Mark Cuban’s Advice For The Republican Party: “Stay completely out of social issues.”

cubes

Remember how shitty the Dallas Mavericks were in the ’90s? They were as irrelevant to the NBA as strolling into Walgreens to grab some Plan B and a Gatorade on Sunday morning or two dudes banging each other while sharing a health insurance plan and wearing symbolic jewelry should be to a discussion about America’s prosperity and place as the global leader economically, politically, and against hostile extraterrestrial forces. Once billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist Mark Cuban bought the team, however, they turned into a perennial contender in the brutal Western Conference, culminating in a 2011 NBA championship over LeBron James and the Miami Heat, making Mark Cuban’s place among the best NBA owners ever undeniable, and sports trolls hate-gasm harder than they ever had before. Pretty sure Skip Bayless burst a blood vessel in his eye and passed out after that title.

Mark Cuban knows how to take something broken and turn it into something great. The Republican party is by no means broken, but its stances on many hotly debated social issues are most definitely a very squeaky wheel on what should be a well-oiled machine, especially when it comes to attracting younger voters who don’t quite grasp the importance or nuances of things like economic or foreign policy. Cuban, who leans to the right (he’s basically a libertarian), agrees. This is what Cuban said when asked, “How do you change the [political] conversation so that prosperity becomes part of the conversation again?” while on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

“As long as we have the two parties that we have I don’t think it’s going to change. I mean if I was going to give guidance to the Republican party, which I think leads more in that direction, I’d say, ‘Stay completely out of social issues.’ And if you stay out of social issues then the conversation from that side will only be around economics and business, and growing business, and ideas. But they can’t stay out.”

While Cuban doesn’t mention which social issues he thinks the Republicans should back off of specifically, it’s pretty clear he is making reference to conservative politics concerning women’s reproductive rights and same sex marriage. Republican stances on both issues have helped Democrats and liberal media outlets alienate young voters away from the right by portraying the GOP as archaic, out of touch, and even hateful — especially over the past fourteen years. And, frankly, Republican opposition to the progress of both causes is not only a waste of time, but it’s just flat out wrong, not to mention WILDLY hypocritical for a party that purports to want to keep government out of the lives of citizens. It also doesn’t help that there aren’t any episodes of “Glee” about the free market.

Granted, there are other social (or quasi-social) issues Republicans are on the correct side of, such as gun control, and issues on which they have many valid points, though arguably not the entire answer, like immigration. Beyond all that, however, where the Republican party is strongest is in its desire and actual ability to build an environment and economy in which every individual is afforded the opportunities to succeed in whichever endeavor he or she chooses. Just, you know, arguably the most important American quality there is. That is why it is so important the Republicans focus fully on what really matters. It’s in the best interest of the United States that they do so. That’s where Cuban believes they should focus their energy, and, more importantly, their voices. Hard to disagree with the guy. The full clip is below.

  1. SNUBonny

    Damn Bacon normally your lack of pigment only translates to dick jokes and weird boners from Frat Romance Novels but this was spot on.

    11 years ago at 2:09 pm
  2. Brantford_Winstonworth

    The reason the Republican party made a comeback in the 80s is because we started focussing on social issues. That is partially what caused so many democrats to vote for Reagan. Southern Democrats often lean right on social issues and from my experience campaigning many of them are fed up with the Democratic party and laying down our morals will only worsen the situation.

    11 years ago at 2:27 pm
    1. Rob Fox

      Reagan ran against Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale in ’80 and ’84, respectively. His “morals” didn’t win him anything. Being 1) the better candidate regardless and 2) running against two laughable opponents are what won him both elections handily. Not to mention the Democrats trotted out Michael Dukakis in ’88. Fuck were they even trying in the 80s?

      11 years ago at 2:37 pm
      1. Brantford_Winstonworth

        My dad was one of the founding members of the Christian Coalition which helped make this transformation of the Republican party. Before the Reagan era Republicans were mostly economically conservative and not as socially conservative.

        11 years ago at 6:20 pm
    2. Girthquake

      Agree with you, disagree with Bacon. Last few landslides for Republicans (80, 84, 94 midterms, 2010 midterms) have been because of a run on ALL conservative principles. The last two elections we lost because of two weak centrist campaigns.

      11 years ago at 2:41 pm
      1. Nice Try

        Blatantly false, you only win national elections with centrist campaigns. The midterm wins were for the House and are a reaction from very conservative areas to a liberal president.

