Pew: Public Opinion Shifts Fast on Gay Marriage, Gays in Military

By: Lowell
Published On: 4/3/2006 1:00:00 AM

Maybe Virgnia's anti-gay "marriage amendment" (in quotes because the amendment does absolutely nothing to protect the institution of marriage while trampling on gay AND straight peoples' rights) won't be such a big deal politically after all.  Obviously, Republicans are cynically using this amendment to rev up their "base" and to increase turnout this November.  However, according to a Pew poll released March 22, the entire "gay marriage" issue is rapidly losing its saliency.  According to Pew:

Public acceptance of homosexuality has increased in a number of ways in recent years, though it remains a deeply divisive issue. Half of Americans (51%) continue to oppose legalizing gay marriage, but this number has declined significantly from 63% in February 2004...Opposition to gay marriage has fallen across the board, with substantial declines even among Republicans.

And, Pew adds:

Despite the fact that gay marriage initiatives are on the ballot in seven states this year, the atmosphere surrounding the issue of gay marriage has cooled off, and public intensity has dissipated compared with two years ago. "Strong" opposition to gay marriage, which surged in 2004, has ebbed to a new low. This is particularly the case among seniors, Catholics and non-evangelical Protestants. Among people age 65 and over, for example, strong opposition to gay marriage jumped from 36% in 2003 to 58% in 2004, but has fallen to 33% today. White evangelical Protestants are the only major group in which a majority still strongly opposes gay marriage,  but even here the intensity of feeling has receded somewhat.

Overall, only 28% of Americans today say that they "strongly oppose" gay marriage.  Among white, mainline Protestants, the figure is just 18%.  Among Catholics, it's 19%.  Among Democrats, it's 21%.  And among independents, it's only 25%. 

So, where is the hotbed for anti-gay-marriage sentiment in America today?  Pretty much, it's white evangelicals. Even there, however, strong opposition to gay marriage is only 56%, which I would have expected to be much higher (80%? 90%?).  And, since white evangelicals make up a sizeable chunk of the Republican coalition, strong opposition overall among Republicans to gay marriage is 41%.  However, even among Republicans, opposition is down sharply 18 percentage points since February 2004.  In other words, if you're not a white evangelical and you "strongly oppose" gay marriage, you're pretty much in the minority.  And the trend seems to be in a pro-gay-marriage direction.

Overall, Pew found that 39% of Americans now favor "allowing gays and lesbians to marry," with 51% against.   Sure, that's still a majority of Americans against gay marriage, but it's only a 12-point lead for the anti-gay-marriage people, and that lead is fading fast (down from 33 points in February 2004). 

Apparently, it's not just gay marriage either.  According to Pew, 60% (!) of Americans now favor "allowing gays to serve openly in the military," with just 32% opposed.  Interestingly, white evangelicals and conservative Republicans are the only two groups who oppose allowing gays to serve openly in the military - in other words, ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.  Among Democrats, it's 70%-23% (+47 points) in favor of allowing gays to serve openly in the military, and among Independents it's 66%-30% (+36 points) in favor.   Wow.

The bottom line here is that attacking homosexuals for political gain in this country appears to be rapidly losing its efficacy.  In fact, given the trends we're seeing (oh yeah, 46% of Americans now favor allowing gay adoption), there may come a time very soon - if not this November - where going after gays may actually be a big, backfiring liability.  Already, it looks like "don't ask, don't tell" has pretty much lost favor with the overwhelming majority of Democrats and Independents, while  Republicans are evenly split (46%-46%; can we say "wedge issue?").  Americans are also evenly split on allowing gays to adopt.  And, the younger you are, the more tolerant you are according to Pew. 

Which means that political "gay bashing" is dying out fast in America.   And good riddance to it.  Now, what was that I heard about this country being so "conservative?"  This sounds pretty damned "progressive" to me.


Comments



Soooo...why is Webb (Sean Holihan - 4/4/2006 11:34:35 PM)
Soooo...why is Webb for Don't Ask/Don't Tell again?

