Fox News Online Poll Shows 71% View Anti-Gay Marriage Prop 8 as Unconstitutional

Is it possible that even the center-right tilting viewing audience of Fox news programs is also open to significant upgrades of gay civil rights? That is what a surprising new, unscientific survey of a Fox web audience seems to be showing.

With pleasure, I direct you to this interesting Fox News online poll in which at the time of this posting 300,499 votes had been cast.

The poll poses the following issue and question:

A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Prop. 8, California's gay marriage ban is unconstitutional. Do you agree with the judge's decision?

Kudos to Fox for asking this important question straightforwardly.

Although Fox notes that this is not a scientific poll, the response thus far strongly affirms the decision by Judge Vaughn Walker to strike down the California anti-same sex marriage Proposition 8.

Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has now filed a brief with the courts calling for gay marriages to immediately resume.

Here are the current responses to the Fox poll:

Yes -- Prop. 8 violates the Constitution. 71.1% (213,547 votes)

No -- Marriage is an institution between a man and a woman. I don't care what the judge thinks about the Constitution. 24.8% (74,455 votes)

I'm not sure but shouldn't the voters views count for something? 3.6% (10,812 votes)

Other (leave a comment). 0.6% (1,685 votes)

Total Votes: 300,499

I have mixed feelings about online polls, but I voted in this one.

No matter which side of the issue you find yourself on, I'd encourage you to vote in this poll given the very large number of participants (you can only vote once).

-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note. Clemons can be followed on Twitter @SCClemons

 

Follow Steve Clemons on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SCClemons

Comments

[Wayne Peterson]

12:17 PM on 08/09/2010

I wonder how FIX news will twist this one around!

[solarcat05]

11:46 AM on 08/09/2010

Actually, Fox News followers had nothing to do with it. Links to the poll were posted across Twitter, LiveJournal, Facebook, and other social networking sites. Early on, the poll was going the other way. We simply spread the word and overwhelmed their numbers. For Great Justice.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

07:25 AM on 08/09/2010

I suppose it's possible they've misunderstood the question

They may believe they are asking whether BANNING Prop 8 violates the US Constitution.


A stretch I know, but it is the FOX audience, so don't rule it out.

[Michael J. O'Neil]

12:49 AM on 08/09/2010

Volunteer online respondents tend to be libertarian. So these results do not surprise. Bet they surprised Fox, though.

[gayandmarried]

12:26 AM on 08/09/2010

they thought the poll said, do you favor prop hate,, not prop 8

fox viewed are ALWAYS ready to hate,, so no wonder it was tilted in our favor

[PuffDragon]

11:16 PM on 08/08/2010

Does California use electronic voting machines that lack paper-trail verification?

Prop 8 financiers are like new-age McCarthy-ists. Claiming to hunt "the devil", yet acting more like a real devil themselves.

[treadway123]

10:31 PM on 08/08/2010

They are up to something, u know it! Fox hasn't been fair an Balance sense Colmn left the Hannity set, an Hannity has said an done anything he wanted in his smear campagne.

[AncientTerp]

08:52 PM on 08/08/2010

Fox News is proof of H.L. Mencken's aphorism, "no one every went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." Tell 'em what they want to hear and rake in the dough.

[TerryDArc]

08:24 PM on 08/08/2010

I dunno about you but I voted at least a couple times. Not a lot of cred to an online poll, I'm afraid. Stop celebrating right now! Well, maybe just a bit...

[Takebackourmoney]

08:07 PM on 08/08/2010

I believe Faux used twitter. Can't exactly censor twitter.

[zeke67]

07:06 PM on 08/08/2010

The real question is will Fox air the results on their shows?

Anyone know if this has happened yet??

[TerryDArc]

08:25 PM on 08/08/2010

Two possibilities: the people who don't watch would tell you the truth and the people who do watch would lie thru their teeth.

[William Young]

06:32 PM on 08/08/2010

Funny how republicans are QUICK to say "Government stay outta my wallet" -- but then they turn around and BEG that same "Government" you know, the they say isn't working to keep gays from getting married, WTH? Hey repubs if you can't handle being POLICED, then quit trying to police others.

[vizzon]

05:36 PM on 08/08/2010

duh!!!!!!

[CoronaDischarge]

04:45 PM on 08/08/2010

I've still not seen Fox report this result. It must be too unscientific for their narrative?

Which begs the question of why they report the results of their other unscientific polls.

[kenhamlett]

03:45 PM on 08/08/2010

Each year, the JFK Foundation presents its "Profile in Courage" award to individual(s) who take courageous stands in the name of justice and freedom. I cannot imagine two better recipients for this year's award than Ted Olson and David Boies -- adversaries in the judicial outgrowth of the 2000 election -- who put differences aside to argue and win the case against Prop 8, and who will argue the case right through its inevitable appearance on the docket of the Supreme Court. As a result, I have nominated them for this award. It would be great if others who share my opinion would go onto the website (provided below -- its an easy nomination form) and second this nomination. Thanks!

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Submit+Your+Nomination+Online.htm