The headline for a new Star Tribune poll story suggest the paper is trying to spin the results in favor of homosexual marriage. In the polling question and the article headings, "A Subtle Shift on Gay Unions" and "A Slight Opinion Shift", the paper suggests there's a shift in the direction of same sex marriage, but nothing in the poll results or story substantiates that assertion.
The poll is a follow up to a 2004 poll which found 58% of Minnesotans would have voted for a marriage amendment. You'd think if they wanted to test a change in public opinion they would have asked the same question today, five years later. No, they didn't. (Maybe they were concerned that the results hadn't changed or had gotten worse.)
Instead they ask people a convoluted question:
And when you read the story there's nothing to suggest why there's even grounds for saying there's even a subtle shift.
In fact, I wonder if the opposite case can be made because only 25% support legalizing same sex marriage, that would mean the other 75% either oppose legalizing same sex marriage or have no opinion. Since only 7 or 8 percent had no opinion or refused on other questions, that suggests upwards of two thirds of Minnesotans are opposed to legalizing same sex marriage; comparable to a statewide poll we did 4 years ago.
The Star Tribune has a reputation for poll results biased against conservative political candidates. This poll suggests the same is true regarding issues like homosexual marriage.
The poll is a follow up to a 2004 poll which found 58% of Minnesotans would have voted for a marriage amendment. You'd think if they wanted to test a change in public opinion they would have asked the same question today, five years later. No, they didn't. (Maybe they were concerned that the results hadn't changed or had gotten worse.)
Instead they ask people a convoluted question:
"As you may know, the Iowa Supreme Court recently legalized same-sex marriage in that state by declaring unconstitutional a state law defining marriage as between a man a and a woman. Do you believe Minnesota should pass a state constitutional amendment prohibiting same -sex marriage or legalize same-sex marriage or make no changes in its marriage laws and leave it to the Minnesota Supreme Court to interpret the state Constitution?"Instead of asking whether people support or oppose a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, they ask the above convoluted question with the word "prohibiting" and giving the people the option of leaving it up to the court. It really results in a confusing and unclear poll.
And when you read the story there's nothing to suggest why there's even grounds for saying there's even a subtle shift.
In fact, I wonder if the opposite case can be made because only 25% support legalizing same sex marriage, that would mean the other 75% either oppose legalizing same sex marriage or have no opinion. Since only 7 or 8 percent had no opinion or refused on other questions, that suggests upwards of two thirds of Minnesotans are opposed to legalizing same sex marriage; comparable to a statewide poll we did 4 years ago.
The Star Tribune has a reputation for poll results biased against conservative political candidates. This poll suggests the same is true regarding issues like homosexual marriage.
28 comments:
The Trib using numbers that relate but do not correlate exactly to the cause or topic at hand? Just as you did about the men who end in prison?
Tom, You need to take one of your very own "re-direction" camp courses. You have been blinded, and programed to the max.
I was at the mayday prade yesterday, and there were 50 thousand people there, and guess what? they were all leaning towards the equal rights bandwagon.
I think you need to move your family to the south where they still put up with your level of bigotry.
The Senate passed a "final wishes" bill 37-24 to allow domestic partners to deal with their beloved's remains.
oooo glorious B! fox news is evening the light!
poor poor radical extremists like yourselves are shrinking! and why? because you do yourselves in!
FOX News Blogs » FOX Forum » Lanny Davis
May 4th, 2009 1:03 PM Eastern
LANNY DAVIS: The Incredible Shrinking Republican Party
“We are not losing blue states and shrinking as a party because we are not conservative enough. If we pursue a party that has no place for someone who agrees with me 70 percent of the time, that is based on an ideological purity test rather than a coalition test, then we are going to keep losing.”
– Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican
When I read Mr. Graham’s comment last week regarding the switch to the Democratic Party by Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, I was reminded of one of my favorite movies from my pre-teen years, the 1957 movie classic “The Incredible Shrinking Man.”
