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Most Oppose Gay Marriage; Fewer Back an Amendment
ABC News ^ | June 6, 2006 | GARY LANGER

Posted on 06/05/2006 9:54:35 PM PDT by Sunsong

An ABC News poll finds that most Americans oppose gay marriage but markedly fewer — especially those outside George W. Bush's core supporters — would amend the U.S. Constitution to ban it.

Opponents, however, are far more likely to call it a make-or-break issue in their vote for Congress — a finding that explains Bush's renewed push for a gay marriage ban.

Among all Americans, 58 percent say gay marriage should be illegal, but fewer, 42 percent, say it rises to the level of amending the U.S. Constitution. Among conservative Republicans and evangelical white Protestants, though, opposition to gay marriage soars more than 85 percent, and two-thirds support a constitutional amendment to ban it, a sharp contrast to views in the political center, as well as on the left. The intensity of these views adds to the political calculation: People who "strongly" oppose gay marriage — 51 percent of the public — outnumber strong supporters by 2-1. And those strong opponents are nearly three times as likely as other Americans to say they would vote only for a candidate who shares their view on the issue.

Similarly, among people who support a gay marriage amendment, 63 percent say they could vote only for a candidate who agrees with them; among those who oppose an amendment, just 24 percent say the same...

Fifty-one percent in this poll say that instead of a constitutional amendment, states should make their own laws on gay marriage; this too is down slightly, from 56 percent in spring 2005 and back near its 2004 levels...

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: 109th; digression; distraction; diversion; dodge; dognponyshow; evasion; flimflam; fma; homosexual; homosexualagenda; homosexuals; manbehindthecurtain; panderbear; polls; razzledazzle; redherring; samesexmarriage; smokescreen

1 posted on 06/05/2006 9:54:40 PM PDT by Sunsong
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To: Sunsong
No matter. Those of us who support traditional marriage are bigots. And for that reason alone, we're not even worthy of a hearing by the Senate.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

2 posted on 06/05/2006 10:01:05 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: Sunsong

...and after seeing the results of this survey they will run a marathon of back-to-back episodes of "Will and Grace" on one of their cable channels.


3 posted on 06/05/2006 10:02:17 PM PDT by capt. norm (Ben Franklin: "Does thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of")
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To: Sunsong
That's because this is an issue the RINOs hope will catch on to take our eye off the ball on illegal immigration.
4 posted on 06/05/2006 10:02:22 PM PDT by suijuris
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To: goldstategop
They did have a hearing on this, thats why it is being debated before the full Senate. Coincidentally, the hearing was held in a closet.
5 posted on 06/05/2006 10:03:32 PM PDT by Prodn2000
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To: Sunsong
but fewer, 42 percent, say it rises to the level of amending the U.S. Constitution

I agree with that. I don't like messing with the Constitution. The more you change it, the more it will be changed. Eventually it will become worthless.

6 posted on 06/05/2006 10:07:42 PM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: Sunsong

we'll have to do it state by state


7 posted on 06/05/2006 10:08:28 PM PDT by Andy from Beaverton (I only vote Republican to stop the Democrats)
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To: goldstategop

The hearing was held in January.


8 posted on 06/05/2006 10:11:01 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: Sunsong
Among conservative Republicans and evangelical white Protestants, though, opposition to gay marriage soars more than 85 percent, and two-thirds support a constitutional amendment to ban it,

Where are Catholics on the issue, did the pollsters skip over them? Surely the largest Christian group in the US is as much opposed to same sex marriage as evangelical protestants are.

State laws and amendments won't stop the homo lobby and it's sympathetic federal judges from shoving homo marriage in our faces, only a Constitutional amendment can do that. An amendment becomes an integral part of the Constitution once it's ratified and the Constitution itself can't be ruled unconstitutional, not even by an arrogant lefty judge.

9 posted on 06/05/2006 10:17:56 PM PDT by epow (No tagline tonight, the tagline store closed before I could get there.)
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To: Cobra64

I agree with that. I don't like messing with the Constitution. The more you change it, the more it will be changed. Eventually it will become worthless.

When liberal activist Judges have already destroyed the constitution and the commander in chief cannot fight a war without treason at home, what makes the constitution seem like it has not been destroyed?

