Marco Rubio is young and inexperienced, and he also fails to accept change. He is acting more like a seventy year old bigot than a young forward-thinking American. After he spoke in Iowa, no one was certain about Rubio’s position on same-sex marriage.

He spoke about the ‘definition’ of marriage, something I don’t recall seeing anywhere in my 69 years. I do know that marriage is a civil union, the only benefits being legal for the persons involved. These legal connections are the only reason why same-sex couples sought equal protection under the law by invoking the 14^th amendment.

Rubio is ‘straddling the fence’ regarding this issue. He is playing politics with the lives of human beings. The Christian religious right has become a powerful lobby within the GOP. They claim to oppose same-sex marriage based on religious beliefs. By doing so they are denying the very teachings of Jesus Christ by judging their fellow man. Big business is opposed as they attempt to secure their bloated profits. They do not want to add another group who will now receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples.

This issues may become one of the most difficult for GOP hopefuls. Polls show that the majority of Americans favor same-sex marriage, especially among younger voters. It may loom larger than immigration, which is another unpopular issue with the GOP base, but supported by the majority of all Americans.

The latest polls reveal Donald Trump leading in both Iowa and New Hampshire with 30 and 32 percent. Cruz is second in Iowa thanks to the support of evangelicals and the TEA Party. In New Hampshire Rubio is second with 13 percent; Cruz is tied with Carson at just 10 percent for third.

Trumps growing numbers reveal the great weakness of the GOP candidates. None of the other 13 have impressed voters and allowed them to actually challenge the real estate mogul. It appears that GOP voters are railing against candidates rather than favoring them.

Less than a year before the election only four GOP hopefuls can register double figures. It is evident that former candidates expected to be near or at the front runner position by now are seeing their hopes slip away. Most significantly, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie are falling behind the first four candidates. In Iowa Bush receives just five percent; Christie two percent. In New Hampshire Bush is at six percent, and Christie at five.

The most probable results by spring of 2016 will see the final battle between Rubio and Cruz. Both junior Senators are TEA Party darlings, but Rubio is considered the most moderate, and he is a better politician. Cruz will receive the extremist vote from those who are farthest to the right. He will not be supported by crossover Democrats or Independents.

The greatest difficulty all GOP candidates will experience is that none of them appeal to blacks, Hispanics, women, the LGBT community, and voters between 18 and 39. In addition, better educated Americans tend to vote for Democrats.

Although the Chairman of the RNC, Reince Priebus, promised that the GOP would approach new demographics after its loss in 2012; that has not happened.

Rubio can only avoid a direct answer regarding same-sex marriage for so long. Eventually he will be forced to reveal his position on every issue.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2