CRITICISM OF THAT NYT "POLL FINDS SSM OPPOSITION" STORY from a blogger

...I wasn't aware that 55% support constituted "strong support," given previous discussions about support for a flag-burning amendment. The Times article, however, doesn't announce that important fact until the fifth paragraph of the article, preceding it with the idea that there is "widespread support," cutting across "a wide swath of the public." This support, according to the Times includes "a majority of people traditionally viewed as supportive of gay rights, including Democrats, women and people who live on the East Coast."

The actual results of the poll tell a much closer story. Of those groups who "favor" the amendment, those in the Northeast, Democrats, Independents, and Catholics only just barely constitute a majority of the groups' respondents (at 51 or 52 percent). Those in the West support the amendment but only at 48% to 46%, and those from 18-29 years of age oppose the amendment 52% to 48%

...So, that Democratic support for the marriage ban, pushed forward by the Times in the second paragraph as a majority of the party, was based on a very slim majority that was within the margin of error of the poll. The same goes for the East Coast.

Never mentioned in the story is the support for marriage equality by young people 18-29.

...Finally, the reporters -- meaning outside of others' quotes -- use the phrase "gay marriage" 12 times and "same-sex marriage" thrice, but never discuss "ending marriage discrimination" or "marriage equality." ...

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posted by Eve at 3:40 AM VOTE

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