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Retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., says the GOP's opposition to gay marriage, abortion and embryonic stem cell research is "a terrible mistake."



Kolbe, who is stepping down after 22 years in Congress, told the Tucson Citizen his party has given too much power over its direction to social conservatives.

"It's a terrible mistake," Kolbe said. "It takes the party in the wrong direction. It takes us away from our core element and our core values: fiscal discipline and a strong defense."

Kolbe -- the only openly gay Republican in Congress -- told the newspaper same-sex marriage will eventually be legal in the United States.

"As much as the social conservatives might not like to hear it," he said, "there will be a time when your grandchildren say: 'What was the argument with gay marriage? Who cares?'"

Kolbe also said the war in Iraq will de-escalate in 2007 and 2008 because of public opposition.

"You will see a decided decline in the next two years," he said. "Our engagement has got to be dramatically reduced over the next two years."