Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
Wed May 6, 2015, 01:47 PM May 2015

More Americans Are Comfortable With A Gay Presidential Candidate Than With An Evangelical One

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/americans-gay-candidate-evangelical-_n_7216448.html

More Americans feel comfortable with a presidential candidate who identifies as gay or lesbian than with one who identifies as an evangelical Christian, according to a new poll.

The latest WSJ/NBC poll listed a series of qualities in a potential presidential candidate and asked respondents whether they'd "be enthusiastic," "be comfortable with," "have some reservations about" or "be very uncomfortable with" a candidate with each of those qualities.

The results revealed that Americans are actually quite open to having a gay presidential candidate. Sixty-one percent said they would be either enthusiastic about or comfortable with a gay or lesbian candidate, while only 37 percent said they would have reservations or be uncomfortable.

By comparison, respondents were a little less comfortable with the prospect of a candidate who is an evangelical Christian. Fifty-two percent said they'd be enthusiastic about or comfortable with an evangelical Christian running for president, while 44 percent expressed some degree of hesitancy about the idea. (Two percent of respondents said they were not sure about a gay or lesbian candidate, while four percent were not sure about an evangelical.)


Good news for Lindsey Graham!
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
More Americans Are Comfortable With A Gay Presidential Candidate Than With An Evangelical One (Original Post) KamaAina May 2015 OP
Good. daleanime May 2015 #1
Of course, a gay president isn't going to force me workinclasszero May 2015 #2
The thought of a President Cruz or Huckabee is extremely scary. Initech May 2015 #3
Fortunately I don't think either of those hifiguy May 2015 #4
contrary to republican bullshit, all americans are not Christians spanone May 2015 #5
Evangelical "Christians" are a VERY squeeky wheel. maddiemom May 2015 #13
It's interesting to consider that Pres. James Buchanan never married, closeupready May 2015 #6
I'm sure as hell Aerows May 2015 #7
Times have changed Dealra May 2015 #8
welcome to du niyad May 2015 #9
I have my reservations. Rozlee May 2015 #14
If we had real separation of church and state, neither one would be any kind of issue for me. merrily May 2015 #10
Americans have more sense than they are often given credit for. Times have definitely changed. nt Hekate May 2015 #11
Why such exclusivity? douggg May 2015 #12
 

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)
2. Of course, a gay president isn't going to force me
Wed May 6, 2015, 02:12 PM
May 2015

to live under his chosen religious sects rules because....god.(my rethug version of god of course you heathens!)

Like the Huckster, Cruz, hell every rethug running, will!

 

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)
4. Fortunately I don't think either of those
Wed May 6, 2015, 03:02 PM
May 2015

nitwits, both of whom are goofier than a left-handed football bat, have any chance of getting to the WH as anything but tourists.

maddiemom

(5,106 posts)
13. Evangelical "Christians" are a VERY squeeky wheel.
Thu May 7, 2015, 03:00 PM
May 2015

For every vocal radical right person in this country, pontificating about any of their extremely conservative views on any controversial issue, there are probably at least two citizens with more sane, liberal views. Unfortunately we hear from only a minority of them in the public forum. In opinion polls and, increasingly, in the voting booth. we see the true story.

 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
6. It's interesting to consider that Pres. James Buchanan never married,
Wed May 6, 2015, 03:13 PM
May 2015

particularly as his closest male acquaintance (William Rufus King, who would be Pres. Franklin Pierce's vice-president) was also a lifelong bachelor.

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
7. I'm sure as hell
Wed May 6, 2015, 03:19 PM
May 2015

more comfortable with just about anything being President than a fundamentalist of ANY religion.

Rozlee

(2,529 posts)
14. I have my reservations.
Fri May 8, 2015, 04:24 PM
May 2015

I do agree that there are a lot more enlightened people today. But, an animal in its death throes is very dangerous and the extreme right wing today is in a scorched earth battle mode. There are also many powerful interests trying to keep them alive. They're not going to ride gently into the night.

Welcome to DU!

merrily

(45,251 posts)
10. If we had real separation of church and state, neither one would be any kind of issue for me.
Thu May 7, 2015, 01:18 PM
May 2015

A GLBTQ President would, of course. be no problem for me. I think it would also be problem free for many more people if we had strict separation of church and state.

And, if church and state were truly separate, I'd have no problem an evangelical.

Just about the only thing the Constitution (before any amendments) said about God or religion was that there should be no religious test for the Presidency. AFAIK< Kennedy's religion was not a problem and neither was Carter's. Neither was any President's that I know of, until Eisenhower (who added under God to the Pledge of Allegiance--in violation of separation of church and state, I would submit).

As things are, though, I would have a huge problem with an evangelical, unless, again, he or she were like Carter.



douggg

(239 posts)
12. Why such exclusivity?
Thu May 7, 2015, 02:33 PM
May 2015

Get a Ted Haggard and we get evangelical, conservative, gay and drug use as an added bonus.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»More Americans Are Comfor...