Cultural values could give Bush the edge in election

Cultural values could give Bush the edge in election
Thu Jun 17, 7:05 AM ET - USATODAY.com
By Whit Ayres and Jon McHenry

FROM: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20040617/cm_usatoday/culturalvaluescouldgivebushtheedgeinelection&cid=679&ncid=1935
The advent of legalized gay marriage in Massachusetts has pushed to the forefront another of the cultural issues that increasingly define the great political divide in America. In past generations, the best predictor of partisan preference was economic standing - haves vs. have-nots, rich vs. poor, white collar vs. blue collar.

Today a better predictor is cultural values - God, guns, abortion and, foremost in this election, civil unions and gay marriage.

Though many pundits predict that Iraq (news - web sites) and the economy will be the determining factors this year, cultural values could end up playing a crucial role. Those cultural values help George W. Bush and hurt Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites), especially in the swing states that will decide the presidential election.

This year's 17 swing states split their votes almost evenly between Bush and Al Gore (news - web sites) in 2000. Neither defeated the other by more than six percentage points. (Tennessee, where Bush won by four points, is not included in our list of swing states. If Gore could not win as a native, then Kerry's cause there is hopeless.) The largest swing states - Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio - contain a treasure trove of electoral votes.

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this is not a fight we should pick in this election. There's a reason the repubs want to make this an issue and would like to be having a vote about this about the time of our convention. This issue is probably their best chance to win the election whether people on here want to admit it or not.

When "WOULD" be a good time to bring it up?

There's never a good time to bring up a touchy subject. You've just got to bring it out and help people to see your point.

but they have to deal with it.

I know some are bothered by it, but I think Kerry has handled this issue just right for the most part. He has supported civil unions but hasn't openly come out in favor of gay marriages (which would most likely doom his campaign).

I myself am in full support of gay marriage. However, I do believe that some progress is better than none. I'm also not sure if the rest of the nation is ready changing a centuries old definition of marriage just yet.

That said, Kerry and the democrats should be completely opposed to the gay marriage ammendment, which is disgusting disciminatory, homophobic bullshit.

I don't think this issue will matter as much as everyone thinks it will. Short of crossdressers or transgendered people speaking on stage at the DNC, I don't think this issue will really affect support for Kerry.

Oh, this state is an important one. This cause is an important one. Bush has the edge in this.

I'm so sick of hearing this. EVERY state is important. How dare these 'authors' assume that a state is a lost cause.

ARRRGH!

I'm going to bed.

Iraq is a rope around Bush's neck, and gay marriage is a rope around Kerry's.

I believe the "emerging Democratic majority" that Texeira and Judis predict in their book may be on the way, but not this year. I just hope that enough people concerned about issues other than "God, guns and gays" get to the polls and vote.

the pubs couldn't take that issue for granted either.

We'd never get the Fundie vote anyways though.

I think Bush is going to be pretty much run out on a rail for his lies and incompetence.

Gay marriage just isn't that important to most Americans. It doesn't affect them. The economy and the Iraq occupation do.