CNN Poll: Majorities oppose gay marriage, pro-choice now just plurality
posted at 6:10 pm on May 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Has the recent kerfuffle between Carrie Prejean and Perez Hilton changed the calculus on gay marriage? According to CNN’s new polling, not at all. Not only have gay-marriage advocates not made a dent in the last several months, another social-conservative demographic appears to have narrowed the gap between themselves and their opponents:
33. Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages? (ASKED OF HALF SAMPLE. RESULTS BASED ON 1005 INTERVIEWS IN VERSION A. SAMPLING ERROR: +/- 3 PERCENTAGE POINTS.)
Apr. 23-26 Dec. 19-21
2009 2008
Should be recognized as valid 44% 44%
Should not be recognized as valid 54% 55%
No opinion 2% 1%
23a. With respect to the abortion issue, would you consider yourself to be pro-choice or pro-life?
Apr. 23-26 Aug. 29-31 June 22-24
2009 2008 2007
Pro-choice 49% 53% 50%
Pro-life 45% 44% 44%
Don’t know what the terms mean (vol.) 1% 2% 2%
Mixed/both/neither (vol.) 3% 2% 4%
No opinion 1% * 1%
It’s interesting, especially since the advocates of both positions insist that they’re making incremental progress. The gay-marriage issue has been mired in terms of the political split, but a solid majority continues to oppose it. That puts Carrie Prejean in the mainstream, not Perez Hilton and his allies, although at 44% one could hardly call the legalization position as fringe, either. Perez’ efforts to marginalize Prejean won’t work, not with 54% of people agreeing with Prejean — including Democrats like Barack Obama and Joe Biden, for that matter.
On abortion, though, the previous majority position for pro-choice has disappeared, and the CNN poll shows the matter a toss-up within the margin of error. The last time CNN asked that question, in 2006, pro-life did the best they had done in six years to get to a 53-42 minority position.
I’d assume that the White House has seen the exact same polling, which would explain why Obama retreated from FOCA last week in his 100 days press conference.
Blowback
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But let’s drop those issues from our party’s platform of ideals. Good idea.
amerpundit on May 4, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Of course, Perez Hilton will HURT their cause…the gay rights people know that and told him to shut his trap.
The Wall on May 4, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Amen
crash72 on May 4, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Somewhere a tear just rolled down Christopher Buckley’s cheek and he does not know why.
Threshing Flora on May 4, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Yowzer, half-and-half? I had no idea.
Living4Him5534 on May 4, 2009 at 6:16 PM
And this is a CNN poll? I wonder what the responses would have been in an honest poll?
Terrye on May 4, 2009 at 6:16 PM
The big tent is apparently aimed at the “moderate elite”..
the_nile on May 4, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Yeah, those socons are such an anchor around the GOP’s neck…
ddrintn on May 4, 2009 at 6:17 PM
The gays sure don’t respect others nor the constitution.
seven on May 4, 2009 at 6:17 PM
When it comes to being Pro-Life I wonder how many are like myself in that they’re against abortion as a meas of birth control but accept it for cases of rape/incest and absolute danger to mothers health and in my case as an absolute last resort the use of the morning after pill. I’m sort of 50/50 on the morning after pill though. I’ve heard some real horror stories about the results from that but in concept the idea of a last “out” short of an abortion procedure seems needed.
Yakko77 on May 4, 2009 at 6:17 PM
So if we legalize gay marrage that adds what about 10,000 marriages across the country ? is it worth the greif ?
William Amos on May 4, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Wait, I though they said we could never win another election if we don’t become pro-gay marriage. I thought we’re in the minority?
deidre on May 4, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Especially when the traditional-marriage advocate is so drop-dead gorgeous! Who would want to publicly smear such a beautiful and elegant woman, without fearing a backlash?
Steve Z on May 4, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Doesn’t matter a whit unless you can overturn Roe v Wade does it now?
An that ain’t happening.
Here is the poll data conservos never cite.
Hamilton study.
So you see…..until you can get that 2/3s to want to OVERTURN Roe v Wade, you guyz are screwed.
;)
strangelet on May 4, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Keep praying everybody.
TexasDan on May 4, 2009 at 6:22 PM
This has to be a major issue in 2012. Not Gay Marriage and/or abortion, but the fact that Barry STANDS FOR NOTHING. He just polls constantly and says what he needs to say at the moment.
marklmail on May 4, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Yeah! In order to win we need to be more
progressiveliberalmoderate!Sarcasm aside, I love it when the local liberals come here to berate us for not being as accepting of liberals, oh excuse me, “moderates” and that the GOP is dead if we don’t become a ‘bigger tent’ – they’re just scared that the GOP will actually govern from the right instead of the ‘middle’.
gwelf on May 4, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Actually, the girls are screwed, the guys just run away.