One issue doesn't a man make, but it seems just a tad discriminatory when Webb backs this issue that is so unpopular with Democrats.  It lets me know that he actually believes in DA/DT.

And that’s the scary part.  Because it stops being just one issue and lets me know a little about how this man thinks.  In his eyes, if I was in the military and serving openly, it would be a detriment to everyone around me. 

Which, of course, is insulting.  Tell your man to take an educated decision on this one, stop trusting his gut on this issue and I'll hop on that bandwagon allright?



Sean: On "don't ask, (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:35 PM)
Sean: On "don't ask, don't tell," I simply disagree with Jim Webb.  I also disagree with George Allen, and I might disgree with Harris Miller except I don't believe he's stated his position on the issue.

This raises a broader point: do I need to agree with someone on every issue in order to support them?  No.  But do I need to agree with them on most issues, believe they are far better than the alternative, and feel comfortable that their minds are open to progressive change?  Yes.  And that is definitely the case with Jim Webb, who I am proud to support for US Senate against George Allen.

The bottom line for me is that I am NOT a "litmus test" voter.  I look at the whole man or woman running for office, and make my decision accordingly. And, with Jim Webb, I agree with him far, FAR more than I agree with Harris Miller or - horror of horrors - George Allen.  On "don't ask, don't tell," all I can do is express my views on the subject to him, and also to make him aware of polls like this one.  Which I plan to do.

Now, Sean, what about your candidate on this issue?  How about talking about Harris Miller for a change, that "Old Testament kind of guy" (whatever THAT means; stoning, anyone?)



Good point. I'll ma (Sean Holihan - 4/4/2006 11:34:35 PM)
Good point.  I'll make a phone call today on DA/DT and that ridiculous quote. 


Thanks Sean, let me (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:35 PM)
Thanks Sean, let me know what you find out!


Sean, you're going o (Susan Mariner - 4/4/2006 11:34:35 PM)
Sean, you're going overboard in saying that Mr. Webb thinks that if you were in the military and serving as an openly gay man it would be a detriment to "everyone around you."  I don't even think that Rush Limbaugh thinks that.  I've never been in the military myself, but from an outsider's perspective, Webb's position seems outdated.  You can ask Jim for more details when you meet him.  I fully expect that if you ask, he will explain the some of rationale behind his position to you, not that you'll agree with his stance.  But at least maybe you'll find out that it's more a logistical thing that Mr. Webb believes is proper "at this time in the military (his words)" rather than a "gut (your words)" thing against gays.  He may be wrong, and the military may already have evolved past the point where DADT is even remotely necessary or advisable anymore, but this guy is no gay hater.  It's just a fact.

And let us know what Miller's position is on this issue.  My guess is that with this recent poll, he'll now come out against DADT, though it's hard to be sure where his real opinion lies on the matter, if he has one.  After all, Miller has now evidently promised to vote against the Anti-gay Marriage Amendment after learning that Kaine opposes it. According to numerous reports, Miller originally stated at the Loudon County Democratic Committee meeting that he would "take whatever position Mark Warner and Tim Kaine took" on the amendment and then said "And they support it, right?"  Doesn't sound like a guy you can be sure will protect your interests in the Senate to me.  Just my 2 cents.



sorry I realized I u (novamiddleman - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
sorry I realized I used his and in all likelyhood it will propably be a her for you guys


Ever get the feeling (Alice Marshall - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
Ever get the feeling that the WPost is out of touch with its market?


"Maybe Karl Rove was (D Flinchum - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
"Maybe Karl Rove was right. Maybe McCain is mentally unstable."

I recently read that McCain "went off" at a group of 9/11 family members who had come to the Hill to lobby on behalf of more secure borders. They approached him, introduced themselves, and noted that they opposed McCain-Kennedy. He began yelling at them, saying, among other things, something about how he had done so much for them, why were they causing him all this trouble, and offering to debate them in AZ, where he'd gotten 77% of the vote. Please note that these folks were simply lobbying their representatives in Congress. They were not waving signs, shouting, or otherwise out looking for a fight.

