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CALIFORNIA MAJORITY BACKS GAY MARRIAGE - Field Poll director calls results a milestone
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/28/8 | John Wildermuth

Posted on 05/28/2008 7:50:55 AM PDT by SmithL

In a dramatic reversal of decades of public opinion, California voters agree by a slim majority that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, according to a Field Poll released today.

By 51-42 percent, registered voters said they believed same-sex marriage should be legal in California. Only 28 percent favored gay marriage in 1977, when the Field Poll first asked that question, said Mark DiCamillo, the poll's director.

"This is a milestone in California," he said. "You can't downplay the importance of a change in an issue we've been tracking for 30 years."

While opposition to same-sex marriage has been weakening for years in California, supporters have remained a minority. In March 2000, for example, voters overwhelmingly backed Proposition 22, a statute that said the state would recognize only the marriage of a man and a woman. A 2006 Field Poll showed that half the state's voters still disapproved of same-sex marriage.

But the state Supreme Court's decision this month to overturn Prop. 22 might have turned the tide, DiCamillo said.

"There's a certain validation when the state Supreme Court makes a ruling that you can't discriminate when it comes to marriage," he said. "That may have been enough to move some people who were on the fence about same-sex marriage."

Younger voters and those living in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and other Democratic urban strongholds were the most supportive of same-sex marriage, the poll found, while older voters and those living in the more conservative inland areas were more opposed.

The poll also provided a boost for groups planning to battle a measure to ban same-sex marriage that is expected to go on the ballot in November as a constitutional amendment. By 51-43 percent, registered voters oppose changing the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, according to the poll.

Results differ from other poll

...

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 2008polls; ca2008; caglbt; fieldpoll; homosexualagenda; playinghouse; samesexmarriage; sanfranciscovalues
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To: All

Pure push polling.

there is no credibility to this given the prior vote.

This is about keeping McCain in the rino category.


21 posted on 05/28/2008 8:19:36 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Lucky Dog
Do you favor or oppose "marriage equality?" That's in the same league as "have you stopped beating your wife today?" The results are predictable.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

22 posted on 05/28/2008 8:20:52 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Neoliberalnot

LOL, I think I get it. ;-)


23 posted on 05/28/2008 8:22:07 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Votes to Pass Leftist Policy: McCain Senators 90, House 375 / Obama Senators 58, House 275.)
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To: Lucky Dog

I don’t think the don-not-call list affects polling or political speech so all would be called.

This does not include cell phone calls and people who have no land line. Nor does it indentify time of day or day of week.

did they oversample democrats again? I wonder how the pro-homo vote breaks down within republicans and within democrats.

It has no credibility. Even in the ONE state that a defense of marriage amendment lost is lost due to wording games played by democrats.


24 posted on 05/28/2008 8:26:22 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: megatherium

I’m not convinced that Hispanics are buying into that. I know Conservatives don’t. I know a couple of people who are generally leftists. They don’t.

I do suspect this poll was baked, but I can’t say for certain. Others up the thread seem to be rather ‘on to this’ particular polling firm though, and they think it is.

With my inclination and their take on it, I’m fairly confident this is timed just right to defeat the effort to get this on the ballot in November. We’ll see just how liberal the state is then.


25 posted on 05/28/2008 8:27:56 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Votes to Pass Leftist Policy: McCain Senators 90, House 375 / Obama Senators 58, House 275.)
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To: rface
I believe there is an effort to get it on the ballot, and my take is similar to yours. I don't think this will fly.

You've got to hand it to the perv dems for pushing what they want so forcefully. I sure wish we fought for our agenda with as much fervor.

26 posted on 05/28/2008 8:30:05 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Votes to Pass Leftist Policy: McCain Senators 90, House 375 / Obama Senators 58, House 275.)
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To: goldstategop

I figured as much. Coming out of San Francisco, it was a pretty safe bet. Thanks for the confirmation.


