Oregonian Political Advice: Do What's Popular

The editors of the Oregonian seem to think popularity is a more important political strategy than having real political views and principles. Their advice in yesterday's editorial "Gay marriage a golden opportunity for Oregon GOP" is for GOP leaders to give up their principles on gay marriage and adopt a view that is popular, especially with women and young people.

"[The Republican view is] squarely at odds with Oregonians between 18 and 45, 68 percent of whom support gay marriage. Support among women of all ages, meanwhile, tops 60 percent."
. . .

"Following November's pummeling, a lot of us wondered how Republican candidates could appeal to more voters. One way to do this is to support more of the things that Oregonians value. Like gay marriage. What's wrong with being known as the party that respects Oregonians' hard-earned money, their businesses, their opportunities ... and their liberties

"And what's wrong, from a purely pragmatic standpoint, with accepting the inevitable?"

But, if Oregonians don't respect "hard-earned money", "businesses", and "opportunities" in polling, shouldn't the GOP give those up too? Especially if higher taxes and less concern for business and opportunity become more popular as the need to fund education costs and entitlements rises.

Aside from being an infantile and opportunist political strategy, a news flash for the Oregonian is that it won't work. The Oregonian editors admit that a pro-gay marriage policy is not "slam-dunk" even as policy. Why then would it be a sure-fire GOP vote getter?

"A healthy majority of Oregonians -- 77 percent -- told pollsters in December that they'd like an opportunity to vote on the issue, but only a slim majority -- 54 percent -- said they support the policy itself. It's better to start with 54 percent support than, say, 44 percent support, but Basic Rights Oregon is a long way from slam-dunk territory."

Another news flash for the Oregonian is that "inevitable" means only currently popular. Remember the days when pro-life principles were unpopular among Americans? No longer. It's now the predominant view (up from 33% approval to 50% approval). So, those who stuck with their principles during the lean years are now taking the lead in the polls. Should the Democrats change their pro-choice position because it now polls at only 41%? That's apparently the editorial position of the Oregonian.

Hey, maybe Oregonian editors should try out their own advice before they urge others to do so. The Oregonian keeps shedding subscribers, dropping 1/3rd of its circulation in the last ten years. The Oregonian is not popular with women or young people--or anyone else. Since the Oregonian is doing worse in business than the Oregon GOP is at the polls, maybe the editors should try their own advice and report back on the result of "pragmatic" policies.