It’s about a man who is exposed to a combination of radiation and insecticide and slowly begins to shrink. By the end of the movie, he has become so small that his wife puts him in a cage to protect him from their house cat and then, at the end of the movie, he is tragically washed down the drain of his sink.
The Republican Party cannot blame radiation and insecticide for its shrinkage. Sooner or later, it will have to face up to the reality that its problems are not a result of bad political strategy or communications, the current most popular self-deluding rationalizations. Rather, the shrinkage is primarily due to two facts about the current Religious Right-dominated Republican Party: unpopular ideas and bad attitudes.
It looks like we have a theme today, the states around the country are saying the same exact things! And sorry Tom, this one article out form chicago is from new findings! way to go america! Civil and social justice is in the air!
PARIS–Central to all the hoopla over Barack Obama’s first hundred days is the polling showing his approval ratings in the upper sixties. It reflects both Obama’s immense personal popularity and the overall belief that he’s doing the right things for America. Though some of his nostrums, such as corporate bailouts, are not nearly as popular as he is, the presidential image is greater than the sum of his parts.
A key statistic came from an Associated Press poll showing that for the first time in more than a decade, more Americans think the country is headed in the right direction than the wrong one—even midst this economic crisis. It sharply reversed a trendline that was dropping like a rock during George Bush’s second term, and anticipates an even more significant story about the nation’s political outlook.
To wit: the American center has moved clearly to the left. Or, as some put it, we are now a moderately progressive—yes, more liberal—nation, both in self identification and in policy outlook.
In a recent study for the Center for American Progress by John Halpin and Ruy Teixeira, about a third of the population called itself moderate, another third liberal or progressive and the remaining third conservative or libertarian. When moderates were pushed to pick liberal or conservative, they split evenly.
For the first time in many decades the public is equally divided between self-identified liberals and conservatives, whereas in the past conservatives outnumbered liberals up to two to one. More importantly, when asked about the kind of policy positions that divide progressives from the Reagan era, the progressive side wins overwhelmingly, with numbers in the 70th percentile.
That’s one reason why those who self-identify as Republicans these days are down as low as 21 percent, while moderates flock toward the “independent” banner and what we used to call “liberal Republicans” turn Democrat. But that remaining fifth of the country is hard line, vocal, determinedly anti-Obama and represented by media megaphones who suggest their numbers are bigger than they are.
As an historic parallel, while Franklin Roosevelt enraptured most of the country, there was always an opposing cadre of haters around cryptofascist broadcast demagogs such as Father Charles Coughlin, the Rush Limbaugh of his day.
The current progressive trend began with Bill Clinton, but his personal antics slowed the movement. Nevertheless, Al Gore won a majority of the popular vote. George Bush was in trouble early in his presidency, but was saved by 9/11, which caused a snapback to conservatism, which in turn began to wither with the Iraq war and other Bushian mishaps.
The mid-term 2006 elections confirmed the new direction and Obama’s victory solidified it. When a vast segment of middle America bypasses its social prejudices and votes its pocketbook—laughing off the yelps that Obama is a socialist who “pals around” with radical terrorists—you know change has come.
Look at some of the Halpin-Teixeira findings on major policy issues:
• By nearly nine to one (79-9 percent), Americans agree that “government investments in education, infrastructure, and science are necessary to ensure America’s long-term economic growth.”
• Just more than three-quarters (76 percent) agree that “America’s economic future requires a transformation away from oil, gas, and coal to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.”
• Nearly as many (73 percent) believe that “government regulations are necessary to keep businesses in check and protect workers and consumers.”
• Nearly two out of three (65 percent) say “the federal government should guarantee affordable health coverage for every American.”
The term “progressive” itself is viewed favorably by 67 percent of those surveyed.
A perfect example of the progressive shift in values is the rapidly growing acceptance of gay marriage. A few years ago this was among the most taboo of subjects, even among many liberals. Today we’re moving toward majoritarian acceptance of the idea—just as domestic partnerships have been mainstreamed.