It is time to start putting American Values BACK INTO the Constitution when anti-Americans take them out. Sick perversion of marriage is as bad as treason against the President, and the Liberal agenda goes on. Let them change the Constitution?


10 posted on 06/05/2006 10:19:49 PM PDT by Nickey (Loose Lips Sink Ships.)
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To: Andy from Beaverton

What happens when a Federal Judge overthrows the will of the people in a State? It becomes a Federal issue. There is more important issues: Like another hearing on Katrina? We can do more than one thing at a time. It is time we tried to solve this issue.


11 posted on 06/05/2006 10:23:26 PM PDT by Brimack34
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To: Sunsong

I'm getting dizzy from all this spin.

I keep hearing how the Constitution shouldn't be amended. Of course it shouldn't < /sarc >. Constitutional change is supposed to come from the Legislative Branch as activist judges consult foreign law to arrive at new interpretations of the Constitution.

So much for the living breathing document. Meanwhile the State of Texas' constitution has hundreds of Amendments.

Just wait'll Congress gets around to a protection of life amendment...


12 posted on 06/05/2006 10:27:28 PM PDT by weegee (Slowly but surely and deliberately, converativism is being made a thoughtcrime.)
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To: Andy from Beaverton
we'll have to do it state by state

Won't work.

We amended the GA constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman by 76% of the total vote. Then a judge in Atlanta threw it out because she says it wasn't passed according to the state constitution's rules for amending. The state Assembly will go through the process again and correct what she says was done improperly, but sure as my feet smell like roses she or another judge will throw it out again for some other made-up reason.

That same kind of thing or some other tactic will eventually happen in every state that has banned homo marriage. The only thing the perversion lobby's pet judges and federal courts can't throw out is a properly passed and ratified amendment to the US Constitution.

13 posted on 06/05/2006 10:35:52 PM PDT by epow (No tagline tonight, the tagline store closed before I could get there.)
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To: epow

Put this Catholic in the "biggot" collumn.

My fear w/ this amendment is that it will lose so big that it sets us back.


14 posted on 06/05/2006 10:38:54 PM PDT by YCTHouston
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To: Sunsong

Gary Langer, director of polling for ABC News, said George W. Bush won the 2004 presidential election for two reasons: 9/11 and women voters.

15 posted on 06/05/2006 10:49:58 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: Sunsong
In a ABC News/Washington Post poll March 7, a substantial majority -- 63 percent -- of respondents 18 to 29 thought gay marriage should be legal. Gary Langer, ABC News polling director, said the finding has been consistent in the four such polls conducted since September. Several factors, including survey wording, produce nuances in data from different pollsters, making comparison difficult, he said.
16 posted on 06/05/2006 10:54:07 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: goldstategop

Gary Langer, director of polling for ABC News, one of the sponsors of the poll, said a major flaw in the question is that "moral values" is not the same sort of specific issue that taxes and Iraq are.

"Health care is an issue, terrorism is an issue; moral values is much more of a personal characteristic. It is very broadly defined," Langer said.

Langer and others said "moral values" became a sort of "catchall" for Bush's voters that could include everything from gay marriage to vulgarity on television.


http://tinyurl.com/er3xz


17 posted on 06/05/2006 10:56:07 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: Sunsong

www.bias.com

Sober and Sensible Polls?

Since the beginning of Monicagate, the networks have used their pollsters to reinforce how popular Bill Clinton is and how most people don’t care about perjury concerning his "private life." But on August 12, five days before Clinton’s grand jury date, ABC News polling analyst Gary Langer rejoiced in the results on ABCNews.com:

"As the Monica Lewinsky affair spins toward its rendezvous with destiny, it’s worth celebrating what has been perhaps the biggest surprise of the scandal: the sober and sensible way average Americans have responded to the whole brouhaha....Pundits hate this kind of thing; Those who declared him dead have had to reconfigure their best lines to accommodate — drat! — actual public opinion."

Langer explained: "It turns out that most Americans have responded to the Lewinsky affair with more of a head scratch than a knee jerk. Their message on this score has been steady: Clinton’s personal behavior, however unsavory it’s alleged to be, is indeed personal."

