Burnt Orange Report

It's the Economy (or War) Stupid!

By Byron LaMasters

Even though recent polls show that the majority of Americans oppose a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, even in socially conservative states like Missouri where such a proposal might be a winner for Bush, it's very low on people's list of priorities. It's the economy, stupid. The LA Times reports:

Here in the political swing state of Missouri, considered a top prize in the 2004 presidential election, voters overwhelmingly oppose gay marriage. They also solidly back the concept of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.

A statewide poll in late January found that 62% of Missouri voters oppose granting same-sex couples the same benefits as married pairs. And 53% favor a constitutional amendment, according to the poll, which was conducted by the St. Louis Post Dispatch and television station KMOV.

That puts Missouri — which narrowly supported Bush in the 2000 election — on the conservative side compared with the nation as a whole. A majority of Americans oppose gay and lesbian marriage, but polls indicate that less than 40% support a constitutional change.

An ABC News--Washington Post survey last month found that six in 10 Americans prefer to let states define marriage on their own.

A majority of Missouri voters, by contrast, would welcome a federal standard like the one Bush has endorsed.

But that doesn't mean that Bush has an automatic edge on his Democratic rival here in the heartland come November.

Even in this community of 11,000 — which overwhelmingly backed Bush in the last election — voters made it clear that gay marriage is not high on their list of concerns as they weigh presidential candidates.

They're far more interested, they said, in hearing detailed proposals to create jobs, make healthcare more affordable and improve education. They're also upset with the course of the war in Iraq — and some are hoping a new commander in chief might turn things around.

"I got to church on Sunday and I read my Bible, and my point of view is that marriage should be a man and a woman, so I'm for what Bush is saying," said Ray Spavale, 64. "But I might vote for [Massachusetts Sen. John F.] Kerry this time around. Bush jumped into the war in Iraq too soon. I don't like to see our young men dying."

"It would take a lot more than this one issue to make me vote for Bush," said Carolyn Baynes, 70, a retired credit specialist who supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Interviews with two dozen shoppers Tuesday in this well-off suburb west of St. Louis found passions running high on the subject of gay and lesbian marriage. Just about everyone had an opinion — and a vehement one — on whether the state should sanction same-sex unions.

Sure, everyone has an opinion about the gay marriage issue. It's good that we're finally having a debate about it in America. The only way that we'll actually make progress on social issues and for equal rights for all Americans is if we actually force people to talk about it. It'll be a long process, but what's clear here, is that even conservative voters in middle-America aren't buying it. They're not convinced by the scare tactics of the right. The anti-gay marriage amendment may be a factor in their voting, but only after issues like the ongoing war in Iraq, education and jobs. The article goes on:

Yet many also expressed ambivalence about turning their private, often religiously rooted, beliefs into a political crusade.

[...]

Construction contractor Robert Diamante has made up his mind: Much as he recoils from the idea of same-sex marriage, he does not want to tamper with the Constitution. He's uneasy with the federal government imposing a value system on its citizens — even a value system he happens to agree with.

"This is America," said Diamante, 39. "People can live their own lives."

[...]

Over at Wal-Mart, however, Ruth Ruprecht looked up from a stack of toasters to say she couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. A retired educator, Ruprecht, 73, said she figured gay marriage was inevitable — a concept she, like much of America, would have to learn to accept.

"We're breaking a new frontier," Ruprecht said. "You object for a little while, but you get used to it. This is a way of life now. It's going to happen."

Gay marriage is inevitable. Just look at the poll numbers for young people. Not only to most polls show that most young voters (18-29) oppose a anti-gay marriage consitutional amendment, polls show that most young voters, in fact, support gay marriage. Sure, young people may not vote as much today, but in a generation, we'll be the leaders of America, and our generation will see that this civil rights battle is won, once and for all. Just go to most any college campus (ok, well maybe not Liberty University of Bob Jones, but you get the idea). Being openly gay in most colleges is like being openly Black or openly left-handed. It's not really an issue (well that is for everyone but the YCT folks who have their straight pride days and White's only scholarships).

Posted by Byron LaMasters at February 25, 2004 03:02 PM | TrackBack