Media

Why Is The Media Blaming Black Voters for North Carolina’s Anti-Gay Amendment?

Since the success of North Carolina’s Amendment One, which bans gay marriage in the state, there have been a number of different phenomena blamed for the success of the law. Buzzfeed, for instance, points out a correlation which supposedly shows that the least educated areas of North Carolina went most strongly for the law.

Yet one particular claim by the mainstream DC news outlet Politico has been inspiring some debate. And it comes from a story entitled, “Gay marriage: Black voters remain divided.” Here‘s the quote that’s been getting attention:

African-Americans voted 2-1 in favor of the North Carolina amendment banning gay marriage Tuesday, but the White House is betting that black voters there and beyond will stick with the president, despite broad resistance to legalization.

If true, that 2-1 figure would suggest something troubling for the White House – that the same voters that are most inclined to support President Obama for a second term are the ones most likely to be alienated from his announcement yesterday that he now supports gay marriage.

The problem is that no one knows where exactly that figure comes from. Moe Lane at RedState led the charge on this particular problem, in a blog post that acidly criticizes the author of the article for not citing sources:

There’s no backup for that at all in the article. The question is of some interest – African-American opposition to California’s same-sex marriage laws gave social conservatives a completely unexpected victory on 2008′s Election Night – but if there are actual exit polls publicly available then I have yet to see them. For that matter, ABC Newsreported today (May 10, 2012) that there was no exit polling in North Carolina for Amendment One. At all.

NO exit polling? That does sound suspicious. And in point of fact, Mediaite is backing up Lane’s criticism, claiming that the Politico story is irresponsibly pushing a media meme that doesn’t actually have factual support:

Scapegoating of black voters for the passage of anti-marriage laws like California’s Proposition 8 or North Carolina’s Amendment 1 is not a new thing. However, the reality is that while polling among black voters on the issue shows higher-than-average opposition to gay marriage (47% to 54% in one recent poll), it’s not nearly enough to swing any of these measures from failure to passage. In fact, being a Republican or a graduate of the 8th grade are far more reliable predictors of marriage equality opposition.

But there has also been a clear effort to exaggerate black opposition to same-sex marriage. When California’s Proposition 8 passed during the 2008 election, it was widely reported that 70% of black people voted for it, but a later study concluded that the number was really about 58%. If black people had voted exactly the same as everyone else, Prop 8 would still have passed.[...]

This narrative is made more attractive by anti-gay mothership NOM’s well-publicized efforts to use marriage equality as a wedge among black voters, but what little actual data that’s used in the Politico report shows opposition to gay marriage softening among black people.

So the meme looks fake, which raises the question of why Politico would push an item like this in the first place. Racism in the media, or just an outsized love of conflict? Or is there data that no one has shown? We hope Politico will release the source of their number and clear this up.

Comments (86)

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  • cemerius
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:32pm

    BECAUSE…they blamed them for Prop 9 passing in California too!!! It is VERY nice to see that the blacks and whites agree on THIS issue in the majority!

    Report Post » cemerius  
    • marhee9
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:37pm

      Because this is what the liberal media does. I’m sure on the next story they talked about right wing radical racists. It’s called hypocrisy and nobody has perfected it more than the liberals.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R83lXxK_8SI

      Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:42pm

      it is their backhanded way of calling blacks biggots. the name calling from the media shows their disdain for americans.

      Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:48pm

      I AM proud to say…I accept part of the blame also…I VOTED in favor of the ban on gay marriage,here in NC on Tuesday ….

      Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:24pm

      Voted for RON PAUL too….another choice for sanity and morality….and because I believe in constitutional government….

      Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 9:04am

      Obama will force black ministers to perform homosexual marriages at there churches in the ghetto.
      Obama threw black minister under the bus in favor of the Big Money Bags Homosexual Lobby. How much more money did the Big Money Bags Homosexual Lobby offer Obama than the NAACP, ACORN, and the Black Panthers?

      I can hear those ghetto wedding bells now. Ha ha ha ha…

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 1:59pm

      Exactly…they did the same thing in California with Prop 8. The bitter,twisted, spiteful and litiguous homosexual lobby will not tolerate the peoples’ will when it comes to homosexual marriage. They need scapegoats to attack.

      Report Post »  
  • DIR
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:25pm

    Why Is The Media Blaming Black Voters for North Carolina’s Anti-Gay Amendment?

    Because they’re racists! Isn’t this how the game is played?

    Report Post »  
    • spirited
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:56pm

      Who> The media?

