Some DU polls are surprisingly informative

DU polls aren't always super useful, but sometimes you get a real snapshot of something meaningful.

Poll question: Are people who oppose interracial marriage racist?

YES 94% NO 6%

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8007128&mesg_id=8007128


Poll question: Are people who oppose same sex marriage homophobes?

YES 55% NO 45%

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8004820&mesg_id=8004820

They just get a much bigger kick out of homophobia (and it is more acceptable in society to be a homophobe than a racist these days).

I'm sure there are regional differences, but I would guess that evangelical churches are somewhat more integrated than most other denominations.

Partly because it's something you are likelier to convert to as an adult. Partly because mostly-white Evangelical churches are more like black churches than they are like Episcopalian churches. Livelier, more personal, more celebratory.

I know my many white fundy relatives have lots of good church friends of color.

eom

:hi:

or is it a matter of acceptance? To me it seems like it's a matter of social acceptance. Ask this question again in 20 years and I bet the response will be different.

Social acceptance

2. A term referring to the ability to accept, or to be able to tolerate, differences and diversity in other people or groups of people. Tolerance. Some opposite notions of social acceptance would include racism, sexism, homophobism, and prejudice in general.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=social%20acceptance

The point is that "bigots" don't know tha they are being bigoted for a number of reasons. One of which is that "same-sex marriage" is still beyond social norms.

that won't pass constitutional muster over and over again is bigotry. There are plenty of people for whom black/white marriage isn't 'socially acceptable' and they are still called bigots. There is no difference here. It is hatred and unwillingness over something about others that they cannot help and doesn't matter.

(Or in the eyes of God, for those who believe in such a Being)

If you do not, then you are a bigot. There's no way around that fact.

The point is that most people wouldn't agree with us.

They are bigots. They are wrong. In their hearts, they KNOW they're wrong, or they don't have hearts at all.

I'm sick of all this "reaching across the aisle" bullshit, because it always goes in only ONE direction. And it sure as Hell isn't to the left.

That last part it what seems to get forgotten sometimes.

The Liberals fund the campaign, and the corporatists and right wing shitheads get the Presidency.

Sorry.... my goddamn right arm's been yanked out of it's socket. I'm done "reaching".

On a board where Kucinich usually led primary season polls that 45% is surprising.

But it's not really the same board it was back then, is it?

:eyes:

Ask the general population that question and wait for the result. I doubt it would be in the double digits.

1800's and early 1900's most Americans supported limiting immigration from eastern Europe.
1800's most Americans were anti-Catholic and into the 1900's refused to vote for Catholics out of fear of where their loyalty would lay.
Most Americans opposed the 1954 Supreme Court decision ending desegregation
Most Americans oppose lots of things.
Americans have supported passing hundreds (if not thousands) of draconian laws that have targeted minorities.

Personally, I don't have a problem diverging from public opinion.

Those differences are astounding to me.

Jeez. Most of the brazillion red-staters I'm surrounded by have little interest in judging gays. The attitude has changed to "If gays wanna marry, let em. What's that got to do with the price of gas?"

It's soooo disappointing to see the Dems pulling retro wedge issues out of their asses. The country was ready to move forward.

:shrug:

I mean, this place is so far outside the norm...

But that was then. It may be a lot more "normal" today. Perhaps this is what happens when you win. A lot of people have joined DU over the years because they hated Bush and the war, and thought that holding a 70% view must make them progressive.

Like the Lou Dobbs fans.

It was just a matter of social acceptance?

And yeah--fucking nauseating, isn't it?

Very informative indeed.

I had no idea there was a poll asking about interracial marriage.


I knew that almost everyone would say opposing interracial marriage is racist (which it sure as hell is).

"I am gay and I'm not upset about Rick Warren."
118 recs

"I'm gay, and I'm tired of the gay overreaction to Prop 8 and Rick Warren at the inauguration."
44 recs

comes to shove, there is a faction that retreats to the closet that protects them.

Anyone opposed to interracial marriage would likely be opposed to interacial civil unions and interracial dating.

There are people who are opposed to same-sex marriage who are not opposed to civil unions.

CLEAR ENOUGH?

If they supported a separate but equal institution of interracial civil unions?

You suggest that opposition to gay marriage is not homophobic as long as the person opposing it supports gay civil unions.

This would seem to logically suggest that a person who opposed interracial marriage was not racist as long as they supported interracial civil unions.

What am I missing here? It seems like if you are going to use such an analogy you should be consistent.

I think it is time to admit that opposing gay marriage is homophobic in the same way that opposing interracial marriage is racist.

I am sure if you asked around at some Klan groups you could probably find someone who wanted to ban interracial marriage, but make a compromise and keep interracial civil unions legal. If someone were to take that position would you think it was racist?

Don't tell me it is a hypothetical question, because there are plenty of racists out there and I am absolutely 100% positive that some of them would be more than happy to give interracial marriage a separate but equal designation.

This is a simple yes or no question that should not be difficult to answer, and if you can't answer it then I think that says a lot about the weakness of your argument on why you think it is not homophobic to oppose same sex marriage.

Does that somehow make them any less of a bigot?

But hey, I suppose it would be more reasonable if they had a religious excuse or something.

--a Justice of the Peace? Let me know the next time you hear about someone going to church instead of to court to collect child support.

That about sums it up, right there...

Everyone says they are for it, yet you rarely see it. I think there is more lying involved in polls involving race.

A fair number of people, black and white alike (and probably Asian and Native American, etc.) have a cool reaction to mixed marriage in polling but not to the point of favoring it being illegal. They just don't like it.

And I think same-sex marriage should be the same way... I can understand if someone isn't comfortable with it. I just can't understand people thinking there should be laws that gravely disadvantage someone else merely to ensure their comfort.

That's why I don't call all Prop. 8 YES voters bigots. Most of them probably didn't give it much thought and voted their comfort level without really internalizing the civil/human rights implications.

But the organizers and people who donated and campaigned for Prop. 8 are bigots.

would one have to oppose gay marriage (civil unions *sigh*) other than fear?

Someone enlighten me...

I wonder what this poll question would show?

"If Obama says it or does it, it's right and good. If he doesn't, we don't need it, and if he's against it, so are we."

Agree or Disagree?