He also offered to debate FAIR, which opposes his bill. FAIR accepted and it has been 288 days and counting since that happened and McCain has declined to take up the offer. He sounds like a man who has trouble controling 1) his anger and 2) his tongue. 2008 could be interesting.



what I posted on Too (William - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
what I posted on Too Conservative yesterday:

McCain was a major disappointment on MTP this morning.

Russert’s a tough interview and he had some damaging stuff, but this was NOT the “straight talking” John McCain that conservative/centrist America thinks they’re getting in a candidate.

He sounded measured, careful, and old.
His inability to stick to his guns on the criticism of the campaign the right ran against him in 2000 and his well-founded stab at Falwell were particularly troublesome.
The guy looks like he’s got a gun to his head.
Or stolen and replaced by some RNC bodysnatchers, perhaps.

It’s sad that he’s so bent on saving the Republican party single-handedly. He SO badly wants to be the guy who returns the mantle of true conservatism to the GOP. McCain’s a political giant in this country, he can beat the RNC machine this time. The Bush 43 WH hadn’t ruined Republicanism for so many GOPers in 2000; now they have, and they’re dying for McCain. The REAL McCain, not the sell-out politicized party-line version we saw this morning.

Personally, this is so troubling to me, because I have tremendous respect for McCain, and think we need more elected officials like him.

Politically, it’s just as bad. I’m a Democrat, and one who isn’t convinced that we have a candidate who can beat McCain. Despite the fact that I think REAL McCain is the least of all Republican evils, I’d rather have just about any Democrat.
But at least if the REAL McCain runs and wins (against a non-Hillary candidate who doesn’t fire up the right), we’ll all be treated to an election year where the radical right-wing base stays home and doesn’t dominate the election agenda.



I never trusted McCa (Arturo - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
I never trusted McCain.


Maybe Karl Rove was (Rebecca - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
Maybe Karl Rove was right. Maybe McCain is mentally unstable.


Thanks Sean, I'm gla (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
Thanks Sean, I'm glad they admitted that the "Old Testament kind of guy" comment was a mistake. On DADT, I guess there's one issue where I agree with Miller.  Unfortunately, I strongly disagree with him on the Bush tax cuts, his extreme enthusiasm for the death penalty, his criticism of the Democratic Party as coddling criminals (see the WTOP interview if you don't believe me), the PATRIOT Act, national health care, outsourcing, Bush's Supreme Court nominees, and many other issues. 

Aside from my substantive disagreements with Miller, I also don't think he is electable. No chance at all. Zip.  To quote my good friend Paul over at Virginia Centrist, "When Harris Miller falls flat on his face and loses by 15-20 points (that's probably being generous..."



Good question. Gove (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
Good question.  Governor Kaine, are you reading this?


There are many conce (K - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
There are many concepts that are difficult to define. Serious scholars have written weighty tomes on some subjects, and still failed fully to explain the matter at hand.

And then there are those things that can be explained in a single image. For example, you can define "cute" with a picture of a baby panda. And you can define "political whore" with a picture of John McCain's lips planted firmly on Jerry Falwell's fat ass.



McCain supporters in (Susan Mariner - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
McCain supporters in 2000 are completely turned off by his recent actions.  They are beginning to regard him as a disappointment and a phony. 


About time for folks (summercat - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
About time for folks to wake up to reality.  As for DADT, I say forget it--but would never reject Webb on that one issue.  I do think the DADT policy will become obsolete in the next few years--at least I hope so.


Its about time peopl (Rebecca - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
Its about time people got tired of gay bashing. I think people simply don't trust Bush very much now so why should they care about the party line on gays or anything else?


First of all you are (novamiddleman - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
First of all you are correct in that McCain 2000 will not be McCain 2008.  When he announces in 2007 McCain will be running as a Republican with a big tent approach.  He will use some but not all of the themes from 2000.

This post is going to explain what is wrong with politics today

Whenever the eventual democratic nominee talks to or visits a left wing group/person his image will be trashed by members of the right including the RNC.

