Most of America is ready for the Supreme Court to grant nationwide same-sex marriage rights. Most,
but not all.
American voters say 56 - 38 percent they would support a U.S. Supreme Court decision granting same-sex couples the constitutional right to marry, according to a Quinnipiac University National poll released today. Voters support 56 - 36 percent same-sex marriage in general.
Backing a possible Supreme Court decision in favor of same-sex marriage are Democrats 70 - 24 percent, independent voters 61 - 34 percent, men 55 - 41 percent and women 57 - 35 percent. Republicans are opposed 62 - 34 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe- ack) University Poll finds.
Once again, note the huge difference between what the Republican base thinks and everyone else. There's a twenty point difference between Republican and independent voters; for the party, it's not a long-term sustainable position.
But in the short term, their candidates will find that it is a required position, whether it alienates non-Republican voters or not. Repeat candidate Rick Santorum has vowed he'd be distancing himself from social issues and running as the hero of the middle class, but by gum if the Supreme Court comes to the wrong decision on this one then a President Santorum could never put up with that.
"Of course I'd fight it," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "Roe versus Wade was decided 30 some years ago, and I continue to fight that, because I think the court got it wrong. And I think if the court decides this case in error, I will continue to fight, as we have on the issue of life ... We're not bound by what nine people say in perpetuity."
Isn't that a cheery thought. No matter how long it takes to do the right thing, the Rick Santorum wing of the party (which, if the polls are any indication, is the only wing that still matters) will still be railing against it for thirty years after that.