Posted on 08/10/2012 4:28:04 AM PDT by scottjewell
Given the history of same-sex marriage referendums, poll results should be viewed skeptically
There was a brief explosion of optimism from those supporting same-sex marriage in Maryland last week after a poll by Hart Research Associates indicated that voters in the state support it by a significant margin of 54-40. No state has ever approved gay marriage at the ballot box, but advocates here and elsewhere — The New York Times published a piece titled "Hopeful news from Maryland" — contend that the issue hasn't polled this well before either.
They shouldn't get too excited just yet. Gay marriage is an issue in which polls don't necessarily reflect what voters will actually do at the ballot box because it is increasingly politically incorrect to oppose such nuptials. And there is particular reason to doubt the accuracy of this poll.
...The results of earlier polls on the referendum to overturn Maryland's Civil Marriage Protection Act have generally been much closer.
Advocates are spinning this one as evidence of a shift in public attitudes on the question, but there are reasons to doubt whether that is the case.
When previous states have held votes on gay marriage, poll results have been less than reliable... When Maine voted on a 2009 referendum to overturn its gay marriage law, most polls showed that voters favored same-sex marriage, in one case by double digits. But it was defeated, also 53-47...
In the case of the Hart Research survey, the pollster was clearly not disinterested in the outcome.
The prose accompanying the poll results stated that members of the Hart group "are encouraged" by the results. The Baltimore Sun reports that the poll was "released … by a gay rights group." Selective publishing of polls should raise red flags about the agenda of the pollster...
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
If there is justice, they will be in for a rude awakening.
Always spinning the stats to sway the public; such insincerity and arrogance should come back on them.
Doesn’t matter any longer what the people believe or want. If necessary (and it will be) the courts are going to force this through. Just like abortion.
Two party system doesn’t work anymore...and until people figure that out and revolt by supporting a new party, nothing will change much.
Why don’t these fake journalists ever say people should be “excited” when the voters express support for the Judeo-Christian ethic?
Two thoughts from the Scriptures come to mind here!
“And I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest happily ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: when they had beaten them, they commanded they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His nmae. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:38-42)
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, then it vanisheth away. For ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boasting: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:14-17)
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” (Proverbs 16:
Because only their deranged agenda is supposed to be cause for celebration.
Very nice scripture, very apt. Thank you for that.
The government is at the point is does what is wants. Freedom is gone. RINOS and DEMS are the enemy.
Traditional marriage is winning in polls in Minnesota. Should be a landslide, if polls are the inaccurate in capturing true sentiment for marriage = 1 man + 1 woman.
Unlike the guy who write “For the record—I do not oppose same sex marriage” — I do oppose same sex marriage or the fraud of Civil unions to promote fornication and adultery as if it were equal to marriage. And for the matter -unlike Glenn Beck who supports same sex marriage — I cannot advocate what the Sacred Writings calls an abomination worthy of death.I cannot support what Scripture does NOT consider a “marriage” I cannot advocate for a self and socially destructive lifestyle choice. Unlike the Log Cabin Republicans who are helping draft the GOP platform for election 2012.
Yes, RINOs are even worse, as they are supposed to be the opposition to liberals and have joined them.
I sure hope so.
correction: I meant hope the polls supporting traditional marriage are NOT inaccurate, then.
My state Maryland’s same sex marriage battle ping!
Word has it that lib Gov O Malley packed the Maryland court to over-rule this voter referendum if it succeeds
People are afraid of being called names, names like 'homophobe' or hater etc. So they tell pollsters what they want to hear.
In the privacy of a voting booth citizens tell the truth. Which is why gay 'marriage' and been voted down every time it's been on the ballot. Citizens don't back gay marriage.
Liberals are good at bullying people - making them afraid to say how they really feel. I understand that - name calling and all their other tricks aren't pretty. The Chicago Way is the way of the thug... We'll win this one - the millions of people who showed up at Chick-fil-A versus the few dozens of people who showed up from the other side was the truth. The MSM wasn't even able to spin it as a 'win' for liberal elites - and that says a lot.
Yes, am hoping so. And yes, it said a lot.
‘packed’ with fudge ???
“In all, 32 states have rejected gay marriage, though most of them have been conservative states and have pre-dated the recent rise in public poll support.”
It wasn’t even an issue 30 years ago anywhere, for liberal or conservative states. Hawaii is fairly liberal. It passed its amendment by 69% in ‘98. North Carolina is fairly conservative. It passed it’s amendment by 61% in 2012 and was hailed as some sort of great victory. The average the amendments have passed by is 67% or so, with most of them coming in the middle of the last decade.
Ignore opinion polling and look at the actual votes of the amendments, what states are around the state in question, by how much did it pass, when did it pass, is the state liberal or conservative.
Freegards
Repeat over and over and over again. The ONLY way gay marriage is even an issue is because some judge decided to force it on a state that didn't want it, finding it in a state constitution. Constitutions that were written, by the way, at times when even engaging in a homosexual act was a crime. Its a prime example of Liberalism forcing itself on the population by anti-democratic means.
Legislatures and judges want to 'look good' and not be trashed by the MSM - which happens to be a very vindictive groups when it comes to 'teacher's pets' victim groups. (Gays are definitely a big donor 'victim group') I would bet that many of those legislators who vote for gay marriage also voted against it in the privacy of the voters booth.
Liberal elites rule through intimidation.
More people stand with conservatives than are willing to admit it to a pollster. We're NOT the bullies - and that's the proof.
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