America's progressive paradox

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The US election last week presents a progressive paradox. The much heralded arrival of a more liberal Democrat led era, signalled by Barack Obama’s historic presidential win, jars with the voice of Americans across the nation who voted against a range of orthodox left-liberal positions.

That conflict points to the politics of confusion in coming years, as Washington’s sharp lurch to the Left confronts a stubborn social conservatism among Americans.

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In California, where Obama secured 61per cent of the vote, 51 per cent of voters supported a ban on gay marriage.

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Ironically, those blacks and Hispanics who came out in force to vote for the liberal Democrat secured the passage of Proposition 8 which will amend the state’s Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. CNN Exit polls revealed that 70 per cent of blacks and more than half of Latino voters favoured the ban.

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In Florida where Obama won 51per cent of the vote, 62 per cent of voters said no to same-sex marriage. In Arizona, - a Republican hold, 56 per cent of voters said the same. In all, more than 40 states have laws or constitutional bans against same-sex marriage.

In Nebraska, 58 per cent of voters banned affirmative action – joining California, Washington and Michigan – states that have already banned racial preferences. A Colorado initiative to ban racial preferences was narrowly defeated. And in Arkansas, voters passed a ballot that bans gay men and women from adopting children.

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There is a fundamental divide between Washington and large swathes of the rest of the US.

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The next four years will be a fascinating ride as Obama tries to satisfy his liberal Democrat colleagues in Congress and the more conservative voters who delivered him the keys to the White House.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...95-7583,00.html

[Ban Hammer 13,347]

The next four years will be a fascinating ride as Obama tries to satisfy his liberal Democrat colleagues in Congress and the more conservative voters who delivered him the keys to the White House.

[chri'stina 190]

I feel like many times people stereotype who would vote for a ban on same-sex marriage, while the article shows a different picture. Anyway the part I like least about Obama's presidency is the majority in the house and senate also. But Obama has to know that if a lot of very left wing agendas start getting passed, a lot of people who even voted for him are going to get mad.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I feel like many times people stereotype who would vote for a ban on same-sex marriage, while the article shows a different picture.

Check out some of the recent reports from the gay-rights blogosphere on the recent prop 8 protests. They've been racially tinged and the anger is largely directed at black people.

I'd link to some but a lot of those sites are blocked at work.

[chri'stina 190]

I heard something on the news the other day about it.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I heard something on the news the other day about it.

here is one-

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pr...0,7790800.story

[Ban Hammer 13,347]

I heard something on the news the other day about it.

here is one-

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pr...0,7790800.story

"Here is Barack Obama in his own words on the definition of marriage," the call began.

Then the voice of Obama speaking to a crowd comes on: "I believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian, it is also a sacred union. God is in the mix."

link

[HAL 9000 96]

Obama and Biden have previously expressed their personal definition of what marriage is. Could they be wrong to do so in terms of imposition upon gays? Sure.

Do they oppose equal benefits (legal) to gays as for heterosexuals? No, they don't oppose them. Semantics once again.