See what is wrong with this picture...  We both know its wrong to associate the views of an individual with a candidate just because he visits the location or heaven forbid talks to them for a little bit.  But, we also know that this is politics these bits of information are red/blue meat for our respective bases.  Its this kind of crap that fires up the base and brings in donations.

Thanks for the rant.  Going to crawl back into my warm fuzzy wonk space now :) 



That picture certain (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:36 PM)
That picture certainly doesn't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling about McCain, I must say...


I'll never forget th (Greg - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
I'll never forget the speech Gen. Zinni gave the the Middle East Institute's annual conference in October 2002 -- he and Jim Webb were among the very few who had the courage to 'call it right' on Iraq at that point.



Adm. Zinni's intervi (summercat - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
Adm. Zinni's interview on MTP was excellent.  Glad to know that Jim Webb is on the same page.  Someone in our local Dem. Committee mentioned that Zinni would have been a great candidate to take on JoAnn Davis in CD1.  Don't know if he was ever asked about that.


I'm not sure, but cl (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
I'm not sure, but click here for a Draft Zinni website.


Is Zinni a Republica (Vaughan - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
Is Zinni a Republican, Independent, or Democrat?


Awesome map, thanks (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
Awesome map, thanks Alice!


I'm for drafting Zin (Susan Mariner - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
I'm for drafting Zinni.  Count me in Alex.  We need to focus our efforts on getting Webb in office, but I definitely would be thrilled to get Zinni involved in running if he's returned to the Democratic party.  Zinni is terrific.


Alex: I think it wo (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
Alex:  I think it would be great to see someone like Tony Zinni run for office in this country.  We need patriots like him desperately at this point in our history, given the number that Bush and Company have done on America.  That James Webb and Anthony Zinni are on the same page at this point is highly revealing, in my opinion. 

How we "drafted" James Webb was actually not that complicated, since Webb had expressed interest in running as a Democrat for Senate from Virginia.  Once we had that to go on, our job simply was to show Webb that he had a tremendous amount of grassroots support.  We did this primarily through our Draft James Webb site, our electronic "petition" effort which gathered 1,000 signatures in a few weeks, and our "pledge" campaign, which gathered $40,000 in the same period.  Anyway, step #1 is contacting Zinni and seeing if he's at all interested in running.  Have you done that already?



Let's face it folks. (Rebecca - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
Let's face it folks. The Post wants to make sure they catapult the propaganda. You see, fair and balanced to them is to have one person telling the truth and have one telling the propaganda lies. That way they elevate lies to repectability as if it were just another opinion.

To get someone who can catapult the government lies one most likely will end up with a scoundrel since lying doesn't bother them.



Lowell, http://bl (Brandon O'Connor - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
Lowell,

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/richmondreport/

Nice.  You sure did your homework on this Webb nut, didn't you?

Good Democrats stick together.  You're no good Democrat, and Webb sure as hell isn't one, either.

Shame on all of you for encouraging this guy to run as a Democrat. 



Yes, it seems like a (Rebecca Williams - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
Yes, it seems like all the Republican presidential hopefuls are kissing the ass of the Christian Right. Hillary would be too if she didn't already have all that money.


It really shows (Kiffin - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
  It really shows ones true colors when one slings mud at Webb instead of going after Allen. 
  I have spent the last couple of weeks collecting signatures for both Webb and Miller out of a sense of duty for the common good.

  Now with Miller's people mining for crap to sling against another democrat.....I am trying to decide whether to turn in the petitions I collected for Miller or whether to shred them.....

  You have forgotten that Allen is the target.  Allen!!! 



I was referring to B (Kiffin - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
I was referring to Brandon's non-sense above.


Hey, this is Alex fr (Alex UA - 4/4/2006 11:34:37 PM)
Hey, this is Alex from Draft Zinni! I've been meaning to contact you Raising Kaine folks since the Draft Webb effort started. You should really join up with us at Blue Force, the portal/blog I recently helped start with a bunch of other bloggers. We're hoping to make it into a collective blog for the national security bloggers (most of whom simply crosspost from their individual sites- see the blue force blogroll for a list of participants) and a support site for the Fighting Dems. We'd love to have Webb's supporters on board as well!

