« One down; one to go... | Main | That annoying queen endorsement explained »
February 07, 2008
Those gay exit polls
Posted by: Chris
NBC exit polls in California and New York on Super Duper Tuesday showed strong support for Hillary Clinton among gay, lesbian and bisexual voters:
NBC exit polling found that among the 4 percent of California voters who identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual, 63 percent voted for Clinton, 29 percent for Sen. Barack Obama and 1 percent for John Edwards. In New York, 7 percent of voters self-identified as LGB and 59 percent voted for Clinton, 36 percent for Obama and 3 percent for Edwards.
An Advocate story called the very fact of the polling "historic," although the networks have done exit polling that includes GLB voters since at least the 2000 presidential election. (The polls showed that GLB vote went for Al Gore over George W. Bush 80-20 that year, and remarkably Bush picked up 25 percent in 2004.)
The results of the Super Tuesday exit poll are also underwhelming when put into context. For one thing, consider that Clinton won her home state of New York by 57 percent to 40 percent, so backing by gays at a range of 59 percent to 36 percent is not dramatically different. The same holds true to a lesser extent in California, where Hillary won the general vote 52 to 42 percent and the GLB vote 63 to 29 percent.
But there is another factor at work as well. New York and California are without question two of the states where it is easiest to be gay. Both states have non-discrimination laws and gays are generally accepted in the workplace and culturally. As a result, GLB voters in those states are understandably less focused on gay-specific issues in making their presidential choices.
That came through in profiles the New York Times and San Francisco Chronicle did recently on the decision making process that gay voters in those two cities were going through. The Chron reported:
Yet it appears that the issue motivating gay and lesbian Democrats to vote for one candidate or the other isn't gay rights; it's who they believe has the best chance of returning a Democrat to the White House, said Kenneth Sherrill, a Hunter College political scientist and an expert on gay politics.
"People are most concerned about the crazy war and that the economy is in the tank," Sherrill said. "That's what's driving people this election."
An informal survey Monday of gay and lesbian voters in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood mirrored that assessment.
The Times report from late January echoed that assessment:
For the first time in two decades, gay voters find themselves in an unusual, if happy, predicament. The three leading Democrats have staked out similar positions on issues that resonate with gay men and lesbians. …
For the moment, however, gay voters in New York are looking past the issues that have long guided them toward a candidate. They are talking about the conflict in Iraq, universal health care and whether it is more important to have a president with experience or exuberance.
While gay voters in places like New York and San Francisco may feel
the luxury of looking past gay issues in the Democratic primary, those
issues hit much closer to home in those states that lack any state or
local anti-discrimination laws and where anti-gay bias is a more common
occurrence.
I certainly don't feel that luxury. I know what life is like for gays who live in my native South, and I've seen firsthand how the issue can rip apart families and friendships. And laws like the Defense of Marriage Act have a direct impact on my life, since my partner and I cannot live together in the U.S. because of it. It makes a real difference to me that Barack Obama favors full repeal of DOMA and Hillary only half, and because she has consistently tried to defend the nefarious law signed by her husband in 1996.
Exit polling of gays is rarely done outside of New York and
California because the sample is presumed too small. As a result, we
get a skewed look at what GLB voters really think about these
candidates.
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834527dd469e200e5501d671c8833
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Those gay exit polls:
Comments
-
I'd like to see the income distribution of the LGB voters and would also be interested to see if older, wealthier gay white men tended to vote for Clinton. As a bible-belt ex pat living in CA, I agree that LGBT people in CA & NY have significantly more freedom and protections. But, I think it's a big generalization to say that we don't think there's something at stake in terms of LGBT issues. CA, after all, may face a constitutional amendment battle in Nov. Bye bye to the stereotypes about the Left Coast! I was so ANNOYED every time a LGBT person told me they were voting for Hillary because of some mythical gay following or commitment she supposedly has.
I for one voted for Obama. In my circle of LGBT friends, most of the lesbians actually went for Obama, most of the gay men went for Clinton and trans folks went for Obama (partly because they think Clinton would more readily sell them out on ENDA). Age may have something to do with this...my gay male friends tend to be older than my lesbian friends.
