Poll: Delegates, Kerry Differ on Key Issues

[Q]

Published on Monday, July 26, 2004 by the Boston Globe

Poll: Delegates, Kerry Differ on Key Issues

by Michael Paulson


They are united in their dislike of President Bush, and overwhelmingly confident that their candidate will defeat him in November. But delegates to this week's Democratic National Convention differ with the presumptive nominee, John F. Kerry, in some key ways. Unlike Kerry, who opposes same-sex marriage, 62 percent of the delegates say gay and lesbian marriages should be allowed by law. And only 26 percent of delegates share the view expressed by Kerry -- a supporter of abortion rights -- that life begins at conception.

The delegates are also deeply critical of the war in Iraq. Kerry initially supported the war, but now questions the Bush administration's handling of it.

As they prepare for four days of partying, much of it paid for by large corporations, 57 percent of delegates polled said they believe corporations should play less of a role in political conventions.


Eighty percent of those polled said they opposed the decision to go to war against Iraq at the time it began, and 95 percent say they now oppose the war. A majority of 63 percent want US troops out within two years; only one in four say the United States should stay as long as it takes to achieve administration goals.

''I don't like Saddam Hussein any better than anybody else, but we are wasting our money to get rid of one dictator, when our needs are in the war on terrorism," said delegate Llewellyn Howell, 63, an emeritus professor of international studies at Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management, in Glendale, Ariz. ''This was nothing but a personal diversion that had to do with George Bush personally, his family's linkage with the bin Laden family and the Saudis, and much of Bush's effort here was to rectify his father's reputation.

''If it weren't for oil, this invasion would not have occurred."

The Boston Globe poll of 400 delegates was taken July 16-21 by KRC/Communications Research. It has a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0726-01.htm

[Q]

1. Isn't this interesting?

- Here is a poll that matters.

- We've been told that 'most Dems' supported the Iraq 'war' from the beginning. But according to this poll of delegates...few have EVER supported the war and believe that it's a waste of lives, time and money.

- It's great to see that Democrats are speaking their minds despite the pressure to conform.

[sangh0]

3. You should learn a bit more about polls

We've been told that 'most Dems' supported the Iraq 'war' from the beginning. But according to this poll of delegates...few have EVER supported the war and believe that it's a waste of lives, time and money.

"Most Dems" includes Dems who are NOT delegates. You're comparing apples to oranges.

[Kanary]

2. "Go Along To Get Along"

that's the first, and by far the largest, plank of the platform.

rah. rah.

Kanary