Those who claim to speak for “American Values” would often have us believe that a core American value is discrimination against gay people. Increasingly, however, this “value” is becoming an anachronism.
Another evidence that gay people are beginning to be recognized and valued as a part of the American family is a new poll from the folks at Gallup.
Between now and the 2008 political conventions, there will be discussion about the qualifications of presidential candidates — their education, age, religion, race, and so on. If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be homosexual, would you vote for that person?
Of those polled, 55% said yes and 43% said no.
Interestingly, even among conservatives, a gay candidate could receive 36% of the vote. Liberals found the idea of a gay presidential candidate less concerning than a septuagenarian, a Mormon, or a thrice married heterosexual. Everyone preferred a gay President to an atheist President.
There was no mention as to whether an ex-gay presidential candidate would fare well.
The problem is that polls on gay issues lie. And they lie big. People, even in anonymous polls, don’t want to look like the bigots they are, so they lie. In a binary poll question (yes/no), subtract between 7% and 15% from the pro-gay side. In some people’s minds, being a liar is a lesser sin than being a bigot. And that probably bodes well for gay people in the long run, but in the short run it makes polls on gay issues highly unreliable as predictors of outcomes.
Michael, there is no reason to lie on a poll like that if it is a random, anonymous poll. Anyhow, bigotry was obviously suggested against atheists. I am bothered by the public’s view of atheism. There is an assumption that an atheist is somehow immoral or incapable of leadership. I am more bothered by the idea that a country should be governed based on certain religious principles. I would never care about the religion of the president unless the religion merged with his/her office. I see constantly in classroom discussions that people hate atheists with a passion. Views are dismessed and people ridicule atheism (and evolution) without critical thought.
In all honesty, the fact that anyone claiming to be liberal would not vote for a well qualified candidate simply because he was gay is appalling.
The 36% number for conservatives is low, but I’d expect it because of the party’s stance. But, we’re not talking about marriage right here, this is just “do you dislike/distrus gay people so much that you would vote against them only because of their homosexuality.” Anyone answering yes to that question should really look at why they call themselves liberal.
“If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be homosexual, would you vote for that person?”
55% yes 43% no.
But let’s not fool ourselves. Another question (echoing Michael) worth considering the posible answer to:
“Would you want your party to nominate a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be homosexual?”
5% yes 85% no.
Not even going to speculate what the numbers would be if that person was also — sharp intake of breath, wooden crosses at the ready… an “ay-thee-est!!!”
It’s never bothered me what a candidate’s religion was. What does bother me, a great deal, is when they think their religion should matter to me. My polling booth is not in Tehran, afterall. Or Texas.
I guess as a gay atheist I’m pretty much screwed. But then I generally conclude that the more people agree on something they more likely they are to be wrong and looking at who gets elected confirms that theory.