Status Report: Al Franken

[Darius871]

The author of the study appeared on MSNBC last night and confirmed Franken's understanding of the study. It only looked at having two parents, not their genders.

I'm not talking about whether his understanding was right or whether they declined to specifically examine the parents' genders because it didn't matter for their study not narrowed to the homosexual issue. Rather, I'm just curious as to what the actual breakdown of the sample was. Even accepting what Franken said and what the author said on MSNBC about what they "looked at," it would still be theoretically possible that 0% of the sample couples was homosexual. If they seriously have no data to address the question, then it's sloppy work at best.

[Asher]

The entire point the study wasn't of homosexual vs heterosexual parents, which is what the RNC goon was implying. The actual numbers don't matter. Even if the study has 0 gay parents in it, it had no bearing on how well gay parents raise their kids.

[Darius871]

The entire point the study wasn't of homosexual vs heterosexual parents, which is what the RNC goon was implying. The actual numbers don't matter. Even if the study has 0 gay parents in it, it had no bearing on how well gay parents raise their kids.

Of course his implication was false. I just wish the authors had been so kind as to indulge my morbid curiosity with something making it even more misleading than it already was.

[-Jrabbit]

Agreed, but that's a separate issue.

The only point here is the convenient (and possibly deliverate) misinterpretation of the study. Good on Franken for calling him out.

Actually, I'm surprised the social right doesn't have a plethora of quote-worthy "studies" specifically designed to diss homosexual parenting and adoption.

[Dinner]

They probably do but since none of those hold water he was likely attempting to find a study done by a reputable source so when he couldn't do that he (no doubt) deliberately misinterpreted a reputable study in an attempt to make his biased point.

[Darius871]

They probably do but since none of those hold water

Why would any such studies funded by organizations with an agenda necessarily not hold water? So long as they fully disclose their data reflecting somewhat objective indicia (e.g. the childrens' criminal records, juvenile records, drug rehabilitations, psych hospitalizations, suicides, divorce rates, etc. etc. etc.) and a traceable methodology with which they compiled that data so as to reveal any potential sampling biases etc., other more "reputable" academics and even casual readers could come to their own conclusions. I just don't know that any study so comprehensive actually exists.

[Berzerker]

asher and darius are right

oh ya, its just common sense - 2 parent families will generally have more resources than 1 parent families

[Pax]

Al Franken's a good comedian and a mediocre senator. He's above average for a Democrat in my opinion. You know, he barely won the election.

Him barely winning an election when he's not the incumbent has nothing to do with how well he performs as a senator. Also, if he is ABOVE AVERAGE FOR A DEMOCRAT what qualities make him so?

[-Jrabbit]

I think the ability to draw the 50 states freehand puts him way ahead of the pack.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I suspect the ability to name 50 states puts him way ahead of the pack.