        11 years ago at 3:44 pm
      2. Nice Try

        Cuban leans more left than right. He’s very pro-progressive taxation and voted for Obama in the last 2 elections.

        11 years ago at 3:49 pm
    3. alphaclassmovie

      Why are you even talking about the 80’s like you knew what was going on? You hardly have facial hair.

      11 years ago at 3:27 pm
  3. Liqma Coochi

    Agree with the whole thing, except for that immigration isn’t a social issue, its a national security issue. This is coming from the son of immigrants who came here legally, you can’t just have people crossing the borders willy-nilly without any repercussions. I know how complicated the issue is, but the fact is these people are breaking the law by crossing the borders illegally and should be treated as such.

    11 years ago at 2:43 pm
    1. Rob Fox

      That’s why I threw “quasi” in there. It undoubtedly has social implications, though.

      11 years ago at 2:52 pm
      1. Liqma Coochi

        Every issue has social implications regardless. To me the problem isn’t even that they are taking low paying jobs from “hard working Americans” (honestly, primary education is free in this country, and with a little “hard work” early on, you can get a better job than any of these fence hoppers can), the problem is, you don’t know who these people are, what their motives are, and what they are bringing into this country. It is absolutely a national security issue.
        Also, just to clarify as not to be misleading, my parents aren’t from Central America, they are from India (remember 7-11 not 9-11). My dad is a highly skilled worker, and came here legally and did everything right. He worked his ass off to make it in this country, and did very well for himself and our family. While he got his citizenship a while ago, he has friends that have the same credentials, who have been here legally for decades and are still waiting to get even their green card, and they are still working on their VISA. Its unfair to these people that they are marginalized while people who broke the law are given citizenship.

        11 years ago at 3:47 pm
      2. RisingFratstarOfTX

        To your point about hidden intentions, we have no way of knowing who is coming across with ties to a drug cartel or criminal organization. Hell, even ISIS is taking notes from them now.

        11 years ago at 8:30 am
  4. ReardenSteel

    Good to know that TFM has finally had the balls to come out openly against social conservatism calling it ‘flat out wrong’. Regardless of how you feel about the issues, for TFM, once a bastion of conservative fraternity members and their beliefs, to condescendingly, righteously, arrogantly and downright disrespectfully claim to have a monopoly on ‘Truth’ (ala OP-Ed’s from publications such as the Huffington Post), is nothing short of a disgusting betrayal.

    11 years ago at 2:50 pm
    1. SNUBonny

      A) Try a little harder B) Not sure how it’s a “disgusting betrayal”… Grandex doesn’t owe you anything C) Denying people happiness / basic rights because of a book is a direct violation of one of the countries founding principles in separation of church and state

      11 years ago at 5:18 pm
      1. Bronito Mussolini

        “Separation of Church and State” is mentioned absolutely nowhere in the Constitution, nor the Declaration of Independence. I’m not sure when, or where, this myth started.

        Ironic enough, it’s typically always Republicans that throw this phrase around in contrast to many GOP led efforts to push creationism in schools.

        11 years ago at 8:55 pm
    2. Joe Mullet

      Don’t worry Reardon, I’m with you on this one. Being a social conservative is nothing to be ashamed of, but in reading this article you sure would think otherwise. Like you, I remember when TFM was conservative top to bottom, particularly on social issues. Articles used to openly use racist language and talk down on homosexuality. Not anymore though because we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings! Excelsior, brother knight.

      11 years ago at 9:26 am
  5. Fuckedupfriday

    Fuck yeah, bacon. I currently work for a republican senate candidate in one of the most highly contested senate races of the upcoming election. All he cares about is energy independence and job creation, but for someone reason the Dems are barraging him with women’s rights issues because it’s an easy target and they fucking suck. I wish this wouldn’t be an issue anymore so we could worry about things that actually matter…

    11 years ago at 2:57 pm
    1. Numasmash

      Dude you work for Cory Gardner. Not hard to figure out if a Dem is reading this. Campaign 101

      11 years ago at 3:18 pm
  6. Majority Shareholder

    Hillary and Yellen. The world will be run by lesbians. If that’s not a wake up call…

    11 years ago at 3:36 pm
  7. CommCollege69

    Accepting the science taught at any accredited college would also be a start.

    11 years ago at 3:37 pm
    1. JohnFratYatesSommers

      Fucking this. In addition to social issues, the republican party shoots itself in the foot so so hard on things like the environment and evolution.

      11 years ago at 8:17 pm