      Report Post » spirited  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:55pm

      ITS not an anti gay amendment…. its pro morality amendment..My church will not recognize or preform gay marriages..

      Report Post »  
  • Git-R-Done
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:22pm

    A lot of Hispanics are also against same sex marriage.

    Report Post »  
  • IDONTTHINKSO
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:00pm

    Finally something the white guy didn’t get blamed for!!!

    Report Post »  
  • SHOWMESTATEGUY
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:58pm

    The establishment democratic party insist the (black, asian, jewish, hispanic people) vote the way they are supposed to vote in order to advance the agenda of the far left in this country. How dare any of you plantation slaves think otherwise. You plantation slaves are not smart enough to think reasonably. That’s why the democratic establishment party has to think for you. The democratic establishment thinks the democratic base are a dumb bunch of kids., kids that need to suck the government teat until death.

    Report Post »  
  • 00gabooga
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:54pm

    Doesn’t matter. Nothing Obama can do could sway the black vote against him.

    Report Post » 00gabooga  
    • Cosmos102
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:14pm

      It may not sway blacks to vote for Romney instead of Obama…but it certainly could sway many blacks to stay home on election day.

      Report Post » Cosmos102  
    • HurricaneFran
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 9:45am

      If “O” admitted he was the Son of Satan, some would still vote for him.

      Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:51pm

    The media is the most liberal company’s in the usa. There is nothing they wont lie, twist, and or distort in any of their reporting to fit their way of thinking.. Blacks that don’t fall in line with them will be treated like ****. The true racist come out in this story and its the Media!

    Report Post »  
    • disenlightened
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:10pm

      The media is controlled by white liberals, we all know that. And we also know these statist, power-hungry cowards have been using blacks and the threat of black violence to intimidate and silence normal human beings for at least 44 years. They have their Uncle Tom’s, too, like Jackson and Sharpton, who give voice and credibility to the threat of black violence and turn out the vote that keeps them all relevant. But, it‘s all an illusion they’ve created. Let them blow their dog whistle. I don’t think blacks will come running.

      Report Post » disenlightened  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:50pm

    …
    Two to one, against Gay marriage.
    Could it be, that people in N.C. are religious, have family values, and morals?
    Something Barack Hussein Obama seems to know nothing about.

    Report Post »  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:48pm

    Blacks andMexicans donot want any part of homosexuality, period.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • jespasinthru
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:25pm

      Heterosexual black males (and Mexicans too) fear and loathe homosexuals. They can’t help it. Machismo is a big part of their culture, and they pride themselves on being able to successfully interact with females. And produce children, of course. They have an almost superstitious fear that a homosexual male can turn a male child gay just by being in close proximity. And most blacks and Hispanic grow up in Christian households, where they are taught at an early age that homosexuals are minions of Satan out to corrupt their souls. Although they grow up and mature, those deep-seated fears never go away.

      Report Post » jespasinthru  
  • Teabunny
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:44pm

    PS All you guys at Fox…take back the names your mamas gave you! you sound like a Chippendales stage bill!

    Report Post » Teabunny  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:44pm

    The ‘media’ in this country will always support the democrat in the white house and with the current occupier the support is cult like,they actually believe he’s some sort of God.

    So this story blaming blacks for supporting amendment one is suspicious,remember it‘s the media’s job as they see it to get the Marxist in chief re-elected so every thing they do is geared toward that goal.

    The msm is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the regime so we have to take what they ‘report’ with a large grain of salt.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:42pm

    2-1? I was there.It was more than that. In November the white Liberal base will not abandon Obama,but black folks have to decide who they hate more.Whites or gays?Will The same Black Preachers that drove the buses to vote against gay rights drive the same buses in November for Obama? Or do they realize that Obama’s stance is just empty rhetoric and he will do nothing for gay marriage? I Can Be sure of one thing.No Legislation will be submitted or supported by Obama for gay rights until after November if ever.The Bigot Republicans need to call his bluff on this.Submit a pro gay marriage bill.The Commiecrats tried the same thing with the draft once.Give them their own Medicine.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • jnobfan
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:02pm

      So in your world black people hate gays or whites? IMO you like most liberals do not understand the south. In the south black and white folks come together in many ways including religion, community and sports in a way that a northern person just can’t relate. i am from NJ and not religious but I have lived in the south for many years and I speak from both experiences. Southern people of both colors are the most gracious in the country. Are there @holes on both sides? Of course but I am proud to be a southernor or redneck because my neigbors are the best people I have ever met.

