When the United States Supreme Court redefines “marriage” to include same-sex partners, the Tea Party movement will reach a crossroads that will define its future, and if it is to have one.
Perhaps you’re unwilling to accept the premise of the previous sentence, and believe it should begin with “If” rather than “When.” Fair enough. But keep in mind the ABC’s of political reality reference same-sex marriage:
A. President Obama has 3.5 more years to serve as the person responsible for appointing Supreme Court Justices. He is likely to have at least one, and perhaps more, appointees.
B. Progressives pushing same-sex marriage in the context of “gay rights” will push that agenda until same-sex marriage is recognized in all 50 states. After all, Harry Truman was the first President to propose nationalized medicine. Progressives are patient and they are relentless.
C. The G.O.P. is well on the way to surrendering on the issue and moving toward acquiescence with, if not overt support of, a nationwide approval of same-sex marriage.
(The logical next move in the fundamental transformation of marriage will be multiple-partners marriage, since the basic arguments for same-sex marriage largely apply to a case in support of multiple-partners.)
Meanwhile, the Tea Party lacks a clear raison d’être to organize to a degree that requires cooperation and communication between Tea Party organizations across the nation – at all levels.
Its effort to slow the erosion of the U.S. economy by electing new House members in 2010 has yielded disappointing results. The new conservative Republican Senators don’t represent the critical mass needed to bring fiscal sanity to the Federal budget.
Meanwhile, Democrats are united. And Republicans are divided. Who do you think will prevail?
The Republican leadership in both the House and Senate wear shoes bearing the scuff marks from kicking the fiscal can down the road.
So, what national effort would galvanize the Tea Party movement and find support from across the nation?
When the United States Supreme Court redefines “marriage” as including same-sex couples, the Tea Party movement launches a pre-planned campaign to amend the Constitution to codify the long-standing traditional definition of marriage as between one-man and one-woman. The Tea Party leads.
Impossible? No. Difficult? Yes. But not impossible.
The Constitution defines four roads to an amendment:
(1) Proposed by convention of states, ratified by state conventions – never done,
(2) Proposed by convention of states, ratified by state legislatures – never done,
(3) Proposed by Congress, ratified by state conventions – only done once,
(4) Proposed by Congress, ratified by state legislatures – used with all other amendments.
Today, options (1) and (2) are doable, but difficult; (3) and (4) are all but impossible.
And, since more than one amendment can be considered, perhaps it’s time for the Tea Party to lead the battle for a Balanced Federal Budget Amendment. Who else is going to undertake it?
Something bold is required from patriots as the nation fades away. If it doesn’t come from the Tea Party, who will do it?