“Not surprisingly,” the authors write, “conservatives are the ones who are out of line with the values of most Americans.”
We’re not just dealing here with reaction against the Bush presidency, disgust with his war or even the fear instilled by the current economic collapse. Nor is it simply Obamamania. Behind the rise in progressivism are demographic and generational factors that suggest a tectonic change rather than a pendulum swing.
This is no longer a center-right nation. Not only is Bush behind us, but the entire Reagan era is gone with him. Unless Obama somehow blows it.
Yep a trend alright to counter act your bogus attempts Tom I have data from other sources as well!
from the most recent Washington Post/ABC News poll. In that poll for the first time a plurality of Americans (49-46) endorsed the idea that it should be legal for gay and lesbian couples to get married. And support for legalizing gay marriage was even higher among 18- to 29-year-olds (66 percent). This suggests that we will see even stronger public support for gay marriage as more members of the rising Millennial generation enter adulthood in years to come.
Better get that coolaide out to the kiddies and corrupt their minds with hate so you can keep the radical extremist religious agenda going!
we have a senator form MO who went to Iowa to get married! way to go!
The civil and social movement has hit the midwest! The laws based on religion will be broken down to fit the constitutional rights we all have as americans!
The extremists, the American Taliban of people such as the people at MFC will be shown for what they really are and their agenda of colonization and conformity, along with singular religious power will be broken.
The heart of the true loving and caring society will win. I hope for your judgement day, because your sins of hate, greed and power will do you in.
so much for your "old" info on if its gaining speed or not in our nation! The people are being heard across the nation, and around the world.
New york being one of the ones on the rouster to giving equal rights to same sex partners!
~~~~~New York is getting close to being included in the first handful of states to legalize same-sex marriage.
The state Assembly’s judiciary committee voted last Tuesday 14 to 5 in favor of the gay marriage bill~~~~~
and this is a national wave. not just a local one.
Nations that recognize same-sex marriage:
Canada
In June of 2005, the Canadian Parliament enacted a law allowing legal marriage for same-sex couples.
Belgium
The second nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003.
Netherlands
The first country to grant gay marriage in 2001.
Norway
Became the sixth country to legalize same-sex marriage on May 11, 2008.
South Africa
South Africa became the fifth nation to recognize gay marriage in 2005.
Spain
The fourth nation to allow gay marriage on June 29, 2005.
Sweden
On April 1, 2009, the Swedish parliament voted to allow same-sex couples to legally marry, overturning a previous civil partnership statute enacted in 1995. (get details)
Nations that allow same-sex partnerships or unions:
Brazil*
*Only the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul allows same-sex civil unions (June 2006).
Croatia
Civil partnerships for same-sex couples have been granted since 2003.
Denmark
Legal civil partnerships have been allowed since 1989.
Finland
Has offered registered partnership benefits since September 2001.
France
Pacte Civil de Solidarité” (PACS), or “Civil Solidarity Pacts,” were instituted in France on November 9, 1999.
Germany
Gay couples can register as "Life Partnerships," granting lesser financial and pension benefits than marriage.
Hungary
Gay couples have been protected under common-law marriages since 1995; however they are not eligible for legal marriage.
Iceland
Since 1996, gay Icelanders have been protected under registered partnerships.
Luxembourg
Civil partnership legislation modeled after France's PACS were introduced in Luxembourg in 2004.
Mexico
Same sex civil unions were legalized in Mexico City in November 2006 and in the state of Coahuila on January of 2007, essentially making civil unions legal in all of Mexico (by law, each Mexican state must recognize the laws granted to individuals of the other states). (More on Gay Mexico)
New Zealand
In December, 2004, New Zealand enacted legislation recognizing same-sex civil unions.
Norway
Since 1996, gay Norwegians have been protected under registered partnerships.
Portugal
Same-sex partners have the same rights as opposite-sex partners in common law marriage.
Switzerland
Same-sex couples are given limited legal benefits with civil recognition.
