Is it me or....

[Il Medico]

Does there seem to be a resurgence in strong homophobic positions in mainstream conservative politics? I mean, don't get me wrong, Republicans politicians have always been homophobic but it just seems so much more blatant and acceptable for them to let it show in comparison to just a few years ago. For example, here is both McCain and Plain (2008 presidential ticket)talking about homosexuality:

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And now Rick Perry, a legitimate candidate for the Republican nomination (and one time front runner's) new political ad:
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Combine that with the well known homophobic opinions of other candidates like Bachman and Santorum and you could half mistake this primary for an anti-gay rally.

So whats up with this? In 2008, they had to dance around their homophobic views and assure everyone that they love gay people just to even have a shot at being the presidential candidate, now the candidates are wearing their homophobic views like badge of honor.

This is a rather worrying shift.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

It sounds as bad as it ever did to me.

[socialistjustin]

This has always been their go to issue. In 2004 they basically created a campaign on Gay issues, even doing robocalls talking about that issue. Sure, it took a break in 2008, but that was because the sky was falling as far as the economy was concerned.

[Lenina Rosenweg]

It could be because Obama "outflanked" the right on the left. That is he was enthusiastically supported by the lgbt non-profits and mainstream organisations.In turn of course he did very little for lgbt people. Its similar to the way NARAL and other feminist groups tried to compromise with the right. "We don't like abortions either". Women's reproductive rights were increasingly eroded.People were demobilized.The mainstream lgbt movement was largely demobilized in support of Obama, This of course encouraged the homophobia of the right.

On top of this is the fact that with the crisis of capital accumulation ever more severe, the right is more and more blatantly anti-worker. The repuke candidates don't even try to hide this. No "a raising tide raises all boats" crap. People like Newt Gangrene openly snarl contempt at the working class and his petty bourgeois audience eats it up.

[Lenina Rosenweg]

Didn't several Repuke candidates sign some pledge recently that if elected they promised to "investigate" the lgbt movement? Who knows, PFLAG or the HRC could have links with Al Qaeda or the Taliban!

I don't have a link, I'm tired but I read that recently.

[Tablo]

The 2008 election campaigns were far more tame than the current ones. Just listen to McCain talk respectfully of Clinton. What seems to be happening is a radicalization in this country. People are all moving further right and left with far less people taking up positions as moderates. Another difference in this campaign is that the left leaning voters are disillusioned with Obama and will probably be less likely to even bother voting, so Republican's aren't quite as worried about gathering up the moderate vote.