Yes I think that the democrats define the social issues they want to argue about and then the GOP responds. They do not drive the debate. The democrats define it and then the GOP reacts. Gay Marriage is a plank in the democrats platform, not the GOP. Abortion is a plank in the democrats platform. Not the GOP.

I did not mean to imply that social issues were not discussed. The difference is that the Democrats keep running on them. Keep bringing them up. Keep forcing America to talk about it and the GOP reacts. Its a losing proposition.

Shut up(democrats) Leave it alone till your in the White HOuse and congress and then deal with it. Just like Bill Clinton did. Shut Up Jesse. Well take care of you when were in the White House.

Thus your response Elrod once you start talking about social issues.John McCain is NOT Independent and is NOT Moderate. He's an unprincipled Republican who craves media attention. His latest foray into the political gutter shows his old “maverick” image was a fraud.

You think Republicans never run on social issues? Are you kidding me? Gay marriage wasn't important in driving out evangelical voters in 2004? Returning “honor and decency to the White House” in 2000 wasn't an important factor in Bush's first race? Have you forgotten all the culture war stuff in 1988, 1992 and 1996?

John McCain is NOT Independent and is NOT Moderate. He's an unprincipled Republican who craves media attention. His latest foray into the political gutter shows his old “maverick” image was a fraud.

Obama made a calculating decision that he could jump to the middle and that his base would not abandon him and remain fired up for his candidacy while he wooed the middle. It was risky and I think its backfired a little bit.

McCain has started out in the middle and moved towards the right where he needs to pick up the 40 percent Republicans to support him.

The key for this election and independents is WHO is REALLY and INDEPENDENT or MODERATE. I think the records indicate McCain is. I think Obama personally really wants to be but he is stuck with a party that is really not wanting him to go there.

In other words……….family plan, tax credit for energy. Why not just drill? Why not leave the family plan alone?

UNTIL………

After the election. Bill Clinton got elected after years of a divided democratic party by the race issue. Jesse Jackson every election ran for president and demanded that the Blacks be the focus of the party. Bill Clinton came along and essentially told Jesse Jackson to shut up during the election and that HE would take care of the blacks after he was in office.

Bill won……….twice.

Haven't the democrats realized that they just need to shut up. Until after the election? WIN FIRST?? You notice that the GOP never runs on their social issues, they just shut up and talk about the democrats….They paint the democrats as these tax and spend liberals who want to give all our money to the poor and the needy while raping those evil corporations who give us those damn jobs and benefits.

They want a green nirvana. They want GM and FORD to die and they want you all to walk to work. They want you to suffer and be miserable while they figure out a way to take all the druggies in the projects and put them in BMW's and give each one of them YOUR JOB.

Of course this is not true but partially it has merit. Listen to the left talking here and they are angry at big oil, angry at walmart, angry at the GOP for spending on the war…………….Then their plan is to unveil 250 billion in new spending and refuse to even talk about balancing the budget.

When will the Democrats learn that the Republicans use fear tactics and the Democrats just simply provide them with the ammunition. Barak Obama was not in the center 2 weeks till he started unveiling all these spending, ultra liberal programs and there you go………..All the ammo the Right needs.