-
If Barack Obama favors a full repeal of DOMA, why hasn't he introduced legislation to do that in the Senate?
Answer: Because he's telling you what you want to hear. He has no intention of repealing DOMA.
-
I know it's not fair to equate Hillary to Bill, but HEY...they're the ones exploiting that. He threw us gay people UNDER the bus....and I'll never forgive him for that...or her, for not screaming "NO!". (Both DOMA and "Don't Ask"). Obama goes into the Black Churches and defends us. That takes guts...and principle. And he was (per Robert DeNiro)"...experienced enough to have voted against the war." The war issue alone (I'm a Vietnam Vet) sinks Hillary's ship.
-
Obama's skewing toward younger voters in general, so it's not surprising that younger queer voters would support him as well.
But you're spot on in the assessment that socially or financially secure queers would be more willing to support Clinton. They might even feel that since it "worked" last time it would work this time. But they're wrong. Bill threw us under the bus without a second thought, and I see no reason to think Hillary would be any different.
My bf and I are stymied by DADT as well as DOMA, and I'm certainly not supporting someone who helped inflict these two burdens on our community. (Hey, if she wants to take credit for her husbands achievements then she can take the blame for his failures, too.)
-
Brian, there are many positions both Clinton and Obama have staked that they have never introduced in Congress. Why? Because it's not productive to introduce legislation that will fail in committee, be blocked by the obstructionist Republicans, and get vetoed by the President unless it's something that the American public is greatly behind. DOMA, alas, does not fall into that category. It is true that we have no guarantee that Obama will get DOMA repealed, but at least he *wants to do so*. Clinton continues to advocate for only a partial repeal.
-
Perhaps Nashville is more liberal than the rest of the South, but most of the gay men I know are backing Hillary Clinton as well. One of my friends explained it to me that gay men have a certain affection for strong females...could be BS, I don't know.
-
Two Words.... Donnie McClurkin
-
I'm an older wealthier white gay male. I voted for Obama.
-
You say that "laws like the Defense of Marriage Act have a direct impact on my life, since my partner and I cannot live together in the U.S. because of it." How so?
-
You say that "laws like the Defense of Marriage Act have a direct impact on my life, since my partner and I cannot live together in the U.S. because of it." How so?
-
Kary: Do you think if Hillary told Bill "NO!" re: Monica Lewisnki he would listen? You cannot always rely on what one's partner does and mirror that on the other partner. Futher, you canno assume that if Hillary told Bill not do do something, that he would necessarily listen.
Kary: "Obama goes into the Black Churches and defends us. That takes guts...and principle. " Are you kidding me? Are you aware of the fact that Obama was campaigning with a black, ANTI-GAY, homophobic reverend? Now that is what I call gutsy, especially when you expect to then raise support in the gay community. This certainly isn't any principle in that. UNless you support the prinicple that being gay is a choice and is a sin.
How can you support or advocate for a candidate that was campaigning with an religious leader who is anti-gay and promote said candidate as being full of guts/principle by standing up for gay rights? When really that is quite hypocritical.
How could Obama use that as part of his platform to rally supporters and voters, particluarly in the black nd other minority communities where being gay is particularly taboo???I'm not sure who is better for the gay community (Obama or Clinton), but I think we better start looking at both sides of the equations....neither of them seem to have glowing resume's for gay rights.
-
Do U know what's the fashion trend in the beginning of the winter?Coach Outlet Online are ready for the fashion trend bags for U.In the cold winter,many fashion trend begin to changed like the strongly wind.At the fashion world, fashion trend has become the opiate of the masses.In general, fashion seems to be trending toward more mature styles.And on that basic,Coach Outlet Online Store do atmost to develop the fashion style,which can give U the Noble and elegant.Leather is really in fashion right now. It's amazing how fast trends change.In Coach Factory Outlet,Coach put to use the 100% leather with the leader design,which give U the fresh and classical ideas.To this end, we will service for customer sincerely, to build the forefront of Coach Outlet bags.Now,Coach bags origin from life,which made the bags always follow the international fashion, the exotic romance into your life.So,if U want to have a different kind of fashion life,please Checkin Coach Outlet Online,Coach Outlet and so on,they will try the best to make up U in the warm winter.If you are worried about how to be a grace and clever person?Where to buy the fashion bags to match the clothes? and so on.Don't worry,Coach Outlet Onlinegive U a hand.Coach bags with different styles can match different kinds of persons,Which can give U a different feeling for Different people.Coach Outlet service for U sincerely!Come into Coach Outlet Online Store,come out a fresh U.
