The last blog was based on data from the latest CBS News/New York Times poll.
So is this one – and it contains a message that Republicans, as a party, had better be paying attention to:
What does this say? It says that the country – even, I suspect, a great many people who personally find same-sex marriage unacceptable – have made peace with the fact that, their opinions aside, it should be legal for people who want it.
Democrats strongly support the legality of same-sex marriage. Even 41% of Republicans do. And – this is key – by nearly a two-to one margin, independents, the folks who can swing elections one way or the other, do as well.
Should Republicans, as a group (if 51% even qualifies), forgo their principles regarding same-sex marriage? No they should not. Everyone has a right to his or her own beliefs.
But should the Republican Party make it clear that, whatever reservations some Republicans have regarding same-sex marriage, it respects the beliefs and feelings of those who disagree? That this is a free country and consenting adults have a right to their sexual orientation, and to select the partner they want to commit themselves to, whether that partner is same or opposite sex?
OF COURSE it should.
Unless, of course, the Republican Party\’s goal is to lose elections by demanding that homosexual people not have the same rights heterosexual people do – that what a bare majority of Republicans believe must be forced on everyone else regardless of their beliefs. (Isn\’t that what shari\’a law does?)
Now there\’s an affirmation of personal freedom for you. There\’s a statement of tolerance. Guaranteed to be a big vote-getter, I\’m sure. (Feel free to wipe the sarcasm from your monitor any time).
This is 2014. Time for Republicans to come to their senses. I wonder if they\’re capable of doing so.
