Tim, what struck me most about the Post’s poll (and what provoked the bogus attempt at a refutation) is the fact that support for civil unions has dropped by a full 12 percentage points since May, just before the Supreme Court’s Lawrence decision. This is important for several reasons. First, it shows that Vermont-style civil unions, which include all the benefits of marriage but lack only the name, are not becoming a compromise alternative to full gay marriage. The 12-point drop also says something about the volatile nature of public opinion on this subject. I think many Americans are internally divided on the issue of homosexuality. They approve of our generally increased social tolerance for homosexuality, yet also worry that civil unions and gay marriage will undermine the institution of marriage. Once gay marriage became a realistic prospect, many of these Americans were willing to own up to their opposition to this change in the institution. Many may earlier have been giving pollsters politically correct answers, out of embarrassment. But Justice Scalia’s dissent in Lawrence, and the emerging public debate on this subject, have helped to reassure people that it’s alright to oppose gay marriage. We saw the other day that even in Canada there has been a five percent shift against gay marriage. The public there is now evenly divided. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. It is just plain wrong for conservatives to throw in the towel on this issue because of a belief that we cannot win. We can win. More than most, this is an issue on which a simple belief in the rightness of our position, along with the confidence that others see it our way, are the keys to victory.