Nov. 25, 2009 Newark Star Ledger
By Patrick Brannigan
Executive Director, NJ Catholic Conference
The editorial on November 20th from the Star Ledger suggesting that “the public is way ahead of the politicians on this one” raises an interesting point, but it isn’t the one the Star Ledger attempts to make (poorly, by the way). The suggestion that the public is ready to support same-sex marriage is absurd.
There have been 31 definitive polls taken on legalizing gay marriage — they’re called actual elections. In every state – 31 in a row – voters have rejected gay marriage. This includes just a little over two weeks ago when voters in Maine rejected it and overturned legislation passed that would have legalized gay marriage. The margin in Maine – a blue state in the heart of New England, surrounded by other states whose courts had imposed gay marriage – was by a margin even larger than voters in California rejected it a year ago.
California and Maine are both liberal states, much more so than New Jersey. It’s interesting to look at how various demographic groups came down on the issue of same-sex marriage. Upwards of 70% of African Americans supported traditional marriage and rejected gay marriage. Fifty five percent of Catholics did; as did 53% of Latinos. An overwhelming percentage of Republicans – well over 80% — favor traditional marriage and oppose gay marriage.
With numbers like these, it’s easy to see that gay marriage is a losing issue for politicians of either party. Yet the Star Ledger clings to one recent poll to badger legislators on this issue, even though that poll actually shows mixed results when the poll’s margin of error is factored. On the other hand, a CBS News/New York Times poll this summer clearly shows that very few Americans support gay marriage, with only 33% in favor of it. Even so, polls are never determinative. Polls in California and Maine claimed that same-sex marriage would win there. It didn’t. The reason for this is that people who support traditional marriage between one man and one woman often do not answer pollster’s questions about the issue or they say they are “undecided.” Then, in the privacy of the polling booth, they cast the vote that reflects their true intentions.
Again, we don’t have to look to a survey and wonder what happens when voters weigh in on this issue: the record for traditional marriage is 31-0. In this sense, the public is way ahead of politicians, but they are headed in a much different direction than advocates of same-sex marriage would like people to believe.
The Star Ledger spins itself dizzy over one figure from the recent poll: only 2% of poll respondents say that gay marriage is the most important issue facing the state. The newspaper tries to convince policymakers that this shows they can legalize same-sex marriage without concern of voter backlash. In fact, it shows just the opposite. It shows that the Star Ledger and other advocates of same-sex marriage are asking legislators to elevate one of the most divisive issues in the state ahead of issues that voters care far more about – such as taxes, fixing the economy and solving the deficit.
There should be little doubt that if same-sex marriage advocates succeed in pressuring lame duck legislators to attempt to force gay marriage on New Jersey, there will be a huge backlash. It will be an issue that will dominate debate in the lame duck session. Voters will be left to wonder why the Governor and legislature didn’t bring this issue up in the last four years but now in the final days of a legislative session the big push is on. And they will want to know why legislators are succumbing to the pressure of a small group of gay marriage advocates to force an issue that only 2% of voters say is the most important facing the state, when there is so much critically important work for these legislators to do.
Legislators should not be misled into thinking there’s broad support for this issue. Gay marriage is a certain loser with voters. It has never won – anywhere in the country. Legislators should not follow the Star Ledger and gay marriage advocates off a lame duck cliff.