-
Louis Vuitton Outlet is famous for the unique articules ,login Louis Vuitton Online Store and Louis Vuitton Handbag On Sale to buy your articles.Louis Vuitton Handbags have become the best seller in international market.such as Monogram Multicolore,Monogram Canvas Handbags.We also offer you other platforms.Owing to the various styles and models, up-to-date styling,elegant appearance,full range of colors and designs,quality and quantity assured,The bags in Louis Vuitton Outletand Louis Vuitton Online Store sell very well both at home and abroad. Now, Login Louis Vuitton Handbag On Sale to choose your favorites. What's more,the latest commodities are renowned all over the world for exquisite workmanship, skillful knitting and elegant design,famous for selected materials, novel designs, delightful colors and exquisite workmanship. For more relevant information, please login Louis Vuitton Outlet!
-
Fulfilling our needs for fast fashion means increased production and competition in clothing manufactured in countries with fashion trend.In order to meet the market's demands,Coach Outlet Store Online pay more attention on the fashion style with the latest material.In terms of luxury consumption, consumers in Western countries prefer traditional brands while consumers are wilder about the fashionable fad.In Coach Outlet there are many famous bags of the Coach Outlet Online.In USA,at least,each of the person have a Coach bags on the average.So,in the Amercian market,Coach bags get the people favourate.On that basic,manufacture take the chance to make the price very on the high side.Today,Coach Handbags Outlet USA do atmost to drop the price,with the same quality.In order to thanks for the public,Coach give a biggest discount to Forengn for the fastival.If U bag bags over $99,Coach Outlet Store Online can send the goods to Ur home without the fright.At the same time,the goods of coach bags can have a discount at 82% to meet the market's needs.So don't worry,Coach Outlet Online Store can give U the chance to owned your remembered bags with very lowest price.At the same time,Coach Outlet Store Online newly iaunched the latest fad bags which canused a ensation in the fashion world for U to make up in the winter.Is your heat moving very fast,quick, first come first get.More and More chance are waiting for U.
-
The beautiful winter is comming now,have you fashion in this amazing season,maybe answer is yes,but you must to know who is the fashion leader of this winter,that is Belstaff Uk.In Uk everyone knows Belstaff Jackets is the most popular in winter,you should know the reason,Belstaff Jackets is established in 1924,it's a long enough time to make clothes,so the quality,the design,for Belstaff Jackets Uk is expert level,especially Belstaff Leather Jacekt,it all are made up with top layer cow leather.Maybe in UK,every motobike rider want one.That's incredible popular right.And now,you can find a so convenient way to get a perfect Belstaff Jackets,that is our onlien shop,we are official site of Belstaff Jackets Uk,why not choose one for your beartiful family and yourself now.so Click here to join us:Bestaff Uk.com.Get your Belstaff Jacket with biggest discount in this world.
-
Coach Outlet Online and Coach Outlet Online Store offer you chance to purchase your ideal articles. Here login Coach Outlet Online or Coach Outlet to purchase your favourites, such as Coach Cristin Bags, Coach Crossbody bags.They are renowned for exquisite workmanship, skillful knitting and elegant design and sell very well both at home and abroad. In order to convenient our customers, we also offer you other platforms. They are Coach Outlet Online,Coach Outlet Online Store and Coach Factory Outlet. We not only provide you the superior goods but offer you the best after-sales serives. So, please login Coach Outlet Online.
The comments to this entry are closed.
Hillary Clinton and the Gay Vote from Steven White on Feb 8, 2008 8:02:31 PM
Why don't exit polls track the preference of gay voters outside California and New York? Chris Crain is concerned gay urbanites in liberal states are being used as a stand-in for the national "gay vote," which might be a little [Read More]