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Forcing Mitch Daniels’ Hand on Marriage

By David N. Bass on 11.5.10 @ 11:43AM

Jim Antle has an excellent piece in the November dead tree issue of The American Spectator on (maybe?) up-and-coming presidential aspirant Mitch Daniels. The Indiana Republican governor has garnered much praise for his budget-slashing ways; not so much for his call for a proposed “truce” on social issues like abortion and marriage.

Daniels’ coyness on cultural concerns could doom his presidential ambitions, unless he starts walking back his stances fast. (In the view of this blogger, far more impressive on fiscal and social issues combined is Congressman Mike Pence, also of Indiana). But the political reality is that Daniels might have no choice but to take a strong (or weak) stand on same-sex marriage in the near future.

Hoosier State voters put Republicans back in control of the state House on Tuesday. The GOP already controls the Senate. With Indiana being one of a handful of conservative-leaning states without an amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, legislative Republicans are likely to raise the issue again next year.

A big question: will Daniels support it? If he’s serious about a presidential run, he can’t afford to soft-peddle on this one.

Sandy| 11.5.10 @ 12:03PM

So far Mitch Daniels has come out against the Social conservatives with his "truce" comment, he has come out against the National Security conservatives with his comment that he would cut defense spending even more than the Obama admin. has, and he has come out against the fiscal conservatives with his support for a VAT. Who's left for him to pee on? Bye Bye Mitch.

Booger| 11.5.10 @ 12:12PM

If Mitch wants to throw in the towel before he even begins his campaign, what's the point? His big idea on the budget, cutting defense spending, will accomplish nothing toward balancing the budge (entitlements are the problem) and put the nation at even greater risk. Is he trying to make Obama look good?

JP| 11.5.10 @ 12:45PM

Mitch is a technocrat with a mind of a bureaucrat. Hoosiers have rightfully praised him for turning a $1 billion state budget defecit (one he inherited) into a surplus in just a few years despite a servere downturn in the state's manufacturing sector (Indiana still boasts 10% unemployment). And he did it without raising taxes. As a matter of fact, most Hoosiers barely noticed the cuts in spending. He also reformed the state's unfair property tax system. Thanks to Govenor Daniels, property taxes cannot exceed 1% of the property's assessed value.

On the flipside, Daniels is more in line with President Bush concerning political philosophy. Outside of budgets, taxes, and govermental efficiencies he is out of his depths. He betrays a kind of paternalistic tendency concerning government. If his back was ever put to the wall at the national level, he would much rather attempt to improve an unpopular and inefficient program (ie ObamaCare) than to outright repeal it. He also possesses all of the weaknesses modern CEOs have concerning conflict resolution. We've seen this in the way Fortune 500 corporations deal with shakedown artists and other types of quasi rabblerousers. Give them what they want, so they will go away; always negociate a settlement instead of dealing with the problem head on. This is what Daniels meant when he spoke about "a truce". It was really a signal that he would surrender most if not all of the domestic issues outside of the budget, and taxes. Modern CEOs have bought into the all of the PC group think that reigns in our society. Best keep the dogs at bay by giving in to them. This is exactly what Bush41 and 43 did. And Daniels will too.

Daniels believes that our main problems are simply fiscal. And the next President will have the good fortune to be just a good manager or executuve. He is partly right; but if all that is needed to be a good President is good executive abilities we wouldn't need elections.

Daniels forgets that politics is appled moral philosophy. A good politician at the White House level appoints good executives, and he assumes the political duties first. Crafting and negociating a federal budget is as much a political act as it is an accounting task. Just ask Jimmy Carter. He too was considered a gifted govenor, a good manager, and a competent executive. He brought Georgia into the 20th Century. But like Daniels he didn't understand correctly the political nature of the office. And Daniels is hurting his chances (perhaps terminally so) to be the next President with his public utterences. So far he has failed the test.

Sheila| 11.5.10 @ 1:54PM

Daniels (and Pawlenty) have the hearts of mice. Pence is better, but a total hispanderer and amnesty shill. Right now, my response to the GOP's choices is, once again, "none of the above." Now Jim DeMint is someone I could wholeheartedly support - the rest of the GOP establishment hates him - all the more reason to back him.

JimmyT| 11.5.10 @ 1:54PM

I worked to get Daniels into office. I believe his grasp of fiscal concerns is unmatched. His overall political savvy sucks. He is TOO willing to compromise on social issues. Even after discussing issues with him in 2004, I can't tell you what his stance on same sex marriage is! As much as I admire what he has done in Indiana, I wouldn't vote for him as prez.

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