DOMA Dying

The tide has seemed to turn on the question of the Defense of Marriage Act. While one never knows what this surprisingly conservative court will do, the oral arguments seemed to follow popular sentiment about the question of Gay Marriage -- which is essentially to allow it. So what do conservatives have to say about the potential of losing one of their central wedge issues (unquestionably playing a huge role in the 2004 reelection of Bush)? Bill O'Reilly offered an interesting perspective on the matter: 

"The compelling argument is on the side of homosexuals," O'Reilly said during a segment with Fox colleague Megyn Kelly on the Supreme Court hearings. "That's where the compelling argument is. We're Americans, we just want to be treated like everyone else. That's a compelling argument. And to deny that, you've got to have a compelling argument on the other side. And the other side hasn't been able to do anything but thump the bible." (See Clip Here)

Unfortunately, the rest of the hateocracy was less rational in their assessment of the potential overthrow of what appeared from the start to be an unconstitutional bill. Rush Limbaugh argued that Bill O’Reilly “marginalized” Fox News viewers by claiming that those who opposed same-sex marriage haven’t been able to do anything but thump a Bible: “So how many of you who watch Fox are Bible thumpers? Do you think there are any Bible thumpers that watch Fox? Because last night you were sort of marginalized on ‘The Factor’ as not having a compelling argument and just being a bunch of Bible thumpers,” the conservative radio host said on his program . . ."  

And Mike Huckabee claimed the conservative right would abandon the GOP if they support gay marriage (Crooks & Liars). Where they will go is the obvious first question, but those Christian fundamentalists are again showing their love of Jesus and hate of just about everyone else. Abortion is still on the table as is gun control, though the Democrats and President seem to have already given up on banning assault weapons, but it looks like gay marriage and immigration reform could soon go the way of Clinton's impeachment. This would be good news for moderate Republicans but maybe good news for progressives as well, as Democrats losing those issues would mean they might have to actually do something about the economy.