The Washington Post’s latest poll is striking for two things, it seems to me. First, what happened to the gender gap? On the basic approval question, the differences between men and women are within the margin of error. Ditto on the war on terror. That strikes me as a big deal. If the Dems have lost their big advantage with women, they’re in trouble. (On the other hand, the gap re-appears when it comes to handling Iraq and the economy, with men still supportive and women now disapproving. But the gap is still much smaller than in the past.) This suggests to me that the war on terror has indeed reversed the usual gender gap on military matters – because women understand the threat at home. The other remarkable thing to me is that Bush’s strongest ratings come among the younger generation. Even on Iraq, the 18 – 30 year olds give him a big vote of support – more than any other age group and the reverse of the over 60s. Bush has a 66 percent general approval rating among the young, compared to 51 percent among the old. How to explain it? My theory is that we’re witnessing the emergence of the 9/11 generation – a demographic cohort bigger than the boomers whose defining experience was the terrorist attack of two years ago. They are also immune to the Vietnam fixation of the boomer editors and reporters of the mainstream media. South Park Republicans? We may have a genuine phenomenon here. (One other note: Dick Gephardt does surprisingly well, in comparison with the other Dems in this poll. I’m buying Gephardt stock myself.)
THE BREAK-THROUGH: There’s no question that Gene Robinson’s elevation to become Episcopalian bishop of New Hampshire will divide the Anglican communion. That is distressing. At the same time, it’s an extraordinary moment for gay Christians. For centuries, they have kept so many churches afloat – but at the cost of their emotional dignity and personal integrity. Those days are now over. The notion that bringing previously excluded people into the life of the church is somehow antithetical to the message of Jesus strikes me as deeply misguided. Although Jesus said nothing that we know of about homosexuality, his ministry is emphatically about welcoming – not excluding – the marginalized, the stigmatized, the condemned, the pariahs. There are no Biblical verses that condemn faithful, loving gay relationships as such. And the natural law arguments against gay love are about as strained as any theological arguments I have ever tried to understand. One day, I’m convinced, those last two sentences will come to seem completely ordinary and obvious. And we’ll look back on yesterday as a milestone in the ever-growing circle of Christian fellowship. I only hope we can withstand the backlash, panic and fear that will spike in the meantime.
The Dish 