      Report Post »  
    • happ77
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 1:24pm

      JNOBFAN, Agree 100% I moved to NC from CT a few years ago and
      what you say is absolutly true.

      Report Post »  
  • Teabunny
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:42pm

    you know…i think I misjudged Shep. I said some mean things about him about 2 weeks ago. Honestly, I got him mixed up with bret (its been a while since I watched Fox. Bret is the grecian kidd…not shep. shep was always cool…my bad…sorry! I remember a report from back in the beginning of july 2011, He was at a ball game, and he gave credit to someone for “still watching fox” It was very commendable. Funny , the things that stick.) I commend Shep’s courage, It has to be pretty unpopular at Fox to speak outside the GOP box. BOOOYAH Shep!
    http://www.mediaite.com/tv/foxs-shep-smith-republicans-on-wrong-side-of-history-on-gay-marriage/

    Report Post » Teabunny  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:38pm

      Shepard Smith is a waste of time.
      He possibly could be the Don Lemon of CNN.
      BTW I don’t care. Shep is a narcisstic OXFORD idiot.
      Bret Baier has more truth in his demeaner….plus he is FAIR and BALANCED!!!
      LMAO

      oh yes and OMG 2012

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:52am

      GEORGIEJO, Yeah, I literally can’t stand Smith and his way of reporting. It’s like listening to fingernails on a chalk board when I hear his voice. Luckily I usually miss access to his first show and my wife has taught me to switch over to another channel and watch The Big Bang. Never watched it before and as goofy as it is, it beats the Hell out of watching and just hearing him.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • mom4times
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:42pm

    So……what they are really saying is that the least educated are actually the smartest ; )
    Way to go North Carolina, you guys are awesome ! :D

    Report Post » mom4times  
    • Smokey_Bojangles
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:59pm

      No.The Media is saying Black People are sheep that need to be guided and if left to their own they can make their own decisions…Even if I Did not Agree with Amendment one. They know they can not blame the white liberals for this one and I know Several Republicans who voted against it because gay marriage is already against the law in NC.The Media could not ignore the fact that several black people were out handing fliers and cards to vote for amendment one and had a REPUBLICAN Candidate that they supported in the Primary as well.Shocked me too! Maybe they realize that Obama is against Jesus and have decided to back Christ instead of the Old Messiah Obama?

      Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • Goldenyears22
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:13pm

      Education makes a person smarter than poor folks. Not in this matter, poor folks are smarter than over educated egg headed, know-it-alls, who have no idea of what God has to say and think they are smarter than God. God says they are fools.

      Report Post »  
  • toomuchgovt
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:41pm

    Obama knows the black vote will always vote based on race PERIOD. I learned this when Charles Paine whom I like very much admitted he VOTED for OBAMA based on color, he said he was pressured? If someone like C. Paine would throw out his principles based on color, then why wouldn’t the rest of them throw out religion?

    Report Post » toomuchgovt  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:56pm

      I like Charles as well but that whole pressured response is BS,he should have checked Barry out,just a little digging would have revealed a Marxist POS. Charles judged Barry on the color of his skin and not the content of his character and we see the destruction Barry has wrought in three and a half years.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • GardenoftheGods
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:57pm

      Hadn’t heard that about Charles Paine, does give one pause…Thanks for the info

      Report Post » GardenoftheGods  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:18pm

      Does this mean they all would vote for Alan West.?…I think Alan would be a great choice for Republican VP……CNN would have a real dilemma on they hands.

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:57am

      TOOMUCHGOVT, I stay in touch by email with a number of old Army buddies. One in particular is an African American who when I was stationed with him was very conservative and this was during the Clinton Admin. He admitted that he voted for 0bama as well. I still have a lot of respect for the guy, but we no longer discuss politics in our emails. I do hope to hear that he votes against 0bama in November though, and I frankly believe that he will this time.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:08am

      Crap, I wish I hadn’t read this, I liked that guy. I have zero respect for him now.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:34pm

    These are not the voters your for.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • flipper1073
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:32pm

    If Obama supports gay Marriage
    An Mitt Romney Opposes gay Marriage
    Makes no difference to Me.
    If they Propose a Federal Law or Constutitional
    Amendment making it a Federal Law.
    Then I have a HUGE problem with it.
    31 States have already passed Laws Defining
    Marriage as Between a Man And A Woman
    No Exceptions.North Carolina being the latest.
    More to Follow.
    Problem Sloved if you want to be
    gay an married go to one of the States that
    Sanctions gay marriage.
    But don’t come to my State an demand
    that we recognize it as a marriage because
    We’ve already Decided Marriage is between
    One Man an One Woman PERIOD.

