Back in 1992, when the Democratic party was seen as being held hostage to blacks, lesbian-feminists, tree huggers and socialists, Bill Clinton had what was called the Sister Souljah moment, when he called out a rapper for her violent statements in response to the Rodney King riots. This allowed Clinton to distance himself from the Jesse Jackson wing of the Democratic party.
Clinton won, because the economy was in the toilet, Ross Perot was on the ballot and Republicans had held the White House for six years. But it certainly helped to reduce what was seen as the extremism of the '70s Left within the Democratic Caucus.
Such "game changers" as this are almost entirely BS narratives foisted on political analysis by journalists who are trying to replace fundamentals with story points, to turn the chaos of real life into a tidy novel.
However, it isn't completely ridiculous.
And when a party is in the grips of extremist political interest groups, they have to work back to the center. Sometimes you can re-define the center, but that takes years and it helps to actually control power for some time during that time.
So you have to tack center to win national election.
Which makes this somewhat interesting. Jeff Flake is a conservative Senator from a Red state. But he isn't 126 years old like the Senior Senator and the Governor.
When Arizona and Kansas start pressing laws to allow discrimination against LGBT people, I honestly don't give a damn. These laws are going to be ruled unconstitutional by any federal judge who isn't ridiculous. "Please proceed, Governor."
These are bad laws that won't be on the books for very long.
But they make the GOP look like bigots. So, please proceed. Bills like this insure that the GOP remains old, white, male and evangelical.
For a younger Republican like Flake, standing up against LGBT discrimination at its more naked is a smart play.
Of course, in Arizona he could get a primary from someone who wants to put LGBT people in prison. And lose.
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