Homomentum

Today Maine’s legislature and governor approved same-sex marriage, marking the state the fifth in the nation to recognize gay marriage.

Maine’s move comes on the heels of similar decisions in Iowa, Connecticut, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

Until last month, only Massachusetts permitted same-sex marriage – a status quo maintained since 2004.

For five years the issue stagnated … until suddenly, in quick succession, state after state is now moving toward “marriage equality.”

The sudden scramble is probably a matter of stealth and distraction – all eyes are on the economy, after all – but is it not also a signal of the right’s withering relevance?

Gay marriage is, perhaps more than any other issue, the bane of the antiquated right’s existence.

Besides abortion, gay marriage is the only thing that most “Republican” politicians still care about – and conservatives long ago lost the abortion fight, despite their insistence that it’s still an issue.

Beyond gay marriage, then, there’s really no Republican platform – at least not one the party is adhering to, anyway.

Let’s face it, the GOP is not walking the walk … which may be why the party is now walking the plank.

And as its former raison d’etre continues to fade, so will the Republican Party itself. Or, alternatively, Republicans could reconnect with their old raison d’etre – fiscal conservatism – and actually make a comeback.

Based on everything we see in Washington (and especially in state capitals like Columbia SC) that’s not likely, though.

But then again, neither was a sudden scramble for “marriage equality.”

In politics as in pop, it’s all about the momentum. Or, as we like to say, the “homomentum.”

Comments