PappaMac on May 4, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Haha, lowest “no opinion” percentages I have seen.
Vigilante on May 4, 2009 at 6:24 PM
For opponents of gay marriage it isn’t about how many individuals would utilize the ability. It’s a moral issue.
amerpundit on May 4, 2009 at 6:27 PM
This is a good point. When pollsters ask about banning abortion EXCEPT for rape, incest, or danger to the LIFE of the mother, public support is consistently in the mid-60′s. This is what pro-lifers should be shooting for–getting something passed with majority support that will prevent MOST abortions. I am personally against ALL abortions, but would settle for this to prevent the millions of abortions that do NOT result from rape or incest. Sometimes the perfect is the enemy of the good.
However, we must carefully distinguish between exceptions for LIFE of the mother and for HEALTH of the mother. If a pregnancy endangers the life of the mother, both will die if it is not ended. However, a HEALTH exception can be easily twisted to mean “mental health”, where a mother or someone else claims that she will be mentally affected by having a baby, which could then be used to justify millions of otherwise unnecessary abortions.
Steve Z on May 4, 2009 at 6:29 PM
And here I though As Goes Parez, So Goes The Nation……
Ampersand on May 4, 2009 at 6:30 PM
I refuse to decide until I hear what Meggie Mac has to say.
Rhinoboy on May 4, 2009 at 6:30 PM
I wonder what percentage would say that deciding whether or not letting a new born botched abortion baby die in a closet would be above their pay grade?
Star20 on May 4, 2009 at 6:30 PM
This is good news but unless the we stand for Traditional marriage the other side has an unanswered megaphone.
I had a sign in my yard supporting the Arizona Amendment this year… all kinds of my neighbors told me they supported it too but they didn’t want a sign…
It passed here but there is a stigma to the majority opinion. That isn’t a good sign.
petunia on May 4, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Finally, the real GOP platform is proven to be the right direction for a party to move towards.
As time goes on, limits Federal spending and making gov. smaller will be embraced.
The GOP will have the right platform, and the liberals will be wondering “what happened?”.
right2bright on May 4, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Imagine if they used terms like “pro-abortion” instead. The numbers would change.
fossten on May 4, 2009 at 6:33 PM
From Joe the Plumber:
SnarkVader on May 4, 2009 at 6:37 PM
I just think gay marriage is a non-issue. Why bother?
I couldn’t care less.
My issue was this was nipping free speech. She’s entitled to her opinion.
AnninCA on May 4, 2009 at 6:37 PM
I think this shows a huge blow to anti-gay groups. I mean c’mon…44% of Americans now APPROVE
dcwvu on May 4, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Not surprising. People would reject a mischaracterization of their position.
radiofreevillage on May 4, 2009 at 6:38 PM
That’s a good follow up post.
I am against abortion, but feel the best way, and most practical way to go is to support a ban on abortion with those exceptions of rape, incest, health (real health), etc.
Then when we find out that it “works”, then incrementally introduce other bills to eventually be “abortion free”.
Incremental, step by step.
Going for the “complete ban” will just push some into a corner not to be “told”…
right2bright on May 4, 2009 at 6:38 PM
I suspect and would support gay marriage being accepted in many states (I am for the federalist approach). I do not think those in favor of gay marriage are at 44%.
As for abortion, I suspect people pro and con are roughtly equal right now, but very few are absolute. That is what makes polling this issue difficult. And that is after 20 years of debate, so I do not expect to see any major shifts on this issue anytime soon.
Mr. Joe on May 4, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Thinker.
radiofreevillage on May 4, 2009 at 6:39 PM
About the same percentage as voted for McCain? How much importance do you give McCain voters?
ddrintn on May 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Especially since the African American community are opposed to gay marriage and are being killed off by abortion, too…we certainly wouldn’t want to tell these people the truth and possibly risk them aligning themselves with us. /sarc
This is what I keep saying about standing for TRUTH.
We might get beaten. We might get ridiculed. We certainly make no friends in Hollywood…but truth ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS wins. You can suppress it only for so long.
I want to be so worthy to die for truth…I worry that I would cave before the end. But, we all will have our moment to be “brave.” How easy is it to stand for what is right NOW when we have numbers?
