Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Plurality supports gay marriage, but majority wants a statewide vote
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Plurality supports gay marriage, but majority wants a statewide vote

Thursday, Dec 6, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Public Policy Polling’s recent Illinois survey asked Illinoisans about gay marriage. A plurality supported it

Do you think same-sex marriage should be allowed in Illinois, or not?

It should …………………………………………………. 47%
It should not ……………………………………………. 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%

* From the pollster

In Illinois even though there’s only narrow overall support for same sex marriage the numbers are 58% for and 37% against among voters under 45, another sign that it’s just a matter of time given the big generational divide on the issue. Black voters, perhaps following the lead of President Obama, think it should be legal by a 60/16 spread. That’s a much wider margin than we see with them nationally

* More from the crosstabs. A plurality of men oppose the idea…

* Republicans strongly oppose it and independents are less opposed…

* A majority of whites oppose it…

* Seniors are more likely to oppose the concept than any other age group…

* And even though there are no binding ballot initiatives in Illinois, a large majority thinks the public ought to vote on the idea…

Do you think Illinois voters should be allowed to vote on whether they think same-sex marriage should be legal, or not?

Voters should be allowed to………………………. 68%
They should not ………………………………………. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Discuss.

       

27 Comments
  1. - Yossarian Lives - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:41 am:

    Maybe this is obvious, but I also think it’s worth mentioning that asking whether voters should be ALLOWED to weigh in on an issue is very different, rhetorically, from asking whether the legislature ought to act.


  2. - Conservative Republican - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:46 am:

    Well. I can’t wait for Mr. Garcia’s next press release.

    47%. Less than a majority, but a plurality. And the gay-marriage friendly party has a lock on Illinois government, mostly due to gerrymandering.

    But hey, if politically you have a legislative majority (and the Governor’s mansion), isn’t “a plurality”, albeit 47%, enough justification to change the law on a basic human institution that has been in existence since the Illinois territory was formed, since the enactment of the Northwest Ordinance, since English and French colonization, and in the Western world, since time immemorial?


  3. - Just Observing - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:46 am:

    === Maybe this is obvious, but I also think it’s worth mentioning that asking whether voters should be ALLOWED to weigh in on an issue is very different, rhetorically, from asking whether the legislature ought to act. ===

    My thoughts exactly.


  4. - Ahoy! - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:02 am:

    Old white people are stuck in the last century, nothing new. If I’m the Democrats, I want this on the ballot in 2014, this could be a huge boon to them. Progressives and people under 30 would be coming out to vote in higher numbers and definitely tip the scale, even if it would be a rough hear for the president’s party (which I think the House Republicans will temper down for them).


  5. - downstate commissioner - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:05 am:

    I thought it was obvious, but maybe some (a lot of?) people didn’t read it right, but that last question is kind of irrelevant to the original poll. For god’s sake, just do it and get it over with, and go on to more important (to me, anyway) stuff.


  6. - Aldyth - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:32 am:

    Human rights should never be dependent on popular vote or a gift from the majority to a minority.


  7. - just sayin' - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:43 am:

    It is just a matter of time. As you indicate, if you talk to any young people, this just isn’t an issue at all for the vast majority of them. And that won’t change as they get older.

    The old coots might as well fold their tents. The conservative side has completely failed to articulate its case in a winning way. It’s done.


  8. - Waldi - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:48 am:

    I see this as a civil rights issue. Most people in southern states wouldn’t have voted anti-slavery and I doubt women’s suffrage would have passed by popular vote.


  9. - RetiredStateEmployee - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:52 am:

    “Homosexuality is regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments just as philosophy is regarded as shameful by them, because it is apparently not in the interest of such rulers to have great ideas engendered in their subjects, or powerful friendships or passionate love-all of which homosexuality is particularly apt to produce” - Plato

    So much for your “time immemorial”. Learn your history.


  10. - I wonder... - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:06 am:

    20 year olds are in favor by about 70%, according to Pew. This won’t be an issue that much longer. Particularly since the sky didn’t fall in Washington state today.


