Marriage amendments victorious
By Ben Domenech Posted in User Blogs — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Promoted from Diaries.
The verdict is still out on Oregon, but for the other ten states with amendments on the ballot defining marriage as between a man and a woman, it looks like a victorious sweep for the pro-family movement. Most of these passed overwhelmingly, and at this point, none of them are polling below 60% of the vote. You've also got to remember that several of these amendments also ban civil unions or other arrangements - which even the President has endorsed - and still are passing by huge margins.
One thing that will be interesting to look over in the internal data in these states - Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio and Utah - is what effect the amendment had on the voting of minority groups. My inclination is to think that it led to a serious partisan split in minority voting, particularly among churchgoing voters. Whether that had any impact on other races remains to be seen.
I wonder about us wacky Oregonians. There is a huge gay population here, and more importantly a larger portion of population that is very tolerant.
I voted for the language change in the Oregon constitution to define man and woman only for state recognition of a marriage. My reasons are not based upon religious beliefs, but upon the fact that I feel the word marriage has religious connotations. Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. Churches don't approve of homosexuality, since this is something that I feel is a church ceremony, I give this term to the churches.
Now, if a ballot measure comes along, granting civil partnerships, with all the rights from the state as you would get for state recognition of marriage, then I punch the yes box.