Mommypundit on May 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM
why does the legality of abortion make liberals so happy? what part of dismembering a tiny human ushers in their dopey euphoria? This country is lost as long as we do not protect our smallest citizens.
Ris4victory on May 4, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Why would someone who’s pro-abortion be ashamed to say so?
ddrintn on May 4, 2009 at 6:41 PM
CNN actually did a legitimate poll, that doesn’t skew results in Liberal favor? I’m speechless!
capejasmine on May 4, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Imagine if they phrased the question:
I think the majority of Americans want to be fair and would agree…………
………. it’s when the homosexual “activists” want to ram it down our throats (no pun intended) and try to take over the term “Marriage”, that is when we get pissed off and fighting mad.
Seven Percent Solution on May 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
I ask you, what were the numbers 5, 10, 15 years ago? They were much, MUCH lower. At this rate in 10 years, gay marriage advocates will definitely be in the majority. This issue is slipping out of the GOP’s hands and you can just feel the fear and uncertainty there. They will quickly have to come up with another boogeyman soon lest they want voters to actually look at the GOP platform and decide for themselves.
dcwvu on May 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
I agree, I think.
Being an actual “activist,” my whole agenda has never been to make it utterly illegal right here and now. Of course, that is a dream come true! But, in reality, I know the very best, and most legally responsible thing we can do is overturn Roe and make each state decide. If one state says no, then let them. If others wish to perform them, let them as well. This will occupy the states for a long time…and, possibly, even more truth about the practice will come to light.
What isn’t seen is the battle on the ground. every day there are believers who stand on sidewalks praying over girls entering. I’ve seen them getting dropped off by their thug boyfriends…they stay there all day just waiting for the doctor to arrive…and we just pray. Some stop. Most don’t want to do it. I have seen mothers taking their own daughters there. And, then, I know when the UPS trucks come and pick up the bodies…yes…the bodies just stay there until they can be taken for experimentation and/or disposal.
BODIES.
Mommypundit on May 4, 2009 at 6:47 PM
“Slipping out of the GOP’s hands”? What’s the Democrat position on the subject? Something like the opinion of one Carrie Prejean? Why do you think that is?
ddrintn on May 4, 2009 at 6:48 PM
What about those questions seemed dishonest? They read pretty cut and dry to me.
DaveS on May 4, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Yeah, I still don’t think they’d be quick to publish a poll adverse to Obama though.
ddrintn on May 4, 2009 at 6:49 PM
The GOP establishment can turn on the pragmatists dial all they want. it won’t change the truth.
Ultimately, you will have to silence the church. You can kill us to keep us quiet, but Jesus still lives and He still changes hearts and minds, in spite of marginalizing measures.
Mommypundit on May 4, 2009 at 6:49 PM
While this poll gives me something to throw in the face of the recent influx of “drop the pro-life plank to make the GOP more popular” concern trolls, I think it needs to be said:
I am not pro-life because I think it helps win elections.
I am pro-life because I am pro-life.
A Balrog of Morgoth on May 4, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Actually, at this rate (see poll numbers above), gay marriage support will be 44% or less. No gain in the past 6 months hardly suggest a growing rate.
Norwegian on May 4, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Hey, if it were REALLY legitimate, it would probably show a majority for LIFE!
Christian Conservative on May 4, 2009 at 6:53 PM
OK, then let’s rephrase that… are you pro-life, or do you think it is OK to suck brains out of an infant in the mother deems the baby inconvenient.
Just checkin’.
PrincipledPilgrim on May 4, 2009 at 6:53 PM
So, who’s the REAL dumb b*tch here?
AZ_Mike on May 4, 2009 at 6:53 PM
OK, then let’s rephrase that… are you pro-life, or do you think it is OK to suck brains out of an infant
inif the mother deems the baby inconvenient.PrincipledPilgrim on May 4, 2009 at 6:54 PM
I think you’re statistics reasoning is way off. If you look back, support for gay marriage over time has only risen, never fallen back. I assure you, in 10 years time with millions of old folks/baby boomers dead or dying and my generation and younger having more power and influence, the numbers will only get better for equality. You can try to sugarcoat things to rest better at night, but we all know its the truth.
dcwvu on May 4, 2009 at 6:56 PM
PrincipledPilgrim on May 4, 2009 at 6:54 PM
sad to say, i used to be pro-abortion. and i used to hate seeing the people picket on the streets with the bloody posters and everything. glad to say i have changed my position. can you guess who helped change it?????
