I don't think gay marriage is going to be a huge issue

[wtf]

for one simple reason, people don't care! We often hear about how the country is split 50/50, and that may very well be true, but I think we get caught up in that statistic, an even divide doesn't necessarily suggest a passionate one. I'm sure the country is split evenly between vanilla and chocolate ice cream as well, but so what? For people which this IS an issue, * is their guy, unless he waffles, in which case they'll probably stay home on election day anyway.

What does everyone think?

[KensPen]

1. It will energize the far right

who feels he has not lived up to their wishes of a Republican president.

Who would have thought flag burning would have been a big issue,
yet remember how many inches of newsprint was devoted to it.

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. Flagburning is a good comparison

How many people voted for president in 2000 based solely on that issue?


http://brainubuttons.com - mmmm finger licking good buttons....

[David__77]

4. But did flag-burning really sway votes?

I mean, I never heard of it really causing victory or defeat in a campaign. Some Democrats who opposed a flag amendment in culturally conservative states, yet didn't catch any problems because of it.

I think the same will be true for a "marriage amendment." We'll have some Republicans opposing it as well.

[hexola]

11. And they will vote for Roy Moore! (n/t)

[Maat]

2. I regard it as a 'Civil Rights' issue....and its a big one for me.

It kind of represents sticking up for Constitutional principles to me...its related to Ashcroft's assault on our fundamental liberties. It represents supporting 'equal protection' to me. However, so does not sending poor kids to fight an illegal war.

[Imajika]

5. I think your dead wrong

"for one simple reason, people don't care!"

I just don't buy it. First, polling is not even terribly accurate in creating a picture of what most American's view on gay marriage really is. People are still mostly homophobes, but many won't admit it to a pollster. Surprisingly high numbers will say what is politically correct, then run right out and vote for whatever politician is against gay marriage.

"We often hear about how the country is split 50/50"

On this issue, most polling indicates more like 60/40 against gay marriage. I suspect the real number is 75/25 against gay marriage.

The only way gay marriage won't be an issue is if Bush doesn't want to make it one. Meaning basically, if the Bush team thinks they can win without using this divisive issue they will do it, if on the otherhand in a few months time Bush's prospects for victory in November appear dicey - you can bet he will support and advocate a constitutional amendment codifying marriage and perhaps permanently banning gay unions.

I think the issue of gay marriage has the potential to be death for the Democratic Party throughout the South and in many other states as well. The American people are just not ready for it yet. This is one civil right that is just not going to happen overnight. I believe gays are more accepted in society now and the prospects for gay marriage are good down the line - but the left needs to be very, very careful not to push the issue too far too fast.

Imajika

[gator_in_Ontario]

6. So we just will continue to live below the radar....

not a problem

[Imajika]

7. Sorry

but not everything can be achieved overnight.

There is no doubt that in much of the country homosexuality is far more accepted than it was just a couple decades ago. That is progress. Things may not be where you would like them to be, but there has been considerable progress for gay Americans.

Push too far, too fast and the backlash could result in a constitutional amendment that may never be repealed.

Some wrongs just can not be fixed rapidly. Average Americans have to be brought along slowly on this issue. It baffles me why people would react the way they do about gay marriage - personally I don't care at all what consenting adults wish to do and I fully support gay marriage, but I am well aware that most of the public just does not share this "enlightenment".

This is just the way it is. If the Democratic Party is not careful it could find itself massacred over this gay marriage issue, and what is the point of our Party making a stand at a time when a victory would just not be possible. Doing that would only result in more Republicans and a giant leap backwards for not only gay Americans but for all US citizens.

Imajika

[BringEmOn]

8. Depends on who is nominated

If it's Kerry, the repukes will run the "Adam and Steve" ads nonstop. Kerry=Massachusetts=Gay Marriage with footage from San Francisco we've seen this last week. Most males (both Dem and Repub) are still homophobic, or wouldn't want to be seen by other males as pro homosexual, or at least, repulsed by the visual of two males embracing and kissing...wouldn't be caught dead wearing a Kerry button to the factory or a bumpersticker on their vehicle. Peer pressure is as strong as it was in junior high.

Right wing preachers will be pounding pulpits across the country, arousing millions of otherwise disgruntled Bush voters to the polls who would have otherwise stayed home. Church pastors have a very strong influence over their congregations (along with peer pressure from the congregation).

The pukes would have done the same to Dean. Only Clark and Edwards would be immune to the attack.

[Terran]

9. It doesn't matter if people don't care

(and I don't think you're entirely right about that). The point is, Rove and Far Right will try to make people think they should care about it, that it's the biggest threat to their existence since Communism. Just watch.

[truthbetold]

10. It SHOULD be a big issue...

Regardless of your sexual orientation, you SHOULD really care about this one. Anyone who claims to be for human rights can see that the Right is hell bent on repressing the lives of homosexuals.