Also, Lowell, think Webb can help convince Zinni to come over the reality based community and/or run for office? I'm not sure why he identifies so strongly with the Republican Party, but that party is no longer a place for any sort of moderate. My guess is that he and Webb switched parties for the same reason (I believe that Zinni was a Democrat in college as I recall reading that he volunteered for Johnson's campaign) and thus I pray that he can see that the party of the 60s is dead and the emergent Democratic majority is the party of National Security. 

Anyway, if any of the Draft Webb folks have any advice on how to successfully Draft Zinni, I'm all ears. And if the Blue Force site can be of any help to the Webb folks, please let us know- it is here to serve these candidates.

Thanks for all you do- and go Webb!



I don't understand w (sp17 - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
I don't understand why any of you Democrats are supporting James Webb.  It doesn't make any sense.  The guy is "Republican Lite".  His positions all pretty much line up with the Republican Party, he's just not as conservative as Allen.  Honestly...

Don't you guys have any principles?  Why don't you stand behind the guy (Miller) who is the real Democrat.  I mean, the guy is unabashed about being a tried and true Dem.  It's amazing how you're willing to throw your principles to the side and support an R(Webb) who just isn't as bad as Allen.

BTW, I'm not a Miller supporter, I'm actually a Republican who finds it hilarious that Democrats have to pretend to be Republican to have any chance of winning...

Losers.



Wendell: Please wri (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
Wendell:  Please write me at lowell@raisingkaine.com  Thanks. - Lowell


I am African-Amercan (Wendell - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
I am African-Amercan vetern and I endorse Mr Webb's opinions upon Afirmative Action. If I can be of any service to this campaign in illustrating the logic of his arguement please contact me.

Sometimes you just know who will cover your back and who will leave you hanging. I got yours Mr. Webb.

Wendell
Christiansbug



Thanks Matt. (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)


"Go Joe!": What "sm (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
"Go Joe!":  What "smug parentheticals" are you talking about? I only see one: "mend it don't end it," and that certainly wasn't meant to be "smug," simply a reference to Bill Clinton's formulation on the subject.  But thanks for the positive feedback on my writing. "Heh."


Christ, Lowell, I'll (Go Joe! - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
Christ, Lowell, I'll give you a shiny penny if you can make a cogent argument without any smug parentheticals. You write like you're narrating "Malcolm in the Middle," constantly looking at the camera to drive home how clever your last point was. "Heh."


Sean: You're nothing (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
Sean: You're nothing if not persistent, I'll give you that!  Now, can you please explain to me a) how Miller beats Allen in the "four Virginia" (right, I didn't think so) and b) how Miller the loyal Democrat ended up giving thousands of dollars to right-wingers like Dennis Hastert and Spencer Abraham?  Kindly just answer these questions without reference to Jim Webb, so that we can understand the reasoning of Miller supporters.  Personally, I don't understand where you guys are coming from on this one.


Lowell- You said th (Sean Holihan - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
Lowell-  You said the same thing over at NLS and I'll say the same thing again:  I'm sure that Webb would have an interesting conversation with these two guys if he hadn't slammed Clinton for 8 long years, saying he didn't have, "One iota of respect for his administration" and if he hadn't of supported George Bush against Al Gore in 2000. 

Im sure that Gore and Clinton are just beating down the doors to support Webb.



Vivian: Very intere (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
Vivian:  Very interesting comments.  Can you elaborate, possibly in a full-fledged article for Raising Kaine?  Thanks. - Lowell


I agree with you Viv (Kiffin - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
I agree with you Vivian (re:11:19 pm), especially your last comment.

TotalDem= hack.  Yawn.  There seem  to be quite a few new one's out there tonight.



Sue me for being pol (mr science - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
Sue me for being politcally incorrect, but I see nothing racist in Jim Webb's remarks.


TotalDem: I'm say (lenny - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
TotalDem:

I'm saying you are a hack. I would even say you  not African-American. Typical childish Miller hack pretending to be a concerned citizen. One can spot your kind miles away. Its funny how all the Miller hacks are out tonight.