Ghoul aid on May 4, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Yes and the implications for freedom of religion and what is taught in schools on the subject.
petunia on May 4, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Sodomites and lesbians are not boogeymen for the GOP. That is stupid bunk. Maybe folks have something called morals and a full knowledge of right vs. wrong. I could care less what gays do; I just do not want their rhetoric shoved in my children’s faces day in and day out. I don’t want my kids told that being homosexual is normal or natural, b/c it is neither. That is why the number of supporters of gay marriage are growing, b/c children are inundated with the gay agenda, the gay this, the gay that, until they simply believe it – they are impressionable and the onslaught is never ending. I don’t & won’t apologize for my opinions or beliefs. I also do not judge anyone; they must make their own decisions, and deep down everyone knows right from wrong (except the mentally ill).
Ris4victory on May 4, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Or, if we can hold out long enough science will catch-up to reality. And it will not be such a trendy lifestyle choice in the future and the issue will slide off into oblivion where it belongs.
petunia on May 4, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Words mean everything.
I think the linguistic shift to “opposite marriage” made all the difference.
YYZ on May 4, 2009 at 7:07 PM
I hope the GOP isn’t emboldened by such polls. These still aren’t issues upon which to build a political majority. If the party wants to say “We’re pro-life, we’re pro-marriage, now let’s move on and talk about out-of-control spending, property rights, the Supreme Court, free markets, and liberty,” then fine. If the party wants to make these centerpiece issues for 2010 and 2012 that’s suicide. Absolute political suicide.
Rational Thought on May 4, 2009 at 7:08 PM
It’s inevitable that in time, a majority of Americans will support gay marriage, but I don’t think we’re likely to see a shift on abortion one way or another.
YYZ on May 4, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Perez Hilton makes the best case I’ve seen in a long time that homosexuality is a mental illness. Anyone who thinks whatever the heck Hilton is is “normal”, is nuts.
MikeA on May 4, 2009 at 7:11 PM
I don’t think they will be centerpieces given the state of the economy in 2012, but to say its ‘political suicide’ is beyond ignorant.
Political suicide would be to have a Pro-Gay marriage platform. Which of course neither party will ever have.
Norwegian on May 4, 2009 at 7:11 PM
I completely agree. The two are totally not in the same stratosphere. Letting two consenting adults legally commit themselves to each other, and murdering unborn children are NOT the same.
dcwvu on May 4, 2009 at 7:12 PM
There are so many options available for these issues, I don’t find this poll very helpful. I believe that those who support and oppose and have various compromise positions on these issues should all be welcome in the Republican Party, as long as they are consistently conservative on fiscal and national defense matters.
Loxodonta on May 4, 2009 at 7:12 PM
?doG
Damn, there’s that dislexia again.
44Magnum on May 4, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Agreed.
Loxodonta on May 4, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Interesting developments in human sciences are underway, see John Derbyshire’s posts on Corner.
These developments would hurt both policy agendas like gay marriage and affirmative action, among others. I think the support for both have peaked, and science will undermine them futher.
Norwegian on May 4, 2009 at 7:15 PM
No special rights for homosexuals
Not one penny of my tax dollar for abortions
Not one penny for Hamas
Not one penny for gitmo terrorists
Not one penny for Gaza refugees
Not one penny for ACORN
etc.etc.
That is the republican platform…
nondhimmie on May 4, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Sounds like a great science fiction movie for the 700 Club to air. Nothing more, nothing less. Gay people will always be around, like they have for thousands of years. You can deal with it, or just be perpetually angry for the rest of your life.
dcwvu on May 4, 2009 at 7:18 PM
44Magnum on May 4, 2009 at 7:12 PM
actually, it was the fraud that sits in the white house that got me to change my mind on abortion. the whole throw them in the closet thing actually woke me up. so i guess i owe that fraud thanks.
Ghoul aid on May 4, 2009 at 7:19 PM
And gay marriage has been around how many of those thousands of years? I digress.
Angry? Hardly. Anger seems to be much more prevalent on the side of gay marriage proponents; see reaction of the gay lobby to Calfornia’s rejection of gay marriage; Perez Hilton’s rants, etc, etc.
Norwegian on May 4, 2009 at 7:25 PM
God DOES work in mysterious ways do He not?
44Magnum on May 4, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Just about all the polling shows that the divide between pro and anti gay marriage isn’t political or religious as much as generational. Young people simply aren’t opposed to it the way older people are which would indicate that it is only a matter of time.
lexhamfox on May 4, 2009 at 7:29 PM
44Magnum on May 4, 2009 at 7:27 PM
yes.
