Mediaboss Marketing

Everyone wants to know whetherJeb Bush can survive his support for Common Core and comprehensive immigration reform in today's Republican Party.

One deal-breaker that might surprise people, though: His opposition to gay marriage.

NBC News and Marist Collegeare out witha batch ofnew 2016 primary polls. And as you might expect,Common Core,immigration reform, belief in man-made climate change and support for raising taxes on the wealthy are among those with the potential to alienate lotsof conservatives.

But according to the polls, so does opposition to gay marriage -- an issue on whichBush agrees with basically every other candidate.

The polls, in fact, show that about half of likely GOP caucus and primary voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina said they find opposition to gay marriage either "mostly" or "totally" unacceptable in a candidate. Fifty-two percent of likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire and South Carolina said opposing gay marriage is either mostly or totally unacceptable, while 47 percent of likely Iowa caucus voters agree.

By comparison, 63 percent of Iowa voters say belief in man-made climate change (and fighting it) is unacceptable, 56 percent of New Hampshire voters say raising taxes on the wealthy is a non-starter, and 52 percent of South Carolina voters say support for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship is a deal-breakeron one level or another.

Voters in all three states find a candidate who supports gay marriage to be about as amenable as one who doesn't toe the party line on any of these issues.

And while the numbers are surprising, they make some sense. A Pew poll conducted in March 2014 showed 39 percent of Republicans and Republican leaners supported gay marriage. Add the passage of time andthe fact that non-Republicans can vote in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and you've got a potentially less anti-gay marriage electorate come next year.

There's also the possibility that the poll question confused some people. Asking people about gay marriage opposition rather than support for it brings double-negatives into the picture, possibly confusing some poll respondents. And people are more apt to respond in the negative when in doubt.

But it's also pretty clear from this and other polls that there are a growing number of Republicans who support gay marriage. So does it allmean we'll see a GOP presidential candidate in 2016 come out in support of gay marriage? Probably not. While there are some supporters of immigration reform (see: Bush and Marco Rubio) and Common Core (Bush) in the group, the name of the game is alienating as few people as possible.

Continue reading here:
The Fix: The most surprising gay marriage poll weve seen in a while

The controversial television star who was suspended for controversial remarks in 2013 has become a hero to conservatives supporting freedom of speech.

"In a time where conservative Christians are under attack by the media and pop culture, Phil Robertson continues to courageously stand by Truth and his convictions," said David N. Bossie, President of Citizens United in a release. "I can think of no better person to present the "Andrew Breitbart Defender of the First Amendment Award" to than Mr. Phil Robertson."

The award is named after Breitbart, former editor of the eponymous site who passed away in 2012. Conservative Radio star Mark Levin received the award last year.

Robertson, a devout Christian, was briefly suspended from the show for remarks he made about homosexuality in GQ magazine.

"It seems like, to me, a vaginaas a manwould be more desirable than a man's anus. That's just me. I'm just thinking: There's more there! She's got more to offer," he said. "I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I'm saying? But hey, sin: It's not logical, my man. It's just not logical."

After public protest, A&E Networks lifted the ban and let Robertson continue filming the highly successful show based on their lives in Louisiana.

CNN also learned Citizens United's next Freedom Summit will be held in South Carolina this spring. After the success of their Iowa Summit in January, which launched Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's current lead in some polls, the group is aiming to impact the first-in-the-South primary state as well.

The group came into the mainstream during the 2010 Supreme Court case, Citizens United vs. Federal Election Committee, which gave way to the creation of Super Pacs, groups that can take unlimited donations independent of a political candidate or party.

During her run for the Democratic nomination, the group released "Hillary: The Movie", which featured conservative politicians and activists giving their take on Hillary Clinton's record as former first lady and then-senator.

The Supreme Court ruled against the group, which protested bans on advertising it during the 2008 primary season.

Visit link:
'Duck Dynasty' star to CPAC for Breitbart award

Courtesy of A&E Phil Robertson of 'Duck Dynasty'

Fourteen months after he sparked a major controversy for making remarks widely perceived as anti-gay, Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson has been named the recipient of a free-speech award from Citizens United, an organization routinely disparaged by Hollywood liberals.

Robertson will receive the "Andrew Breitbart Defender of the First Amendment Award" at this years Conservative Political Action Conference, which is better known as CPAC and is one of the biggest annual events for prominent movers and shakers on the right.

"When one does not have the freedom to speak out loud and anywhere what one believes, freedom is dead," said Robertson, who is set to receive his award at CPAC on Feb. 27 in National Harbor, Md.

The Andrew Breitbart Defender of the First Amendment Award was created more than a year ago, and the first one went to conservative radio host Mark Levin, given to him last year, also at CPAC.

Email: Paul.Bond@THR.com

Excerpt from:
'Duck Dynasty' Star to Receive Free-Speech Award

Bernie Sanders: A Hillary Clinton matchup would be #39;a real clash of ideas #39;
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., tells Steve Kornacki why he thinks the country needs "a political revolution" and why it would be "a real clash of ideas" if both...

By: MSNBC News

See the original post:
Bernie Sanders: A Hillary Clinton matchup would be 'a real clash of ideas' - Video

Fighting Among Clinton Donors Shows Money Matters More Than Voters
"David Brock on Monday abruptly resigned from the board of the super PAC Priorities USA Action, revealing rifts that threaten the big-money juggernaut being built to support Hillary Clinton #39;s...

By: The Young Turks

Read this article:
Fighting Among Clinton Donors Shows Money Matters More Than Voters - Video