Obama's endorsement of gay marriage results in 11% increase in support among NC African-Americans

[RainDog]

sorry if this was posted before. I didn't see it, if so. From North Carolina -

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/05/movement-among-black-north-carolinians-on-gay-marriage.html#more

There's been a noticeable shift in the attitudes of African Americans in North Carolina toward rights for gay couples in the wake of President Obama's announcement last week that he supports gay marriage. Our final poll before the primary last week found only 20% of black voters in the state favoring gay marriage, with 63% opposed. Now 27% express support for gay marriage with 59% opposed, for an overall 11 point shift on the margin.

There's been a similar movement when it comes to the overall idea of providing gay couples legal rights in the form of either marriage or civil unions. Before the primary 44% of African Americans favored one of those with 51% opposed to any sort of legal recognition for same sex couples. Now 55% of blacks support either gay marriage or civil unions with only 39% against any sort of recognition. Obama's words look to be having an impact.

-In another indication that North Carolinians don't really know what they voted for last week 55% of voters in the state say they support either gay marriage or civil unions. Even though 61% voted to ban both of those things last week. We also asked very explicitly whether same sex couples should be allowed civil unions with the same legal rights as marriage and the state splits on that question at 46%.

On a side note 8% of North Carolina voters, including 13% of Republicans, think being gay should be a felony.

Just to note that politicians' words have an impact, even if their deeds don't immediately follow - on this and other issues.

[Thinkingabout]

1. This is sure different from what repubs said

I like the numbers changing, Obama needs every vote possible and with NC being one of the swing states he needs the support. VOTE VOTE VOTE

[RainDog]

5. Republicans are trying to split the African-American vote over this issue

So, the news, today, that the NAACP has come out in support of civil rights for gblt Americans is another BIG moment.

Too many people don't think about these issues and have knee jerk reactions because of what some guy in a pulpit says. No matter the color of anyone's skin.

It's good when people who have moral authority derived from their work for rights, not religion, speak out.

[Scurrilous]

2. K & R

[cr8tvlde]

3. Never underestimate the Power of the Bully Pulpit

...in a political sense, of course.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. Many die-hard supporters claim that the bully pulpit...

does not exist. This is proof that it does. Obama should have joined Rev. William Barber/NC NAACP in taking a strong stand AGAINST Amendment One before that fucking vote on May 8th...the outcome might have been VASTLY different.

[RZM]

4. It's called 'leadership'

And IMO, it's part of the president's job. Obama can't will gay marriage into existence. But he can provide an example. This is actually quite a coup, because the black community is way behind the rest of the Democratic constituency on marriage equality. But they also strongly support the president. If he says something is ok, many in the black community will follow suit. Years down the road, this will be cited as a major event in the path towards legalizing same-sex marriage and the racial aspects of the president's position will not go unnoticed.

[cr8tvlde]

6. A white president could not have accomplished what Obama could

with the black community. We will now see how the opposite effect will translate into dragging the Republicans/TPers further to the right, even with a "moderate" Etch-o-Sketch candidate.

This allows us Liberals to have something "splashy" to point to and we need to use this issue ... and there are others ... to help bring Obama back further to The Left by running/electing Liberal/Progressive members of Congress. He can't do it by himself.