GOP rift deepens as Clint Eastwood joins Republicans rooting for gay marriage

Tweet

Washington, Mar. 1: Movie star Clint Eastwood has joined the ranks of Republicans who are in favour of legalizing gay marriage, further deepening a growing split in the Republican Party.

The support for gay marriage by Eastwood and about 100 prominent Republicans, along with budding support within the party for immigration reform, is creating an obvious divide in the party. It pits moderate Republicans and party operatives on one side against conservative activists who drive turnout in the primary elections, reports ABC News.

Former New Jersey governor, Christine Todd Whitman, who is one of the four former Republican governors who signed the legal brief in favour of same sex marriage, says there are days she “absolutely” doesn’t feel like part of the party because the GOP is being “defined by the talking heads and they don’t for the most part represent me”.

Another Republican, Carlos Gutierrez, the former commerce secretary under George W. Bush, is taking on some conservative elements in the party. He announced last week he is forming a new super PAC “Republicans for Immigration Reform”.

Gutierrez said there are House members who “understand we have to fix the problem” of immigration, but the concern is they have a primary challenger from the right who throws out the word amnesty, which is so easy to do. (ANI)