POLL: Majority of Tea Party Supporters Say Gays Too Powerful

A new University of Washington poll (PDF) finds that a majority of "true" Tea Party supporters believe gays are too powerful. Fifty-two percent of respondents said that "compared to the size of their group, lesbians and gays have too much political power."

The poll also finds only 18% of teabaggers believe in marriage equality,  88% support Arizona's controversial immigration law and almost half believe "if blacks would only try harder, they would be just as well off as whites."

"According to UW professor Matt Barreto, who directed the poll, the Tea Party's frustration with Washington 'is going hand in hand with a frustration and opposition to racial and ethnic minorities and gays and lesbians.'"

"Too much political power"? It's still perfectly legal in almost 30 states to fire someone or not hire them simply because they're gay, lesbian or transgender.

Comments

[elektrick.red]

These people's rants should obviously not even be taken seriously when they are clearly confused about their own platform: Are their bitchfits economically or socially motivated?

[kevinbgoode]

How come we never see a poll question that says: "Do you believe straight white men have too much power in relationship to their numbers?"

[will in nyc]

hey rod, love your work and the postings are a great mix of politics, human rights, sports/sporno, and hot guys. read you everyday although rarely post to send thanks. i'm a politico so i think that this poll is just among washington state respondents and not a national sample. i suspect that the results would be a bit different if other states - both on the conservative and progressive ends of the spectrum - were included so it may be good to clarify if that's indeed the case. keep up the great work!

[Former COGIC]

" i suspect that the results would be a bit different if other states - both on the conservative and progressive ends of the spectrum - were included"

The survey was of Washington state voters but it's very doubtful the results would differ nationally. The survey wasn't quoting "progressives." The quoted percentages are from "true believers" in the Tea Party movement. Read column 1, pages 2 and 3.

Unless of course you're saying the west coast is much more racist and homophobic than the nation at large. That's probably not true. What's more likely is the Tea Party "movement" attracts racist, homophobic and ultraconservatives all across the country. And we've seen the rallies, the signs and heard the rhetoric from coast to coast.

Classic diversion tactic to try to distract with methodology and ignore the results.

[soulbrotha]

In other shocking news, scientists discover that water is wet.

[Cruz]

SMH @ Will

What COGIC said.
That's an old Jedi mind trick.

Of course the teabaggers are not racist or homophobic in Florida, Massachusetts or Missouri, dear. Of course they aren't.

smh

[worst_1_yet]

Nice to know that straight, stupid, conservatives think I have some power.

I think I like this new development.

[Talarico]

yea nothing new about this, the tea bag brigade called barney frank a "fa_ggot" in the capitol!

[Jim]

kevinbgoode asks: “How come we never see a poll question that says: ‘Do you believe straight white men have too much power in relationship to their numbers?’”

That there’s an awfully good question.

It just might be because straight white men gets to ask the questions.

[Will in NYC]

Hi all. Former COGIC: There's no need to jump to such conclusions as I'm not trying to have a "classic diversion tactic" nor trying "to ignore results" since I both agree that these people are wack jobs and focus my work on countering their rising power. There may indeed, however, be different levels of Tea Party intensity depending on the state or the region of the country polled. I don't doubt that the Tea Party folks have radically out of touch perspectives anywhere - and yes, they do exist in all states - just that you can't necessarily draw overly broad conclusions about the whole nation from polling one state's voters. Appreciate the dialogue and have a good week everyone.

[Isaac]

It's good to know we have so much power.

[Dalton]

"I both agree that these people are wack jobs and focus my work on countering their rising power."

As a Republican? Because you surely don't sound like a progressive.

So do you suggest that Washington's teapartiers are more conservative than those in Virginia? Or that teapartiers in Ohio or South Carolina are less racist and more gay friendly? Do tell.

I'm with COGIC and Cruz. You aren't saying a damn thing about racist or homophobic insults from these "wack jobs", and are obsessed with trying to "clarify" a poll. Sounds like revisionism. Yet another (white) gay conservative who loves the photos of black men at this blog and gets angry because the natives dare think for themselves.

[Daniel]

Just goes to show how removed from reality Tea Party supporters are. They need to turn off the Fox News and go outside even when they're not going to a ridiculous protest.

[Kevin Perez]

If that were true, we'd have gay marriage and make laws for the sterilization of Heterosexuals with mutipile children out of wed-lock with different men/women and everyone would know how hypocritical they are.

[alberto]

Are Tea party members counting the closeted gays in their organization as well?