op-ed
Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD.
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November 06, 2004

In the post-election spin, many people are terribly concerned with analysis suggesting "gay marriage" is the top issue that rallied the Republican Moral Majority base of the Republican party. In exit polls, 22% of voters for George W. Bush cited "moral issues" as the top issue, beating jobs, the economy and the war in Iraq. "Moral issues" can mean a lot of things, but some people don't want us to believe the largest moral issue driving Bush's largest base of support was "gay marriage"

Much of the misinterpretation of this election derives from a poorly worded question in the exit polls. When asked about the issue that most influenced their vote, voters were given the option of saying "moral values." But that phrase can mean anything - or nothing. Who doesn't vote on moral values? If you ask an inept question, you get a misleading result.
[The Values-Vote Myth - New York Times - 11-06-05]

"It would be a mistake to conclude that the 22% of voters who placed 'moral values' at the top of their list were uniformly anti-gay in their voting," Garry explained. "Moral values can encompass whole host of issues and opinions -- issues like a woman's right to choose; social, racial and economic justice; stem-cell research; gay and lesbian equality; the honesty and integrity of public officials, and much more.
[GLAAD Calls on Media to Present Complete Picture of Gay Issues and the 2004 Vote - GLAAD - 11-04-04]

"So when this whole business comes up, don't accept the premise, just tell 'em the premise is being concocted by people who are trying to diminish the real meaning of the president's victory here. If you want to cite a stat you can go ahead and say, hey, gay marriage was defeated in all these 11 states with a 60-40 margin, 58-42 margin. Bush was 51-48. Doesn't add up. Then say he didn't lose any gay votes this time and the election of 2000, if you want to do that. But don't accept the premise. That's one of the greatest ways of defeating the left in an argument, just don't accept their premises, it just puts you on defensive. If you accept a phony premise, you're trying to defend something phony. It's crazy. Don't waste time with it."
[Gay Marriage Did Not Turn Election - Rush Limbaugh - 11-04-04]

These are just some of the voices urging us to consider that "moral issues" could mean anything. It's one thing to make that argument, but it's another to willfully ignore the past year and a half's worth of focus on the predominant moral issue of our time, "gay marriage."

To believe "gay marriage" isn't the predominant "moral issue" of the Republican Moral Majority, one would have to assume there were more conservative fundraising solicitations and direct mail campaign drops to church mailing lists citing any other moral issue more than "gay marriage." They'd have to demonstrate any other moral issue exceeded the number of times the United States Congressional record showed Republican led attempts to address "gay marriage," including reports by the Republican Policy Committee, bills seeking to strip courts of jurisdiction over DOMA, and an amendment to the United States Constitution. They'd also have to discount the Republican Party Platform's far more aggressive stance on gay marriage than any other moral issue. They'd have to gloss over massive rallies, like the 14 that took place all across the state of Illinois last month over the issue of gay marriage. They'd have to present any other moral issue that garnered a nationally declared "Marriage Protection Week," supported by President Bush on "the issue of our time."

Was any other Christian conservative as moved to tour nationally over any other moral issue as much as James Dobson and Jerry Falwell were over gay marriage? Jerry Falwell actually threatened to bolt the Republican party last year over the moral issue of "gay marriage." I know of no other moral issue that topped an unprecedented 11 state ballot measures that specifically baned gay marriage. This list could go on and on.

If "gay marriage" wasn't the predominant "moral issue" of President Bush's Republican Moral Majority, I'd like to know what was.

Wanting "moral issues" to be about something else for both conservatives and liberals is completely political, but it doesn't change the facts. Conservatives hate the idea that their party base responded to their pandering over "gay marriage" by stiring radical evangelical passions. Liberals (mostly gay activists) fear the real work ahead in a sea of red will decentralize their perception of power among Democrats cacooned in protective slivers of blue.

Despite those fears by both sides seeking to make "moral issues" about anything else, these same people will all be the first to use exit poll data to argue their strengths. Republicans will continue to say they're expanding their support among blacks and women. Democrats will continue to argue demographics are changing citing the youth vote. In the process, they'll both hypocritically use the very same data they currently lament to sell their case.