Pew poll: 'Culture war' is overblown

Try as fundies might to spin that their anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-science agenda is picking up steam, another poll comes out that dashes their hopes and dreams that the American people are on getting board. It's much more murky.

By the same token, activists on our side of the fence can't find too much comfort in these Pew Research figures, which show that while we've gained ground on the civil equality front in many ways, there's a long way to go... (Pew):

Despite talk of "culture wars" and the high visibility of activist groups on both sides of the cultural divide, there has been no polarization of the public into liberal and conservative camps.

Indeed, public opinion has moved little on these issues in recent years and continues to be mixed and often inconsistent, reflecting a blend of pragmatism and principle. For instance, a clear majority (56%) continues to oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry while 35% express support. But nearly as large a majority (54%) supports allowing homosexual couples to enter into legal agreements that would give them many of the same rights as married couples.



...The poll also found no consensus among either supporters or opponents of gay marriage over how far to go to press their respective positions. Barely half of all those who favor allowing gays to marry say supporters should "push hard" to make it legal as soon as possible, while slightly more than four-in-ten urge caution so as to avoid creating "bad feelings against homosexuals." Similarly, only a small majority (54%) of gay marriage opponents favor amending the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage. The public is similarly divided on other hot-button issues. A slim majority (52%) opposes allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children.

The breakdown of opposition and support for civil marriage equality is interesting (most folks polled opposed a federal marriage amendment):

* 83% of conservative Republicans and 66% of moderate and liberal Republicans oppose.
* 59% of conservative and moderate Democrats opposed
* Independents are evenly divided (46% in favor, 45% opposed).

And what about religious Americans questioned?
* 78% of White evangelical Protestants
* 74% black Protestants
* 58% white Catholics
* and 47% of white mainline Protestants oppose.the right of gays to marry.
* Among seculars a majority (63%) supports civil marriage equality.

So, what thoughts do folks come away with after reading this info in terms of progress and strategy?