United Kingdom
Domestic partners can register under the Civil Partnership Act. This legislation took affect in December 5, 2005 giving registered same-sex couples all of the rights, privileges and responsibilities of married heterosexual couples. The Civil Partnership Act applies across all of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Tilting the facts? Thats coming from a group that base all their arguments on terror tatics and fear politcs. The religious right agenda is very plain to see and the power sex base politics that your type of group forms is a very dangerous one. I am glad to know that the goverment is keeping its eye out on possible terror actions coming from groups like yours.
I love how Tom never answers to the facts, and thows out his made up numbers. Every once in a while Chuck will follow up suit with his hate speach is all this group is about.
Ninety-five percent of the oppression that we know in our lives comes from the religious community
That statement comes from a clergy man! standing up for gay rights.
The reason religious oppression is so rampant is the power play and political religious agenda that groups like the mfc has! The world is getting wiser though, and the oppresive groups will no longer be able to hide behind false tales of tradional values!
you want numbers? how about these apples???
republicans and conservatives only do well with the population with 65 and over.... I might not be a great actuary but I would take the population of those at 35 and under! since the Liberals are doing very well 66% with the 35 and under!
Go figure the only thing we need to do is to wait for you to die! and since you all think its better off on the other side, I am sure for us and yourselves it would better there than here! im not saying I'm just saying! :)
The D.C. Council has voted 13-0, without debate, to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states
Civil Movement, even radicals, extremists Such as the MFC can't stop it!
Perhaps you should be worried about your own society first, and about saving their souls.
Churchgoers More Likely To See Torture As Justifiable
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/04/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4989944.shtml
Elaine,
The only thing they are concerned about in their own "community" is how to force others to conform to and to abide by their Religious Extremist Agenda
Final votes today on Maine's gay marriage bill
I am going to meet up with a few church members of mine to pray and chat about the progress we are making in America, Towards civil and social equality for all.
The Maine Senate took its final vote on the same sex marriage bill Wednesday. The Senate passed the bill, LD-1020, and it's now headed to Governor Baldacci.
Its now bigger than your hate and extremist secret agenda. Conformity is out, and individuality is in.
Gov. John Baldacci has signed legislation making the state the fifth in the nation to allow same-sex marriage.
He could have taken the full 10 days, it barely got to desk before he signed it.
Religion is being stamped out of our politics and kept to the churches and the behaviors and practices that define what Religion is. Its a proud moment for all human kind
We now have one tenth of the nation reigning in equality.
Wonderful morning for News!.....
Cleveland, OH - Officials are expecting a large number of people at City Hall today as the city’s controversial new Domestic Partner Registry opens this morning at 8:00 a.m.
In the past week, the Republican Party lost Arlen Specter (PA), and with the gay marriage bashing rhetoric by Chairman Steele, they risk alienating two moderate women members of the United States Senate from Maine (Snowe and Collins). Oh yes, I failed to mention that Rush Limbaugh then decides to attack Colin Powell… the one Republican that is universally respected by the American people.
If this keeps up, Obama is not going to have to worry about any legitimate challenge to his Presidency or losing his filibuster proof majority in the Senate in 2010. The RNC, and its media allies, are too busy fighting among themselves over the carcass of a devastated political party to care about something trivial like a mid-term election.
RALEIGH The state Senate gave final approval Wednesday to an anti-bullying bill that lists gay students as potential targets for harassment.
I haven't even had my coffee yet and really looked for news!
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/05/08/f-rfa-macdonald.html
very interesting take on the republican party.
It seems that everywhere I turn, its the ultra right and religion right that is the undoing of the party.
The news every day proves the lies and false numbers the anti gay movement has and is exposing the secret agenda of all extremist groups like the MFC.
this is such an interesting article. I am in hopes that you will read it and see the wrongs of your ways.
Ed Koch Commentary: Fundamental Fairness and Same-Sex Marriage ....http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/yonkers_tribune/2009/05/ed-koch-commentary-fundamental-fairness-and-same-sex-marriage.html
I will be holding pray groups all week for the promising signing of NH newest bill this week! NY is soon behind, and hopefully MN will show true in the equal civil justice movement.