    Report Post » flipper1073  
    • Teabunny
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:51pm

      since they changed how senators are chosen…oh yes they can…as long as it is constitutional, as determined , at final stage, by the supreme court (hey, did you know several members are ready to retire?) and state laws must line up under federal laws.

      Report Post » Teabunny  
    • ACLUHater
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:52pm

      Right on Flipper

      Report Post »  
    • flipper1073
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:56pm

      @ TEABUNNY
      I’m not a big Fan of Constutional Amendments
      The Constutition is very hard to Amend an that’s a good thing.
      You don’t really think that a gay Marriage Amendment would
      ever make it through the process almost 2/3 of the States have already
      said NO.
      Federal Laws Don’t Automaticly Trump State Laws.
      Prostitution is legal in two counties in Nevada but nowhere Else.

      I‘m Guessing you’re baseing you presumption on Row vs.Wade
      which was BAD Law, Poorly Written an I predict will be overturned
      as soon as we get enough Justices with enough Guts to Do it.
      Then it goes back to the States. Some will Legalize it Some will
      Restrict it an Some will Ban it Outright.You choose where you live.
      There is no more right to an Abortion in the Constutition than there is
      for gay Marriage.
      By the way the ONLY Constutitional Amendment I would be for
      Right now is a Balanced Budget Amendment .

      Report Post » flipper1073  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:26pm

    Uh, because blacks apparently didn’t do what they were told to do by obama and his media – LOL! Imagine that, real people actually thinking for themselves – AMAZING!!!

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • Vernon Black
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:24pm

    I’m deeply suspicious. The media is so afraid of appearing “racist” the media won’t even report that a Black criminal suspect is black for Chrissake! But the media wennies has no problem reporting a “White Hispanic.”

    Report Post » Vernon Black  
  • Grumpytroll
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:23pm

    Voting 2 to1 against, probably means their also voting against obama or that would make them 2 faced wouldn’t it. It’s Great to be a Christian. God Lead our Country to do the right thing.

    Report Post » Grumpytroll  
  • From Virginia
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:23pm

    They are blaming black people because there are no Mormons to scapegoat this time. Black people also voted against gay-marriage in California – but the media and the gay activists destroy Mormon property in protest.

    Maryland is in for it too. Maryland has a LOT of black voters and they didn’t take too kindly to the state legislature granting gay marriage by fiat. It’s GOING on the ballot and black people will vote it down.

    Black people in DC are REALLY hot about DC legislating gay marriage. I don’t know that they have the same power to get it on a ballot – being a city and not a state.

    Report Post »  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:27pm

      The media is going to throw away the blacks once they’re through with them.

      Report Post »  
  • Clmsadjman
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:20pm

    OMG blacks voted for the amendment in NC they must be bigotted racists. Oh that’s right only white conservative are biggotted racists homophobes. Black churches are very strong influences in that community and that makes sense that they would vote overwhelmingly for the amendment. Listen the Obama administration will talk about almost anything other than their record and the economy I can’t wait until next week what contrived issues is going to come up. I think they are going to run out of issues way before they run out of time. Lets see contraception, animal cruelty issues, gay marriage what next only Axlehole knows the next move. I really believe the DNC should chastise those black voters for not walking in lockstep with the administration, please do that DNC.

    Report Post »  
  • dont_tax_me_bro
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:14pm

    Its a well known fact that most blacks are strictly anti-homosexual. Thats what makes OBummers quick switch from being anti-ga to pro-gay so obviously all about politics. Maybe it was his white half that convinced his black half to be pro-gay….LOL!

    Report Post » dont_tax_me_bro  
  • SPOT_OF_TEA
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:06pm

    I knew all along that most of the media were racists.

    Report Post » SPOT_OF_TEA  
    • TikeSissy
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:16pm

      Did I read this correctly. Lame Stream Media gave Black America a F for common sense?

      Report Post » TikeSissy  
  • NewLife56
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:06pm

    Because Blacks aren’t stupid, they know better than to support this crap.

    Report Post » NewLife56  
    • Rayford
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:38pm

      Many that vote against gay marriage wont equate that with Obama and will sadly still vote for him.

      That said, alot of blacks in my area feel taken for granted and let down by this president. They say they will not vote for him again.

      Report Post »  
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