Ghoul aid on May 4, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Mommypundit on May 4, 2009 at 6:47 PM
This is where I stand on the abortion issue as well. Let the states decide – it will spark a lot of debate and truth.
As for gay marriage – I’m willing to go for civil unions or in the worst case scenario having all couples perform a civil ceremony and then a separate religious ceremony for those whose faiths do not condone homosexual unions.
However, as I put forth in another thread, these matters are best fought and won at the state level. That is where people become educated about the issues via their family, faith, school and community.
KickandSwimMom on May 4, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Really????!?!
I cannot tell you how much I cried over my “christian” friends who listened to me and read the evidence and STILL they voted for him.
It’s good to hear that some people can still look at facts and be changed by them.
Mommypundit on May 4, 2009 at 7:34 PM
What do all these polls and opinions from the lowly peasants matter anyway? Does not our new Fuhrer Obamalini, with some input from Queen Nancy and Prince Harry, have the final say in the Obama Reich?
MB4 on May 4, 2009 at 7:36 PM
The thing is, liberals HATE democracy in practice. They love tyranny of the few…particularly in robes! They like imposing their ideology on the majority and cannot tolerate the social “laggers” who hold the rest of the nation up on their way to some liberal utopian dream where, apparently, everyone has sex with anything they want to and children are play things as well as slaughtered with impunity as the burden/arbitrary fashion statement they are at any given moment….um…all for the environment, of course.
Mommypundit on May 4, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Two percent of Americans are homosexual according to the latest best research. Although questions about individual rights are not to be taken lightly, is it prudent to contort and fragment our culture, law and politics to accommodate the most non-compromising of this vanishingly small group? Those who wish to engage in sexual relations of a homosexual sort are free to do so. They are not entitled to claim the status of marriage. Even where same sex marriage is approved it is a hollow term conveying nothing but tax advantages and the like. No procreation, no contribution to the nation’s future, nothing. I hear a distant rumbling. Please hold the purported parallels to interracial marriage. Men of all races are men and women of all races are women. Being members of a single species they can procreate regardless of race. Family formation and procreation is destiny for families and nations. False,constructed counterfeits are an exercise in self delusion and narcissism.
Mason on May 4, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Mommypundit on May 4, 2009 at 7:34 PM
yup. ever since i was attacked and called a full on racist and other unmentionable things on other blogs and in real life for supporting Hillary over Obama last year, a lot of things have changed. i used to go along with the liberal flow all of my life. i’ve had anger over the war myself, but at some point, there is nothing left and you have to look at the big picture. don’t waste your tears on ignorant morons. they are not worth it.
Ghoul aid on May 4, 2009 at 7:44 PM
But they are still only 2-3% – a statistic with no merit or credibility, simply an unnatural anomaly. Why are we allowing ourselves to be held hostage? Because they “own” the Hollywood?
I think we need to look more closely at why the push to remake our country for the benefit of 3% of the population. And why does their lobby have so much power and influence. They’ve corrupted the judicial system to attain what they call a civil right – when the public votes, they vote No.
It’s ridiculous. And I see no harm in continuing to keep the anti-gay marriage position part of the GOP platform. There are gays in the GOP who are anti-gay marriage, for Pete’s sake. They don’t want legal recognition of their union, they want to anger people. It’s an issue designed to divide the public so they can get their hands on more power. How many Dems/Liberals know Obama’s true position on gay marriage? His position is the same as mine – civil unions, not marriage.
gopmom on May 4, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Mommypundit on May 4, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Liberals hate democracy in practice because it does not flow their way. Just like they are the tolerant party as long as you agree with them! Example, I find the gay activists behaviour in California despicable. There is no way the gays would have tolerated it if Prop 8 had gone their way and the heterosexuals started demonstrating to have it overturned. I hope California does not let them get away with it – that will truly be outrageous.
KickandSwimMom on May 4, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Who says we need to overturn Roe v Wade? We can take a page from the lefty book and keep harping on the idea that abortion is a bad, bad thing…so bad that most women won’t consider it. That seems to be working, at least in part.
ddrintn on May 4, 2009 at 7:50 PM
I know what kind of Pole Perez Hilton would LOVE to delve into.
Or.. have delved into.. umm, him.