27 posted on 05/28/2008 8:31:18 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Votes to Pass Leftist Policy: McCain Senators 90, House 375 / Obama Senators 58, House 275.)
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To: ßuddaßudd

I haven’t got a statement prepared just yet. Contact my office later this afternoon. ;-)


28 posted on 05/28/2008 8:32:27 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Votes to Pass Leftist Policy: McCain Senators 90, House 375 / Obama Senators 58, House 275.)
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To: longtermmemmory
It narrowly lost in Arizona because the opponents of traditional marriage were able to terrorize seniors and non marrieds with the fear they would lose their benefits if marriage was protected. They won't be able to use that tactic again and they can't defend same sex marriage on its merits.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

29 posted on 05/28/2008 8:33:09 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: DoughtyOne

Whatever the actual situation is, we need to work for traditional marriage in California. Donate to organizations working to pass the ballot measure. I’m sure that organizations and people favoring same sex marriage will be doing the same for their side. The Capitol Resource Institute’s mailing address is:
Capitol Resource Family Impact
660 J Street, Suite 250
Sacramento, CA 95814
Their email address is at www.capitolresource.org/
If you know of other organizations that you favor, by all means support them.


30 posted on 05/28/2008 8:33:38 AM PDT by beejaa
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To: WalterSkinner

Sounds about right, although they would have to dilute the mix somewhat, because that would propably give about an 85% approval rating.


31 posted on 05/28/2008 8:39:36 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Votes to Pass Leftist Policy: McCain Senators 90, House 375 / Obama Senators 58, House 275.)
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To: goldstategop

I agree with your thinking on that. Is the amendment ready to go, or is there work still to be done?


32 posted on 05/28/2008 8:40:52 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Votes to Pass Leftist Policy: McCain Senators 90, House 375 / Obama Senators 58, House 275.)
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To: beejaa

I agree BeeJaa. Thanks for the suggestion.


33 posted on 05/28/2008 8:42:22 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Votes to Pass Leftist Policy: McCain Senators 90, House 375 / Obama Senators 58, House 275.)
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To: SmithL
I always liked how Michael Savage referred to the 'Field Poll' sampling plan:
Ten guys in a bath house.
34 posted on 05/28/2008 8:45:06 AM PDT by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: DoughtyOne

You could well be right. I remember when an anti-gay-marriage ballot measure was approved in Oregon, 58% voting for. This was a distinct disappointment to gay proponents, because the polling was tighter. Oregon did approve the measure by a smaller margin than other states that year (2004); in Kentucky, a similar measure was approved 75% to 25%. There’s a trend towards greater acceptance of gay people, but it’s probably not be there yet in terms of approval of gay marriage. Unless there’s a sea change in American politics, I think it will be there in about a decade.


35 posted on 05/28/2008 8:51:55 AM PDT by megatherium
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To: DoughtyOne

Who knows?

This may be the first society in history to screw itself out of existence.


36 posted on 05/28/2008 8:56:13 AM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: mngran2

She claims in particular that young people are leaving the church in droves.

If you have to have people turn away from church to get what you want—such as “gay marriage”. How good for a society is that!


37 posted on 05/28/2008 9:08:10 AM PDT by Isabelle
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To: DoughtyOne

Wow! A 28-point swing from another poll published in the same newspaper just a couple of days ago! How very convenient for those wishing to promote same-sex marriage.


38 posted on 05/28/2008 9:27:10 AM PDT by Ol' Sparky (Liberal Republicans are the greater of two evils)
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To: DoughtyOne

Don’t you just love how liberals love polls and peer pressure. I think I’d wait to see what the real poll in November says after the voters decide. It doesn’t take many brains to figyure out that polls can be very manipulatd by the area calls are made to or even by the way the questions are asked.


39 posted on 05/28/2008 9:28:08 AM PDT by chris_bdba
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To: DoughtyOne

Don’t you just love how liberals love polls and peer pressure. I think I’d wait to see what the real poll in November says after the voters decide. It doesn’t take many brains to figure out that polls can be very manipulatd by the area calls are made to or even by the way the questions are asked.


40 posted on 05/28/2008 9:28:26 AM PDT by chris_bdba
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