LGBT voting

[fondue_knight]

According to Wikipedia, in 2004, 77% of LGBT Americans voted for John Kerry. Four years later, only(!) 70% voted for Barack Obama. Why this swing away from the Democratic candidate?

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

Bush was a hardcore social con who was pushing a federal amendment to ban gay marriage. McCain (image wise) was seen as a more socially moderate, sane conservative. If he hadn't picked Palin, I think Obama's number would have been even lower.

[Sol]

Bush was a hardcore social con who was pushing a federal amendment to ban gay marriage. McCain (image wise) was seen as a more socially moderate, sane conservative. If he hadn't picked Palin, I think Obama's number would have been even lower.

Exactly. Bush used Gay Marriage against Kerry quite successfully- it was quite a homophobic campaign.

[Smash255]

IIRC Obama was at 77% in 2012.

As was mentioned Bush in 04 and McCain in 08 had differing views on SSM, especially with the FMA push by Bush.  Meanwhile Kerry in 04 and Obama in 08 really didn't have much of a difference. 

[Brittain33]

Obama wasn't fully trusted by gays in 2008 because of issues like Donnie McClurkin, and as others said, McCain seemed to have pissed off the Republican culture warriors in 2000 so he wasn't seen as dangerous.  Meanwhile, in 2004, the Bush campaign (if not Bush himself) said that voting for Bush was a way to vote against acceptance of gays, so that made it personal.

[bgwah]

For anecdotal evidence right here on Atlas, see: Mr. Moderate

[Lambsbread]

I would also contend that the lack of Democrats doing something about the issue at the Federal level might also be a part of the drop you pointed out. Then again, gays don't vote only on marriage.

[Supersonic]

I would also contend that the lack of Democrats doing something about the issue at the Federal level might also be a part of the drop you pointed out. Then again, gays don't vote only on marriage.

*puts hand up*

I'm a good example of this. Then again, I barely base my vote on LGBT rights anyway.

[Sol]

Oh, and I bet that the vast majority of LGBT republicans are white gay men. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama only got 60% or so with them.

[Peter the Lefty]

Basically the aforementioned reasons.  76% of us voted for Obama in 2012, since the difference between the candidates was back to being about as clear as it was in '04, even though Romney in 2012 was pretty much where Kerry was in 2004 position-wise.

[Hatman 🍁]

Oh, and I bet that the vast majority of LGBT republicans are white gay men. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama only got 60% or so with them.

The vast majority of LGBT in the US are white gay men

[badgate]

Oh, and I bet that the vast majority of LGBT republicans are white gay men. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama only got 60% or so with them.

The vast majority of LGBT in the US are white gay men

hayyyyyyy

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

For anecdotal evidence right here on Atlas, see: Mr. Moderate

Indeed, Bush turned a lot of otherwise Republican-leaning gays off by supporting the federal marriage amendment. There is a marginal difference between quiet hostility and open hostility. And as it turns out, it calculates to 7%.

[tik 🪀✨]

Obviously 7% of lgbt people transitioned into straights.

[Indy Texas]

Oh, and I bet that the vast majority of LGBT republicans are white gay men. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama only got 60% or so with them.

I would imagine that within the LGBT community, there is variation based on other characteristics like race, education, gender and income. If you had a group of lesbian black women who make less than $25K a year and a group of gay white men who work for Goldman Sachs and make $100K+ a year, even if Obama carried both groups, it stands to reason that he would do better among the first group than among the second group.

[Lambsbread]

Obviously 7% of lgbt people transitioned into straights.

Michele Bachmann 2016

[All Along The Watchtower]

Oh, and I bet that the vast majority of LGBT republicans are white gay men. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama only got 60% or so with them.

I would imagine that within the LGBT community, there is variation based on other characteristics like race, education, gender and income. If you had a group of lesbian black women who make less than $25K a year and a group of gay white men who work for Goldman Sachs and make $100K+ a year, even if Obama carried both groups, it stands to reason that he would do better among the first group than among the second group.

Or live in Orange County or wherever and make/have made a good living as lawyers, businessmen, etc.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Oh, and I bet that the vast majority of LGBT republicans are white gay men. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama only got 60% or so with them.

The vast majority of *openly* LGBT in the US are white gay men

Fixed.