Sunday shows: Prop. 8’s Nov. impact

Even as Republicans try to keep the focus on jobs and the economy, the
culture wars are likely to sneak back in, at least on the Sunday
shows.

In the wake of this week’s federal court decision that overturned
California’s Proposition 8, the issue of gay marriage is back in the
spotlight just in time for the 2010 midterms.

{mosads}”Fox News Sunday” features former Bush administration solicitor general
Ted Olson, the man who helped make the successful case against
California’s gay marriage ban. Back in January, Olson made waves in
conservative circles by signing onto the lawsuit to overturn the ban
and penning an op-ed he labeled “the conservative case for gay
marriage.”

He’ll be paired with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R), a rumored GOP
presidential contender in 2012. Social conservatives are likely to be
listening closely for the tone Daniels strikes on the Prop. 8 ruling.

While Daniels is a social conservative and opponent of gay marriage,
he suggested earlier this year that his party might be wise to tone
down its rhetoric. Daniels said the next president “would have to call
a truce” on so-called social issues.

Those comments rankled many social conservatives, most notably head of
the Family Research Council Tony Perkins, who called Daniels’s
statement “astonishing.” Perkins has his own Sunday spot on “Face the
Nation,” where he is expected to offer some red meat for conservatives
on the ruling.

Carrying the mantle on jobs and the economy for Republicans Sunday
will be House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), who will have the
stage to himself for an interview on “Meet the Press.”

Boehner led the criticism of the Obama administration this week over
new government job figures that showed private companies added just
71,000 jobs last month.

And with the House headed back into session next week to debate a $26
billion state aid package, Boehner, who’s made it no secret that he
wants Nancy Pelosi’s job, will paint the effort as nothing more than
additional wasteful stimulus spending as Republicans hammer home that
message on the midterm campaign trail.

On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Govs. Jennifer Granholm (D-Mich.) and Bob
McDonnell (R-Va.) will tackle a host of issues from gay marriage to
healthcare and immigration.

McDonnell made headlines this week after saying he wants Virginia
state police to be trained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
agents to enforce federal immigration laws.

Also on tap for Sunday: the oil spill and the war in Iraq. “Meet the
Press” will lead with White House Energy adviser Carol Browner as the
administration claims new progress in the battle to finally seal off
the leaking oil well in the gulf.

BP was optimistic last week that new efforts to permanently plug the
well were working and Browner is expected to tout the progress while
having to respond to fresh criticism over the spill claims process.
Ret. Admiral Thad Allen also makes two appearances Sunday, one on “Face
the Nation” and another on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

On ABC’s “This Week,” the focus will be entirely on the war in Iraq with
Gen. Ray Odierno, the commander of U.S. Forces in the country, and Gen.
Peter Chiarelli, army vice chief of staff.

The two are expected to discuss the planned drawdown of U.S. troops in
Iraq planned for the coming months, which the administration said
earlier this week is on track.