The Numbers Speak for Themselves on Marriage
We all know that poll numbers can be deceiving. Here are some typical cases showing what the polls said about protecting marriage in various states prior to the votes and how the citizens of those states actually voted.
The question was regarding support for defining marriage as one man and one woman. The poll number is listed first, the actual vote second.
- Alabama: 64.8% (75%)
- Georgia: 69% (76%)
- Kansas: 56% (79%)
- Kentucky: 71.6% (75%)
- Louisiana: 62% (78%)
- Michigan: 52% (59%)
- Montana: 61% (67%)
- Nevada: 43% (67%)
- North Dakota: 53% (73%)
- Ohio: 48% (62%)
- Oklahoma: 59% (76%)
- Oregon: 50% (57%)
Why such a big difference? According to the Family Research Council, “Polling questions can be constructed to obtain the desired outcome. The slanted poll questions no doubt account for some of the difference. In addition, and probably more prominent, is the intimidation factor. Unscrupulous politicians like Sen. Ted Kennedy rant that protecting marriage is ‘bigotry, pure and simple.’ It’s no such thing, but Kennedy and company want to intimidate people. Some people are fearful of being labeled a homophobe or bigot so they keep their opinions to themselves until they are in the privacy of the voting booth and then, on average, over 70% defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”
As of today, 20 states have passed such a marriage amendment. For more, see the Family Research Council.