Politico and George Washington University just released a poll showing that 40 percent of Americans favor gay marriage. The same poll also says that 30 percent support civil unions but not gay marriage, and 24 percent oppose any kind of legal recognition of gay unions.
What do you think the headline reporting this news should say? Here are some options, all of which would have been accurate:
A majority of Americans oppose gay marriage
Poll says 54% of Americans oppose gay marriage
Despite recent gay rights gains, majority still oppose same-sex marriage
Majority favors some legal recognition for gay unions but still opposes gay marriage
So what headline do you think Politico chose for its report on its own poll? Here it is:
Plurality supports gay marriage
Does that seem like the most obvious headline to you?
4 Comments
WJacksonWatts
Great example of how worldview and sociology are always complicated because of the most subjective ingredient–interpretation.
James Stanton
The most obvious one is that a strong majority prefer some type of union. I don’t particularly see a big difference between civil unions and marriages but this has become a zero sum game.
Denny Burk
I agree. I don’t think there’s a big difference either.
Matt Martin
40% support gay marriage. 30% support gay marriage, but just don’t want to call it marriage. And only 24% oppose gay marriage. Yep, the headline got it right.