Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey...

...might just as well end his bid for president in 2016 after this article in the Times this morning, "As Gays Wed in New Jersey, Christie Ends Court Fight" (my emphasis):

As couples across New Jersey began marrying on Monday after the stroke of midnight, Gov. Chris Christie abandoned his long fight against same-sex marriage, concluding that signals from the court and the march of history were against him.

His decision not to appeal a judge’s ruling that allowed the weddings removed the last hurdle to legalized same-sex marriage in New Jersey, making it the 14th state, along with the District of Columbia, to allow gay couples to wed.

What? He gave up?

The Republican nominee in 2016 will be just as opposed to same-sex marriage as the tea party is to the Affordable Care Act. In other words: No surrender -- ever. You can take that to the bank.

The piece goes on to say:

Politically, members of his staff bet that they could contain the damage by arguing that the governor had never changed his mind — he still opposes same-sex marriage — and blaming activist judges, which even critics of the governor’s decision began doing on Monday.
 
“He looks realistic, while sticking to his principles — and people are happy,” said one adviser who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss strategy.
 
So even if by some outside chance the Republicans decide to go with another "moderate" in 2016, Christie will never win the general election with that position. The next president will be a strong supporter of same-sex marriage. Period. You can take that to the bank, too. 

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