NYT: Same-Sex Marriage Issue Key to Some G.O.P. Races (and Bush margins)

[DeepModem Mom]

GAY MARRIAGE
Same-Sex Marriage Issue Key to Some G.O.P. Races
By JAMES DAO

Published: November 4, 2004


COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 3 - Proposed state constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage increased the turnout of socially conservative voters in many of the 11 states where the measures appeared on the ballot on Tuesday, political analysts say, providing crucial assistance to Republican candidates including President Bush in Ohio and Senator Jim Bunning in Kentucky.

The amendments, which define marriage as between only a man and a woman, passed overwhelmingly in all 11 states, clearly receiving support from Democrats and independents as well as Republicans. Only in Oregon and Michigan did the amendment receive less than 60 percent of the vote.

But the ballot measures also appear to have acted like magnets for thousands of socially conservative voters in rural and suburban communities who might not otherwise have voted, even in this heated campaign, political analysts said. And in tight races, those voters - who historically have leaned heavily Republican - may have tipped the balance.

In Ohio, for instance, political analysts credit the ballot measure with increasing turnout in Republican bastions in the south and west, while also pushing swing voters in the Appalachian region of the southeast toward Mr. Bush. The president's extra-strong showing in those areas compensated for an extraordinarily large Democratic turnout in Cleveland and in Columbus, propelling him to a 136,000-vote victory....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/04gay.html

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Yeah, that's a good reason to fuck up a perfectly good country -

and the world.

[Clintmax]

2. Gods forbid that I should be able to get Married!

The very foundations of this country would crumble! Anarchy would promptly ensue! Armageddon!

:eyes:

[are_we_united_yet]

3. Well my vote

is voting fraud, illegal intimidation by the Republican party and stupidity of Fundies. But hey, I'm not a REAL patriot.

[candy331]

4. When they are standing in line to file bankruptcy I hope their stupid

sorry asses remember who they stood in line to vote for. Happy poor to you.

[RazzleCat]

5. I posted this idea on a private board

No way I was going to place it where a freeper could see it. I noticed that Ohio had this on the ballot and remembered how this amendment caused a huge religious right turn out in MO and had to wonder if it helped Bush in Ohio. Remember the religious right will turn out in huge numbers when you hit their homo phobic fear button.

[rodeodance]

6. wedge issues such as the gay ban!!

Yes, this strategy by the Repug campaign was a grand strategy --much to my chargin!! They--the repugs outwitted and outcampained us!! on these social issues.