As the President’s admission drew nearer, Langer endorsed the White House spin that a strong economy negates sex, lies, and perjury: "Lewinsky’s a far juicier story, but when it comes to evaluating presidential performance, average Americans check their wallets. The lowest unemployment in a generation, trivial inflation, growing personal income: What’s a stained dress in the face of these? So far, not much."


http://tinyurl.com/gszma


18 posted on 06/05/2006 10:59:57 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: kcvl

Quite a few years ago when I was voting in a small town in Northern CA, I voted on some "gay rights" something or other, walked out of the polling place, and realized I had actually voted "FOR" the gay rights whatever it was. There were not only double negatives, but triple, quadruple, and probably more than that negatives. So I went back in and they let me vote again. The second time I pored over it, mentally crossing out every double negative, so I could figure out the dang thing.

After I walked out the second time I realized I screwed it up again.

Liberals ask questions and word stuff purposely to obfuscate, confuse, and indoctrinate. And I WANTED to vote against whatever the "gay rights" proposal was.


19 posted on 06/05/2006 11:08:01 PM PDT by little jeremiah
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To: DBeers

Just in case you don't have enough articles about "gay" marriage in your grip.


20 posted on 06/05/2006 11:09:26 PM PDT by little jeremiah
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To: little jeremiah

"There were not only double negatives, but triple, quadruple, and probably more than that negatives."

Yeah we had something like that many years ago on a gay issue. The way they worded it a "no" vote was really voting for it.


21 posted on 06/05/2006 11:12:32 PM PDT by jwh_Denver (If your ship hasn't come in it's probably because she docked in the Isle of Man.)
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To: Sunsong

Ah...the contortions they must have gone through to write that headline.


22 posted on 06/05/2006 11:16:59 PM PDT by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon)
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To: little jeremiah

That's because they can only win by cheating, as usual. They need to confuse people in order to get what they want. They can't tell the truth or they would always lose.


23 posted on 06/05/2006 11:17:54 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: kcvl; jwh_Denver

I'm still kicking myself for voting what I think was the wrong way. Now that I remember it, I think I went back AGAIN and told the old lady I need to fix it for a third time. And I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I'm far from illiterate!


24 posted on 06/05/2006 11:29:24 PM PDT by little jeremiah
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To: suijuris

That's because this is an issue the RINOs hope will catch on to take our eye off the ball on illegal immigration.




truth


25 posted on 06/05/2006 11:42:57 PM PDT by teldon30 (Far right, elitist, sexist, cynical religious bigot and looter)
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To: Sunsong
A Constitutional Amendment over such a trivial matter is idiocy designed to cater to the religious fundamentalist base.

According to federalism, such a matter is best left to the states. I'm sure some legal "scholar" will figure out some legal trickery to justify this under the thrice-damned Interstate Commerce Clause.

We're fighting a war against Islamic terrorism, we're losing our property rights to eminent domain, are we're being invaded by Mexican criminal aliens who demand their "right" to vote in OUR elections, and El Presidente Jorge is pushing for this?!?

And to think that I was a partisan stalwart in 2000 and 2004, getting right in the Leftists' smug little faces and threatening to stomp them with my boots to defend the President... I feel betrayed.

26 posted on 06/06/2006 12:40:26 AM PDT by FierceDraka ("I am not a number - I am a FREE MAN!")
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To: Cobra64
I don't like messing with the Constitution. The more you change it, the more it will be changed. Eventually it will become worthless.

Isn't it already?

10th Amendment - killed by FDR and his cabal of Socialists.

5th Amendment - done for by eminent domain decision and DUI "exceptions".

4th Amendment - done.

2nd Amendment - pretty much gutted.

1st Amendment - McCain-Feingold, anyone?

It has been said that fascism will come to America in the form of the Cross wrapped in the American flag. Looks like we're already here.

27 posted on 06/06/2006 12:47:57 AM PDT by FierceDraka ("I am not a number - I am a FREE MAN!")
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To: Nickey

It is time to start putting American Values BACK INTO the Constitution when anti-Americans take them out. Sick perversion of marriage is as bad as treason against the President, and the Liberal agenda goes on. Let them change the Constitution?

I agree and so do the majority, it's a showdown of the good vs the evil and I prefer to believe that the majority is good.


28 posted on 06/06/2006 12:56:24 AM PDT by garylmoore (Faith is the assurance of things unseen.)
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To: garylmoore

This issue strengthens the Democrats claim to being the party of Death.They would like to see traditional marriage slowly die.