  11. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:23 am:

    ===since time immemorial===

    Conservative Republican, you have a short and selective memory. The institution of marriage has been changing since Adam and Eve, who were not technically married either.


  12. - I wonder... - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:31 am:

    Retiredstateworker,

    Not to get into some biblical battle that Rich is tired of hearing… I will instead send you over to this clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1-ip47WYWc

    Bible says a lot of things we no longer see as relevent.


  13. - Proud - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:42 am:

    I couldnt agree more on this being a Civil Rights issue! doing away with legal discrimination wasnt “popular” when it was racial, gender, etc. I hope the US Supreme court puts this issue to rest soon on a national basis. BTW I am a 47 yr old, white heterosexual, catholic male from Central Illinois who has been married for 23 years!


  14. - Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:12 pm:

    I imagine the acceptability of marijuana use has increased a great deal in the past few years - maybe last few months. Like to see those results


  15. - wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:25 pm:

    The kids are alright. Smart, tolerant, progressive, minding their own business. We raised them well.


  16. - qcexaminer - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:44 pm:

    I think elections are the right way to go.

    Legislators are vulnerable to the powerful and wealthy gay lobby. Gay marriage by anti-democratic judicial fiat sets up the same fight we’ve seen for

    abortion since Roe v. Wade.

    If the people want it, it would be legitimate—otherwise, lobbyists and judicial activism will keep the issue an open sore to be picked by left and right alike.

    Gay marriage must win over the people, not just the lobbyists and activist judges.


  17. - Liberty First - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:51 pm:

    Since when is behavior a civil right?


  18. - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:51 pm:

    - Legislators are vulnerable to the powerful and wealthy gay lobby. -

    Yeah, and the christian right is so weak and underfunded. Give me a break.


  19. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:57 pm:

    ===Since when is behavior a civil right? ===

    That’s so sad on so many levels.


  20. - wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:57 pm:

    –Since when is behavior a civil right?==

    What “behavior” are you referring to?

    Do you have some checklist of acceptable “behavior” that you apply to consenting adults, Liberty First?


  21. - shore - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:01 pm:

    I’ve said it before here but gay rights activists should do this now while the wind is at their backs and challenge Republicans who couldn’t make political hay out of a tax hike to come get them for this. I would imagine it passing quite easily and I think would help Quinn with his base.


  22. - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:31 pm:

    - Liberty First -

    - Since when is behavior a civil right? -

    An ironic pairing, to be sure.


  23. - Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:33 pm:

    So they poll on everything from Jay Cutler to gay marriage but not on driver’s licenses or the pension shift?

    grrrrrr…. and yes, I just growled at a poll.


  24. - ChicagoR - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 3:15 pm:

    Good point, STL. Maybe it should be “Liberty First for Me but Not for Thee”.


  25. - Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 7:38 pm:

    Loving vs. Virginia.


  26. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 8:33 pm:

    @Liberty First -

    Apparently, you skipped over the “pursuit of happiness” part of our Founding Fathers’ Declaration.

    And, as was pointed out earlier, are unclear on the meaning of “Liberty.”


  27. - titan - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 9:55 am:

    The judial fiat route of Roe v Wade set up (going on) half a century of turmoil in Supreme Court appointments and other perpetual political fighting.

    Legislative enactment would likely fare much better, but might well not fully settle things.

    Referendum approval pretty conclusively ends the fight.

    It would seem that the referendum route is the best - the fight over it might end a generation or more sooner.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* HGOPs whacked for opposing lame duck session
* Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
* Report: IDOC's prison drug test found to be 'wrong 91 percent of the time'
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Session update (Updated x2)
* Illinois Supreme Court rules state SLAPP law doesn't automatically protect traditional journalism (Updated)
* ‘This is how I reward my good soldiers’: Madigan ally testifies he was rewarded with do-nothing consulting contract
* Illinois Supreme Court rules that Jussie Smollett's second prosecution 'is a due process violation, and we therefore reverse defendant’s conviction'
* Dignity In Pay (HB 793): It Is Time To Ensure Fair Pay For Illinoisans With Disabilities
* It’s just a bill (Updated)
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller