CNN Poll tells a cheerful story

I've been extra busy, but I had to share this little piece of sunshine from a recent CNN/Opinion poll.  In a list of 17 issues that would be important in the vote for President next year, "Policies towards gays and lesbians" came dead last.

Total wooden spooner.  

The margins are worth noting too. 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. May 4-6, 2007 (N=1,028 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3)

"How important will each of the following issues be to your vote for president next year? Will it be extremely important, very important, moderately important, or not that important? . . ."
				.
	Extremely Important	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not That Important	Unsure
	%	%	%	%	%
The situation in Iraq	51	37	9	2	-
Terrorism	45	35	14	6	-
Education	44	37	16	3	-
Health care	43	35	18	4	-
Gas prices	43	31	16	10	1
Corruption and ethical standards in government	41	36	17	7	-
The situation in Iran	38	39	17	5	1
Social Security and Medicare	38	37	20	4	-
The economy	33	46	16	4	-
Illegal immigration	31	32	26	10	1
Taxes	30	40	23	6	1
The federal budget deficit	30	34	26	9	2
Global warming	27	26	27	19	1
Abortion	27	24	24	24	1
Gun policy	26	26	29	17	2
Stem cell research	20	28	28	21	3
Policies toward gays and lesbians	13	15	30	41	1

 

Maybe this means we won't be used as a wedge issue.  Nah, that's too much to hope for.

Which god am I?

This should not have surprised me at all...

Which God or Goddess are you like? Your Result: Budha   You are Budha. You are a very peaceful person, you love all who love you. You are a cheerful personality, and you have a great sense of humor. Congratulations!! You are Budha!!
Goddess Bast
The Christian God
Jesus
God Zeus
Goddess Sekhemet
You are your own God or Goddess
Satan
Which God or Goddess are you like? Make Your Own Quiz

Hate Crimes Bill Passes: Will Bush Veto?

Today, in a 237 to 180 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Hate Crimes Bill (H.R. 1592).

Now every right wing organ of the media is shrilling and tweeting at the top of their little lungs that the President has already pledged, threatened, vowed, hinted at, expected to, and will veto this bill. 

But they are wrong.  That isn't what the President said at all.  Here is what it says in the Statement of Administration Policy issued today by the Executive Office of the President - Office of Management and Budget (original emphasis):

"The Administration favors strong criminal penalties for violent crime, including crime based on personal characteristics, such as race, color, religion, or national origin. However, the Administration believes that H.R. 1592 is unnecessary and constitutionally questionable. If H.R. 1592 were presented to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill."

This only says that the senior advisors to the President would recommend that he veto the bill.  That's hardly a pledge or a vow. 

And we all know how much attention he pays to his advisors, don't we...

Chemistry.com takes on discrimination in Online Dating

*UPDATED* with the video of the advertisement that has finally turned up on YouTube.

I've received more advertising pieces than I can count from the online dating company e-Harmony.com (yes, the ones with the annoying sickly sweet commercials).  Initially I looked into their service thinking that, given the Internet savvy of GLBT people, they were marketing to us as a group.  Not so much.  They don't care to cater to same-sex attracted people.

Last night HWMBO and I did something rare.  We watched Heroes on network television.  During the program, there was an advertisement showing a guy looking at a girlie magazine in silence for several moments, then he looked up and said "Nope, still gay" followed by a blurb for Chemistry.com making it clear that unlike eHarmony.com, they are here to help everyone.

The campaign which is themed "Come As You Are," includes network television, print advertising, and online elements. The TV campaign playfully satirizes the exclusionary nature of eHarmony by depicting men and women who wonder aloud why they have been "rejected" by this site. The integrated marketing effort, which commences in May, was created by Hanft Raboy & Partners, Inc., Chemistry.com's New York-based advertising agency.

"Every day I hear people say that they are looking for a meaningful relationship, but each one defines that relationship very differently. One person might want to get married and have children, while another is looking for a companion and friend," said Thomas Enraght-Moony, CEO of Match.com, which operates Chemistry.com. "We exist for people who are looking for a relationship on their terms. Our brand is populated by exciting, diverse individuals seeking chemistry -- and we've built our system to deliver just that."

Very refreshing.  I like the way Chemistry.com is positioning itself to be the place that people "rejected" by eHarmony.com can turn to.  Examples of "selective" criteria at Consumerist.  It's always bothered me that eHarmony.com was focused on marriage as an end point, and that this seemed to neatly exclude same-sex attracted people.  The Chemistry.com people who are also behind Match.com also have a blog with one of Seattle's own, Dan Savage, contributing to the conversation: 

As part of the campaign, Chemistry.com is launching a provocative blog, entitled "The Great Mate Debate." In this forum, five world-class writers, thinkers and influencers discuss various issues each week, from their own unique points-of-view. This long-overdue dialogue will address gay unions, divorce, marriage in the 21st century, and how relationships are being redefined. Each week, the experts will discuss various diverse relationship topics.

Thanks for seeing us as part of the world, but how come I can't find the ad I saw last night on the web to embed here or link to it?  Come on folks, did you think we weren't going to write about you? 

You did write a press release, get with the program!