Gay-Baiting '08

So, if the Republicans keep listening to the Rovian little devils sitting on their shoulders and taking the anti-gay attack machine out for another spin in 2008, what will happen? It may be that their ads and sound bites – and even their presidential candidate – get met with considerably more scrutiny than in previous years.

"George Stephanopoulos did something very important when he pushed John McCain for a real answer regarding his statements on adoption by gay parents," said GLAAD's Cindi Creager. "That kind of insistent questioning sends a message that empty sound bites and reliance on catchphrases like quote-unquote 'family values' need to be challenged. And it suggests that those who take their responsibility as journalists seriously will dig deep and push for meaningful engagement on these issues."

And "serious journalists" aren't the only ones pushing back. In the finest tradition of political humor, Ellen DeGeneres backed John McCain into a metaphorical corner on his opposition to marriage equality when he made an appearance on her show.

She asked him bluntly why he had a problem with her forthcoming marriage to Portia de Rossi. McCain, clearly wishing he was anywhere else but there, stumbled through an awkward explanation of how he thought same sex couples should be able to have contracts and share insurance, but "I just believe in the unique status of marriage between a man and a woman, and I know that we have a respectful disagreement on that issue."

Ellen hit him with an impassioned speech on civil rights, which the audience wildly applauded and to which he feebly replied that he wished her every happiness.

"Thank you," she responded dryly. "So, you'll walk me down the aisle? Is that what you're saying?"

McCain's inability to deflect DeGeneres' passion and directness, nor stand up to Stephanopoulos' insistent questioning, isn't surprising. Neither candidates nor pundits are used to being challenged on their dog whistles, over-simplifications, hypocrisy, prevarications, and evasions while the cameras are rolling. It's almost become a hallmark of cable news that the most outrageous statements can go unchallenged as the hosts rush on to their next panelist, guest, or question. Even Jon Stewart, infamous for calling bull on politicians, rarely does it to their faces.

If that's changed, even to a small extent, it really could mark an era of change in the media to match the changing attitudes of the public about gay and lesbian civil rights.

Back in 2006, Daily Show correspondent Rob Corddry reported on gay marriage bans, to which Jon Stewart, playing straight man, commented, "Rob, the push to ban gay marriage seems like a cynical ploy to win votes from a base that is not energized in an election year."

Today, nearly every prominent political news analyst, left, right, or center, seems to agree that gay-bashing as an overt political strategy is either dying or already dead.

Part of the change is pure expediency. The Republicans are worried about holding onto moderates, who don't want to believe they belong to a party based on intolerance or hate. "My term, not their term, but gay bashing or an offensive push-off tone to a campaign will not help you among suburban voters, more educated voters," John King said.

But perhaps at least part of the reason the gay wedge has lost some of its resonance is something else entirely. "Gay rights generally have been progressing," Chris Matthews told us. "I was at a human rights convention in Philly a couple years ago speaking and Barney [Frank] said, 'Have faith. Things are changing.'"

Michael Jensen contributed to this article.

To read more of what Keith Olbermann, John King, Chris Matthews, Suzanne Malveaux and Joe Scarborough have to say about gay issues read The Pundits Speak!