This is a non-story as you would see. Webb has nothing to hide unlike Miller who has nothing to offer except attack, attack, attack. How do you expect people to root for Miller?



Lenny, Jim Crow Webb (TotalDem - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
Lenny, Jim Crow Webb is transparent and after this he is no longer fooling anyone. Black Leaders support Miller...Black People will too.
You can say what ever you want. Webbs words are there to read and so are the black leaders endorsements. I trust a true Democrat Like Sen Marsh far more than this blog or Webb. Webb is racist to me and a Vietnam Memorial dont by my faith. Webb should give back the money and withdraw back to the shadows. Fuck his sit down rhetoric...I am pissed.


So bringing poor whi (Arturo - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
So bringing poor whites and poor blacks together is not good?


TotalDem: you are as (lenny - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
TotalDem: you are as transparent as they come. Don't think you're fooling anyone.


That does it. I am a (TotalDem - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
That does it. I am african american and I will in no way support Jim Crow Webb. The black leaders are supporting Miller and so will I. See you at the Polls! I was not crazy about his baby killing, Ronald Reagan loving white ass anyway. Any white fool who said AA is racist is a right wing nut job. Support Miller!!!


Lowell - why it took (lenny - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
Lowell - why it took the Webb team five hours to respond is a question I would like answered. This kind of slow communications won't cut it, particularly against Allen.

If you have the ears of the campaign, let them know they have to do a much better job in terms of rapid response.



I see nothing racist (Alicia - 4/4/2006 11:34:38 PM)
I see nothing racist either.  (unless it's "reverse")

BTW - Republicans desperately want Miller - for good reason...



Vivian--great point. (Doug in Mount Vernon - 4/4/2006 11:34:39 PM)
Vivian--great point.  I really wish you would've won your race for Treasurer.  It was Treasurer, wasn't it?

Slimeball politics has got to end so good, honest, principled, and competent people can be in politics again.  That was true of your race, and it's true in the Webb/Miller race too.



By the way, here’s B (D Flinchum - 4/4/2006 11:34:39 PM)
By the way, here’s Bill Clinton on this issue: “Affirmative action was intended to give everybody a fair chance, but it hasn’t always worked smoothly & fairly. Today there are those who are determined to put an end to affirmative action, as if the purposes for which it was created have been achieved. They have not. Until they are, we need to mend affirmative action, most certainly, but not end it.”

You'll remember that Clinton sent his daughter Chelsea to Yale, which he attended. Why not send her to the University of Arkansas and give that slot at Yale to some deserving black kid? I have noticed that a lot of folks support "good works" only as long as they don't affect them personally.



Welcome Vivian! I di (Steve Nelson - 4/4/2006 11:34:39 PM)
Welcome Vivian! I didn't realize you were a RaisingKaine reader. I had one of your signs in my yard last November and added your name to the 2000 calls i made for Kaine. Your point about race relations in politics is very fascinating having seen you debate Tom Moss. For everyone else, imagine seeing a highly Professional Black women debating a smug Good Ol' Boy who smirks at every comment she makes.

I think the most important thing Blacks can do for politics is to simply run for office in the professional manner you did.



I appologize for pos (Loudoun County Dem - 4/4/2006 11:34:39 PM)
I appologize for posting this in two threads but I thought it also applied to this one as well...

If you can’t meet Jim Webb then read his words, He discusses this issue in detail with his reasoning explained and supporting data in “Born Fighting” (I don’t have my copy with me but I believe it is at the end of the next to last chapter).

I will not try to encapsulate his writing (I could in no way do it justice) but I will say that I was also a bit alarmed when I heard “Jim Webb is against Affirmative Action” with no other context. I have since read “Born Fighting” which allayed my fears since I saw that he was interested in improving social equality rather than hindering racial equality.

I have also since read “The Nightingale’s Song” and learned that Jim Webb is the reason that the statue at the Vietnam War memorial has an African American soldier (The only statue on the mall with an African American).