Why do the polls constantly underestimate opposition to gay marriage?
In Gallup’s polling, support for same-sex marriage rose from 35 percent to 42 percent between 1999 and 2004, but then dropped back to 37 percent; it rose to 46 percent just before Obama’s 2008 victory, but then dropped back to 40 percent a year later. Today’s 50 percent support likewise represents a slight drop-off from the high of 53 percent in the survey Gallup conducted last year.
This pattern suggests that Americans grow more resistant to same-sex marriage the more they feel that it’s being imposed upon them by an unelected judicial elite, and grow more supportive the more it seems to be gaining ground organically. A president is not an unelected judge, but a public flip-flop on the issue by the nation’s chief executive might feel like yet another elite attempt to pre-empt a debate that appears to be moving toward a resolution, but hasn’t quite been settled yet.
The second reason for the White House’s caution is that opinion polling has consistently understated opposition to same-sex marriage since the issue rose to national prominence. Voters who say they support it when Gallup and other pollsters come calling can behave very differently in the privacy of the voting booth.
Blowback
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No, because it still remains sin.
I’ve already seen a few news articles online where pedophiles claim they were born that way.
Sometimes people are born predisposed to alcoholism, I’m not sure we should tell those people, “Well then just give in to your craving and go for it.”
I also saw a gross article about two or three months ago where a reporter did a story about a group of people who say they want the right to date and marry animals.
They say they are sexually attracted to animals, including one guy who had sex with a dolphin, if I remember correctly.
Some of them were making all the same arguments in favor of their animal attraction (‘zoophilia’ is the term, I think) that pro-homosexuality people make.
Sin has tainted the world and everything in it, including human sexuality.
TigerPaw on May 9, 2012 at 3:34 PM
What exactly do you gain from a state recognized marriage that you can’t get from current contract law? This is a serious question. I think this would make for a better discussion if each “side” put those things on the table that they feel are actually in the balance.
One thing that gay marriage will do is make it much easier for judges and the gay lobby to keep pushing anyone and everyone out of the public square that disagrees with them by suing them (photographers, relationship counselors, adoption agencies etc).
If you loved someone and wanted to share the rest of your life with them is not being able to get a state marriage preventing you from living together, celebrating with family and friends, opening up a gift registry at Target etc. When I look at my own marriage the only differences I can see that would occur if it were not recognized by the state is tax status and there would be a little more legal work to ensure inheritance etc (nothing that couldn’t be done with normal contract and inheritance laws).
gwelf on May 9, 2012 at 3:36 PM
That’s a question, not an answer. *sigh*
Well, that’s the closest thing to an answer I suppose. Pardon me tho if my heart doesn’t fall out of my chest at the thought of your Norman Rockwell-esque vision of marriage. You can still have that vision in your mind if Gary marries Steve. Gays marrying doesn’t negate your thought on what marriage means to you.
Not to mention, that doesn’t really seem to be such a huge loss for you…your mental image of what marriage should be.
JetBoy on May 9, 2012 at 3:37 PM
The
BradleyBrucey effect?pain train on May 9, 2012 at 3:38 PM
They get state bennies and entitlement which is so conservative and small government. Lets get real; this is EXACTLY what gay marriage is about and state coercion of “acceptance.” If you took away the federal bennies and they realized that state recognition and state coercion can NEVER guarantee acceptance then away goes the desire to be “married.”
melle1228 on May 9, 2012 at 3:41 PM
I didn’t say that what was lost was my mental image of what marriage is or should be. I know what marriage is. What’s lost is, as I said, societal recognition of traditional marriage as a uniquely beneficial unit. However, heterosexuals have done such a bad job at “walking the walk” of marriage, I question whether we deserve special recognition anymore.
JDF123 on May 9, 2012 at 3:46 PM
I’ve answered this question several times, but I’m glad to do so again.
Elaine Huguenin lost $6000 because of a same sex marriage in New Mexico. Other folks have been wring through the legal system in the same way. Churches also.
Most Americans are willing to “live and let live”. But progressive homosexual activists like yourself have no intention of returning the favor. You and your cohorts of the left want to force your agenda into every home and church in America.
And that’s why 29 states have banned same sex marriage in their constitutions.
Rebar on May 9, 2012 at 3:50 PM
I don’t think you can boil down the motives of a group of people down to one thing. I agree that there are many in the gay lobby who see state recognition of gay marriage as a stepping stone to state enforced acceptance but I’d bet most gay people have a motive that isn’t nefarious.
Also, in western countries where gay marriage is universally recognized by the state it’s in practice illegal to call it a sin from the pulpit. America is not Europe but the gay lobbyists want to push us that direction. I think most gay people that want to get a state marriage want it because they want to be married and a sense that “society” approves of it may be part of it as well but the strongest proponents in the gay lobby want state enforced agreement on private individuals and institutions. I’m sure JetBoy doesn’t agree with the fascist elements in the gay lobby but he seems to want to pretend that they don’t exist on a regular basis.
gwelf on May 9, 2012 at 3:58 PM
D’uh. It’s the trust factor. Gay activist have passed on the lesson quite well. Vote against us publicly and we will attack you and yours with violence. Only in the voting booth where, for now, privacy is assured do we the people feel free to vote our conscience.
AH_C on May 9, 2012 at 6:40 PM
Sin is genetic. On the flip side for those who are pro-genetic, when that gene is found, we’ll have to deal with parents aborting their gay babies.
What a brave new world, when we rewrite God’s natural law./s
AH_C on May 9, 2012 at 6:45 PM
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