Right Wing Struggles to Find Unity in the GOP

Republican activists who’ve tussled over abortion, gay rights and more in past campaigns predicted smoother sailing this week as the GOP settles on principles and policies for the presidential election.

An early version of the Republican platform calls for constitutional bans on abortion and gay marriage, two steps Sen. John McCain does not support in his presidential campaign, and the document is strongly conservative on other issues, reflecting the influence of the party’s base.

It would put the party on record as accepting that human activity contributes to global warming, in line with McCain’s views.

But the platform is loaded with caveats about the uncertainty of science and the need to “resist no-growth radicalism” in taking on climate change.

It warns that empowering Washington on the matter would have painful consequences, a less-than-rousing endorsement of McCain’s ambitious plan for mandatory federal emission cuts in a cap and trade program.

Sharp divisions still exist in the party on social issues but there appeared to be little taste for complicating McCain’s chances by mounting a symbolic platform fight as the document is hashed out in Minneapolis on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“This isn’t a hill we’re going to die on,” said Scott Tucker, a spokesman for the gay rights group Log Cabin Republicans.

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