Blogcabin California

June 27, 2007

Dear Republican Party Leader:

Today, a poll was released that measures the views of Republicans nationwide on a variety of issues. One segment of that poll had to do with equality for gays and lesbians. I wanted to share that data with you so that you understand the views of the base of the Republican Party on these issues.

43% of Republicans favor recognizing some form of legal relationship (such as civil unions) of same sex couples.

51% oppose any recognition with the rest undecided.

48% said the government should not restrict gay and lesbian behavior.

49% of Republicans favor allowing gays and lesbians to openly serve in the military while only 42% oppose it.

77% said employers should NOT have the right to fire an employee based solely on their sexual orientation.

Even 67% of social conservatives agree that employers shouldn’t be allowed to discriminate.

45% say they know someone gay or lesbian and 1% said they were “homosexual,” but 51% said they didn’t know someone gay or lesbian.

53% of Republicans agreed with this statement: “The Republican Party has spent too much time focusing on moral issues such as abortion and gay marriage and should instead be spending time focusing on economic issues such as taxes and government spending”.

If you truly oppose equality for gays and lesbians, I can respect that. But if you hold the public views you do or vote against legislation, then I hope this data will show that Republicans reflect the mainstream views of equality that Log Cabin Republicans does. This is a case where the people are leading and we should follow. This is the recipe for winning elections again in California . When we oppose equality, we risk turning off not just Independent voters, but turning off the base of our own Party. We understand that the nature of being conservative is that we don’t rush into things so that we preserve the best of our values and traditions. But Republican voters realize that treating gays and lesbians with respect does not endanger our values, it enhances them. Log Cabin exists because we want voters to understand that lower taxes, less regulation and strong defense is good for ALL Californians.

I look forward to working with you as always to bring back a majority of Republicans to all legislative bodies in California .

Sincerely,

James Vaughn

California Log Cabin Republicans

Background and Methodology of the Poll •

A decade ago, Fabrizio, McLaughlin and Associates (FMA) released it’s groundbreaking study entitled “The Elephant Looks in the Mirror.” The study took a critical look at the core beliefs of the GOP and broke the party down into issue and principle based segments. That study became a roadmap for many in the Party and Media in understanding the rank and file GOP.

• Now FMA has again conducted a national study of GOP voters to take a fresh look at the GOP and where it stands 10 years later – what is the same, what has changed and what is new.

• This survey of 2,000 self-described Republican voters was conducted both via telephone and online between May 28th and June 3rd, 2007.

• 1,000 surveys were conducted via telephone by professionally trained interviewers using computer-assisted interviewing technology (CATI). Interview selection was random within predetermined geographic units to correlate with GOP voter turnout based on the 2004 Presidential election

• 1,000 surveys were completed online through a web survey host portal. Respondents were randomly solicited from a national panel of tens of millions of potential respondents who indicate their willingness to participate in online research. Respondents were screened to party affiliation and geographic requirements based on 2004 GOP voter turnout.

• Overall data was weighted to reflect actual online usage.

• This survey of 2,000 respondents has a margin of error of +/- 2.2% at the 95% confidence interval.

Other poll results:

71% declared themselves conservative compared to 21% moderate

50% declared themselves born again, evangelical or both

48% are suburban, 32% rural and 18% urban

1% selected Gay Marriage as their number one issue

Regional snapshot of the respondents: Northeast 16%, Midwest 26%, South 38%, West 20%

Nearly 80% of Republicans Support Employment Non-Discrimination Protection for Gays
( Washington , DC ) – A groundbreaking new poll released today by leading GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio shows that Republican voters support basic fairness for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation.  The poll found, among other things, strong Republican support for employment non-discrimination and allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. military. 
 
“This poll shows very encouraging results.  It validates what we’ve been saying for a long time.  Average Republicans are much more supportive of gay rights than some on the far right would like people to believe,” said Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon .  “What is most remarkable is that this is a poll of self-identified Republicans—not independents or Republican-leaning voters.  This poll makes it clear that the much talked about “base” of the GOP fundamentally believes in basic fairness for all Americans.” 
                           
Among the poll’s findings:
 

• In a remarkable show of unity on a bill that will come up for a vote in the U.S. House this summer, an overwhelming 77% of Republicans believe an employer should not have the right to fire an employee based solely on their sexual orientation.  Even among social conservatives, 67% don’t believe an employer should be able to fire someone for being gay.  “Republicans in Congress who will vote later this summer on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act should take these numbers to heart,” said Sammon.  “Rank and file Republicans support this common sense legislation.”

