooner -- say, at a special session? They can't call one, as Democrats control the gears. But there's been some discussion of a possible special legislative session to amend Iowa's "eight days before any other nominating contest" law. Could this issue complicate that already difficult question?

(Also: I kicked in on Chase's Iowa Independent story.)