/wretching
44Magnum on May 4, 2009 at 7:52 PM
^ For example, not even the kookiest lefties are celebrating abortion the way they did a couple of decades or so ago. It’s not so socially acceptable, is it?
ddrintn on May 4, 2009 at 7:53 PM
I agree. The abortion issue is a grassroots movement that begins at home with your children. It is truly changing the landscape of how our young adults are beginning to form their worldviews. Its working. Its also no small achievement to have liaisons working with families when a teenage girl does turn up pregnant to give her and her family the extended support they need. Quite a bit of this support is done through volunteer and religious organizations.
canditaylor68 on May 4, 2009 at 8:01 PM
the only way to win this issue, is to turn the democrats in a pro-life party…the republicans are too gutless to be of any use to anyone…
right4life on May 4, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Well, there is that female Bishop who is taking over at the Harvard Divinity School who preaches that abortion is a gift from God. Her name escapres me at the moment, but there is a leftist kook fringe who view abortion as though it were part of their Holy Trinity.
A Balrog of Morgoth on May 4, 2009 at 8:44 PM
What’s the matter? Poll numbers didn’t work out the way you hoped? You sound like the one sugarcoating to me.
Counting chickens before they hatched? This poll demonstrates you don’t even have the eggs. Have you ever considered the fact that people tend to get more conservative as they get older? There are a lot of famous cliches built around that phenomenon, and like most cliches, there’s a lot lot of truth in them. I certainly became more conservative as I got older, and I’m not the only one. Think about that for awhile.
Dreadnought on May 4, 2009 at 9:42 PM
I anxiously await the next David Frum column built around these poll results. New Majority indeed.
Dreadnought on May 4, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Who will have the audacity to tell Peter Puffer Perez he’s in the minority?
GarandFan on May 4, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Well, yeah, I guess there are some still around like that. Let’s be thankful there are fewer of them. I believe that if this were the mid-1970s though you’d probably remember her name. ;)
ddrintn on May 4, 2009 at 9:56 PM
The poll had 44% for marriage? That has maybe doubled in the past 20 years. If people are getting more conservative on this issue it hasn’t been at high enough levels to net out the opinions of new voters every year.
dedalus on May 4, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Because nobody ever changes their opinion as they age and experience life…
/sarc
cs89 on May 4, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I’m for civil unions for gay couples, but not marriage. But the opinions of the 44% might be accounted for in part by the shrillness and insistence of the propaganda they’ve been fed for quite a while now. Of course, that can work both ways and an outcome is never really inevitable.
ddrintn on May 4, 2009 at 10:52 PM
I agree on civil unions. Civil unions probably poll a majority nationally. It is too bad that things are polarized and it looks like a fight over the word “marriage” rather than a discussion over rights.
As for the future, we’ll see. Most people are focused on other things in their daily lives.
dedalus on May 4, 2009 at 11:12 PM
On the contrary, I don’t find this surprising at all (re: gay marriage). It’s about 4-5 months between the polling re-visit. A longitudinal study over decades would be far more eye opening.
More, just look at the language:
Emphasis naturally added.
Rephrase this as:
“Do you think same-sex civil unions should or should not be recognized by the government as valid, offering the same rights as existing, government-issued marriage licenses?”
And I think you’ll get a much different response.
It’s all about the “M” word. I wish the gay rights groups would get that and drop the “marriage” battle.
lansing quaker on May 5, 2009 at 12:55 AM
If so many GOPers didn’t act like Democrats on issues other than abortion and gay marriage, they GOP wouldn’t be demonized by this sh*t.
I’m glad the GOP takes an aspirational view about abortion.
What’s radical about opposing funding for overseas abortions? What’s radical about reasonable restrictions on late-term abortions? The vaunted Roe court was dumb enough to introduce the concept of viability, and medical science has dialed that back towards conception. What’s radical about parental consent or notification for abortions for minors? What’s radical about cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood? It doesn’t have enough money? What’s to demonize here? I don’t see women going to jail for having an abortion, and I don’t see that coming in the future? And, given the state of the law and the composition of the Supreme Court, what are the prospects of ever overturning Roe? And so what if it were overturned? What does that mean? The GOP never clearly explains that it’s an issue left to each of the states–again, if it gets there?
What’s the more admirable stance? Fighting for the right of an unborn child to be born or fighting for the right of a callous skank too stupid to remember her birth control to terminate a child she doesn’t want? Get a vibrator and get out of the political debate.
BuckeyeSam on May 5, 2009 at 8:18 AM
I wonder how many of those kids in the survey you cited understand what overturning Roe would actually mean. I’m guessing fewer than 3 in 10 do, and that’s being generous. In my experience a slightly smaller percentage of adults than that understand it.
DrSteve on May 5, 2009 at 8:26 AM
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