• 49% of Republicans believe gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly in the U.S. military, while 42% are opposed.

• 43% of Republicans support either marriage equality or civil unions.  51% oppose all relationship recognition.  “There’s much more work to be done educating Republicans about this issue, but we’re encouraged that almost half of Republicans support basic fairness for gay and lesbian families,” said Sammon. 

• 53% of respondents agree that “the Republican Party has spent too much time focusing on moral issues such as abortion and gay marriage and should instead be spending time focusing on economic issues such as taxes and government spending.” 

• When asked “What issue do you think best defines the Republican Party today?” only 5% said “traditional marriage/family values.”  85% selected other issues, including the war on terrorism, immigration, homeland security, national defense, taxes and the economy.

The poll shows sharp disagreement on a range of social issues, however Republicans are united on some core priorities:
 

• 78% believe we should balance the federal budget
• 66% believe the government is too big
• 80% believe the federal government spends too much
• 69% believe taxes are too high and only 1% believe they aren’t high enough 
  

The GOP also is united in its support for enforcing existing immigration laws and waging an aggressive war on terror. “Our Party’s agenda should focus on the core principles that unite GOP voters,” said Sammon.  “The politics of division is a recipe for defeat.” 
The survey of 2,000 self-identified Republican voters was conducted via telephone and online between May 28^th and June 3^rd 2007.  It has a margin of error of +/-2.2%.  The poll included Republicans from all parts of the country—with the largest percentage (38%) from the South.  Leading GOP pollster and strategist Tony Fabrizio, from Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates, conducted the survey.  He served as the pollster for Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign.   Log Cabin joined three other mainstream Republican organizations to help underwrite a portion of this poll.

Former Republican Congressman Bob Barr recently published an op-ed in the Wall St. Journal calling for the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the policy which prohibits gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. Barr was a member of Congress from 1995 to 2003, & opposes same-sex marriage as well as efforts to classify gays and lesbians as members of a constitutionally protected minority class.

However, on the gays-in-the-military issue, he feels differently. In the Wall St. Journal op-ed, his position was that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military would be consistent with conservative values such as saving money, promoting national security and preserving individual privacy. In fact, he even suggested that Republican presidential candidates who opposed the repeal of the policy during last week’s debate “showed a disturbing move away from conservative principles, in favor of what smells strongly of political expediency or timidity.”

Barr’s position is in line with the Gallup Poll which has reported that a majority of Republicans support allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

Thank you Rep. Barr.

–Kevin Norte

Joint Session of Legislature Rejects Proposal by Vote of 45 to 151 ( Washington , DC ) – Log Cabin Republicans praise the resounding defeat of a proposed constitutional ban on civil marriage for same-sex couples in Massachusetts .  “After three years with marriage equality in Massachusetts , families in the Bay State are stronger and more secure,” said Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon .  “Lawmakers made the right decision by blocking this attempt to write discrimination into the constitution.” 

This vote in a joint session of the state house and senate eliminates any chance that a proposed constitutional ban on marriage rights for same-sex couples will appear on the ballot in November 2008. “This is a huge victory for the voices of freedom and fairness,” said Sammon.  “Americans have watched as democracy has played out in the first state in the nation to allow committed same-sex couples the right to marry.  The rights, responsibilities, and protections that come with a civil marriage license cannot be replicated and are incredibly valuable to all families.” 

“Allowing committed same-sex couples the right to marry is a conservative viewpoint,” said Sammon.  “This is a good day for Americans and a good day for all those who believe in true conservative principles.  Nothing is more important than family—and today, Massachusetts families will continue to have the basic protections they deserve.” In January, 62 state lawmakers voted for the amendment.  Supporters of the amendment needed only 50 votes today for passage.  Opponents of marriage equality face an uphill battle to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot—their next opportunity is not until 2012. 

[NOTE-4 out of 19 House Republicans voted no, including Minority Leader Bradley Jones and Representatives Brad Hill, Paul Loscocco and Richard Ross.  3 out of 5 Senate Republicans voted no, including Minority Leader Richard Tisei and Senators Michael Knapik and Bruce Tarr. They provided the margin of victory.]    

–Kevin Norte