Gallup: American Support for Liberal Social Positions at Historic Highs; "Social Liberals" Equal "Social Conservatives" For First Time in Poll's History

This only goes back to 1999, but this is the first time that social liberals and social conservatives are at parity, per Gallup's polling. The two groups are now both at 31%.

On specific issues, there is a shift in favor of the left, with many socially-left positions now receiving historic levels of support.

A big surge in support for gay relationships, which you might have guessed, as well as for sexual relationships before marriage and divorce as well.

Support for abortion has ticked up, but only a bit.

Rush was talking about this, saying that the whole point of the poll was to demoralize social conservatives, or get the Establishment Republicans to abandon the socially conservative wing. (Not a hard sell for Establishment Republicans, in any case.)

I don't buy that. The questions have been asked since 1999 and 2001, respectively. I don't think someone could claim that Gallup only asked the question about gay marriage in 2004 in order to demoralize liberals, back when more were against homosexuality.

I do think this represents an actual change. A permanent one? Who knows. What's permanent in the world?

posted by Ace at 02:48 PM

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