29 posted on 06/06/2006 3:59:55 AM PDT by ardara
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To: Sunsong

They'll support an amendment when the full faith and credit clause is used to shove gay marriage down the nation's throat.


30 posted on 06/06/2006 4:02:01 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: Nickey
...treason against the President

That construction alone is proof that you haven't the foggiest clue. One cannot commit an act of treason against the president.

31 posted on 06/06/2006 5:48:45 AM PDT by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: Cobra64; Nickey; weegee
Cobra64: I agree with that. I don't like messing with the Constitution. The more you change it, the more it will be changed. Eventually it will become worthless.

Cobra64 must already think it is worthless... this is what it says:

Article. V.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States,...

How can passing an Amendment be un-constitutional???

32 posted on 06/06/2006 6:07:44 AM PDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
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To: Sir Francis Dashwood; Nickey; weegee
How can passing an Amendment be un-constitutional???

I don't have a clue what you are talking about. No one said passing an amendment was un-constitutional.

33 posted on 06/06/2006 9:16:40 AM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: Sunsong; AFA-Michigan; AggieCPA; Agitate; AliVeritas; AllTheRage; An American In Dairyland; ...
Homosexual Agenda Ping!

If you oppose the homosexualization of society
-add yourself to the ping list!

To be included in or removed from the
HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA PING LIST,
please FReepMail either DBeers or DirtyHarryY2k.

Free Republic homosexual agenda keyword search
[ Add keyword = homosexualagenda to flag FR articles to this ping list ]

An ABC News poll finds...

WHY this poll published now??? Why posted on FR now???

ROTFLMAO

- Reality finds this non-issue being debated in the Senate... Who determines issues, the politically impotent OR the politically empowered? Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi would agree with the enraged minority that sits on the sidelines whining incessantly about this "non-issue" -a few of which post such nonsense on FR, the vast majority of which post such nonsense on DU...

34 posted on 06/06/2006 10:22:34 AM PDT by DBeers (†)
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To: Melas

Thank you for advice. I am sad not to have the foggiest clue. So if the Commander-in-Chief gives a lawful order for the troops to obey, but they disobey the order and give aid and comfort to the enemy, maybe this is free speech, you say? Please help me as I do not have the intelligence to understand how this world works, having very simple Conservative mind. I thought the President was Commander-in-Chief of Army. Sorry.


35 posted on 06/06/2006 10:32:39 PM PDT by Nickey (Loose Lips Sink Ships.)
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To: Sir Francis Dashwood

I do not understand how Amendment is unconstitutional? I Am not a constitution scholar.

If sick perversion of marriage does not belong in America, it must say so in the law. If the law cannot be passed without Amendment, then the Amendment is needed.

I am not very refined thinking about these things. I do belive in the law and the Constitution.


36 posted on 06/06/2006 10:38:44 PM PDT by Nickey (Loose Lips Sink Ships.)
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To: Nickey

Disobeying a lawful order is insubordination, not treason. You have your terms all mixed up. As for the original point, it was against your notion that treason could be committed against the president. It cannot. Treason can only be levied against the United States, not it's leader.


37 posted on 06/07/2006 8:13:47 AM PDT by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: Melas

So these differences are important to you somehow?


38 posted on 06/09/2006 5:43:00 PM PDT by Nickey (Loose Lips Sink Ships.)
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To: Melas

Thank you for helpful reply but I read it two times and it still is no help.

Are you saying that a man can be a traitor but not commit treason? or that a man can commit treason but is not a traitor?

This is too hard for me! LOL! Are you a lawyer? Do you work for ACLU? LOL Just Kidding.


39 posted on 06/09/2006 6:11:52 PM PDT by Nickey (Loose Lips Sink Ships.)
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To: jwh_Denver
Yeah we had something like that many years ago on a gay issue. The way they worded it a "no" vote was really voting for it.

I would almost bet that if you had said yes, they could have construed it as a victory.

40 posted on 06/09/2006 6:23:53 PM PDT by Arrowhead
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To: Sunsong
An Alternative to the Federal Marriage Amendment
41 posted on 10/05/2006 4:36:48 AM PDT by RogerFGay
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To: Sunsong
The Outrage in Outrage
42 posted on 10/05/2006 6:19:33 AM PDT by RogerFGay
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