Will the '12 Republican primary field face the same pressures as the '08 field?

[Jacobtm]

We all saw McCain and Romney falling all over themselves in '08 to conform to the Republican line on just about every issue. Part of this was that "the base" believes in these positions. Part of it was the media's supposition about what a Republican should be, pressing politicians to clarify their positions on all the hot-button issues that had defined the Republican party.

After 4 years out of power, is there any chance that Republicans like Romney, or any other moderate, could try to re-define Republicanism away from focus on "family values" issues, or is that suicide?

[Jacobtm]

I'm talking specifically about the primary campaign. Will Mitt Romney need to re-assert that he has no tolerance for homosexuality, or could he actually admit that they really don't creep him out too much?

[Jacobtm]

I'm talking specifically about the primary campaign. Will Mitt Romney need to re-assert that he has no tolerance for homosexuality, or could he actually admit that they really don't creep him out too much?

Ignorance. Opposing gay marriage doesn't mean intolerance. Log Cabin Republicans endorsed Mitt Romney.

Denying the right to marry to consenting adults because they're gay is intolerance of different lifestyles. All the other rhetoric is just an effort to justify/obscure that intolerance.

Log Cabin Republicans are probably endorsing whoever they think has the best chance of winning and changing his mind as President.

Mitt Romney and McCain both showed that they didn't believe in the Republican orthodoxy 100%, then changed their minds publicly to try to win nomination. LCR's could be excused the hope that once the most powerful man on earth, either might buck the party's base and start advocating for gay equality.