It looks like Virginia’s referendum on a Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage is on its way to an overwhelming victory:
RICHMOND — A proposed constitutional ban in Virginia on same-sex “marriage” has broad public support heading into the fall referendum, according to a statewide poll.
Asked how they would vote on a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to the union of one man and one woman, 56 percent said they would support it and 38 percent said they were opposed. Six percent were undecided.
Virginia is one of at least six states voting on a constitutional ban on same-sex “marriage” this fall. Voters in 20 states have approved such amendments, most of them overwhelmingly. Twenty-five other states forbid same-sex “marriage” by statutes.
The telephone poll of 625 randomly selected registered voters likely to take part in the Nov. 7 referendum was conducted last Tuesday to Thursday by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. in the District.
The survey had a margin of error of four percentage points.Supporters of the amendment made up a clear majority in every region of the state except the D.C. suburbs, where 48 percent were against the amendment, 44 percent supported it, and 8 percent were undecided, the poll shows.
Among respondents who identified themselves as Republicans, 82 percent support the amendment, and among Democratic voters, 27 percent said they support it.
Sigh.
I know I shouldn’t be surprised at this. Its entirely consistent with the way this issue has played out in every other state in the country. It’s just unfortunate that the freedom is so unimportant to people in a state that was arguably the birthplace of American freedom.
August 1st, 2006 at 7:26 am
I don’t have a link for you, but several bloggers have noted that the M-D poll did not read the interviewees the entire text of the amendment, including the “no benefits of any kind under any circumstances” clause. In separate polling, others have found, when that part is explained, people are less supportive of the amendment.
All the more reason why outreach is so important.
August 1st, 2006 at 10:18 am
Supporting Bigotry? Well, I guess if it was going the other way, I could have a post entitled Supporting Sin.
August 1st, 2006 at 10:26 am
What business is it of the state to get involved in the private relationships of consenting adults ?
August 1st, 2006 at 10:45 am
Well, Doug, the issue isn’t about “the state … get[ting] involved in the private relationships of consenting adults,” a comment clearly informed by the disingenuous Chicken Little nonsense of the Perversion Lobby. The issue is about the state interfering with an institution pre-existing the state, and about whether the state can, by fiat, affirm the perverse “private relationships of consenting adults.” I would expect you to know the difference.
August 1st, 2006 at 11:04 am
James,
I do know the difference.
Which is exactly why I believe that the state should not be involved at all in defining marriage.
August 1st, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Well, Doug, if that’s your position, you’re a few thousand years too late.
August 1st, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Don’t be so quick to throw in the towel. The Commonwealth Coalition’s poll is the first to find amendment proponents below 50% at the start of the campaign season. I hear that another poll (done by Mason Dixon in another state) will also confirm that when voters are given the chance to give their opinion on the question that will actually be on the ballot, support is well below 50%. For more info on The Coalition’s poll and comments on the Mason-Dixon poll, see Blogging the Amendment at http://www.votenova.wordpress.com.