I pray for you and everyone at MFC.
NY is on its way, as goes maine goes america! we will soon be released from the choke hold and oppression from the religious abuse and hate from those just like the MFC radical extremists!
a recent happening at a local conservative religious school, proves that you are wrong in your opinions on where MN sits with the anti gay and religious state agenda. This following article gives light to what Minnesota really thinks!
The choice of Rep. Erik Paulsen as commencement speaker at St. Olaf College in Northfield has prompted students there to engage in a silent demonstration against the freshman House member. Paulsen, a St. Olaf alum and a Republican representing suburban Hennepin County, recently voted against the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in federal hate crimes law. Students say the vote doesn’t reflect the values of the college.
When Benjamin Refling, a transgender man, learned of the vote, he contacted college president David R. Anderson.
“I told him I did not think that the choice of a politician with such divisive views would be conducive to the spirit of commencement, which should be a celebration of all the diverse talents and experiences of the class of ‘09,” Refling said. “And that many LGBT students would be alienated by Paulsen’s refusal to support the recent hate crimes bill.”
The hate crimes bill, which passed the U.S. House, would add sexual orientation and gender identity to U.S. hate crimes law, which currently only covers crimes on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin.
The religious right, including Paulsen’s colleague Rep. Michele Bachmann, has argued against such inclusions by conflating sexual orientation with crimes such as pedophilia. James Dobson, the former head of Focus on the Family, lent his organization’s support to Paulsen in a letter to voters last fall.
Refling said he wasn’t expecting the college to cancel Paulsen’s speech but rather to issue an understanding response; that wasn’t what he got. “[Anderson] wrote to me that any commencement speaker would have to offend someone in the audience, and essentially, it was my bad luck that I just happened to be that ‘1 out of 5,000.’”
So Refling posted the exchange to his Facebook page and found that many students shared his concerns.
“The issue of LGBT rights is a sensitive one to St. Olaf students, some of whom have known victims of anti-LGBT violence in addition to being allies themselves, and the discussion that followed seems to have swept the entire campus,” he said.
The students are holding a demonstration by pinning gold ribbons to their graduation gowns as a symbol of inclusion. They also sent an email to the entire campus urging others to support the gold ribbon campaign. They wrote:
Inclusiveness is a definitive value at our institution. It guides St. Olaf through divisiveness and keeps our community relevant, diverse and cohesive. This year the commencement speaker, Representative Erik Paulsen ‘87 (R-MN), is a member of our St. Olaf family, and brings his own unique voice to local and national politics. His beliefs are not singularly representative of St. Olaf, but rather constitute one part of the sum of our diverse family. While we welcome his voice, a group of St. Olaf students with their own voices do not share his views on many social issues.
Just as Erik Paulsen will share his viewpoint at commencement, those in the St. Olaf community who respectfully disagree with Representative Paulsen will also express themselves. A group of students from all different backgrounds have organized and is proposing the following, under the theme: “Celebrating the Class of 2009 as They Are - Created Equally.
Paulsen’s office didn’t respond to a weekend request for comment, but Refling said that another student contacted the office and was told the commencement address would not be political in nature.
Wade Hauser, president of student government, said he didn’t think the college would change the speaker. “Paulsen was picked quite a while ago,” he said. “Some people were unhappy with that, but he’s an alum and I think people understood.”
“More recently, because of that specific vote, people have started paying attention to his past record.”
Hauser said it could be an effective demonstration. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that took off,” he said, referring to the golden ribbons
perhaps the reason you haven't posted in so long is because your faced with so much news that goes against your agenda?
my prayer group is back at it again for tomorrows advancement in civil and social justice! NH is going to sign!
In life, every couple thousand years, each radical religion starts coming to an end. It ends with violence and truth of the false lives those radicals live.
The MFC is just a tiny part of the true evil out there.
Post a Comment