Poll: More evangelicals sour toward Republicans

[Judi Lynn]

Poll: More evangelicals sour toward Republicans
Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:25pm ET

By Ed Stoddard

DALLAS (Reuters) - U.S. evangelicals have lost some of their enthusiasm for the Republican Party, a factor contributing to the party's drubbing in Tuesday's congressional elections, a new survey found.

In a Beliefnet poll of 771 evangelical Christians from Tuesday to Thursday, 30 percent said they voted for fewer Republicans than in previous elections. Evangelicals have been a core base of Republican support.

About 15 percent of respondents said they voted for more Republican candidates, while 55 percent said they voted for the same number of Republicans as before.
(snip)

"It's not that they are soured with the Republican approach to culture war issues like abortion, it's that they are angry with them on issues such as Iraq and corruption," said Steven Waldman, editor in chief of Beliefnet.com, a Web site on issues of faith.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-11-10T212529Z_01_N10260736_RTRUKOC_0_US-RELIGION-EVANGELICALS-REPUBLICANS.xml&WTmodLoc=PolNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-7

[pissedoffprogressive]

1. I guess it isn't gay marriage ruining America - its dubya

[olddad56]

17. wait until they find out that Bush is Cheney's gay lover. ..

Won't Condi be surprised.

[Demeter]

2. Took Long Enough

and for the least significant of crimes, politically. Talk about otherworldly.

[lcordero2]

3. I applaud them for rejecting the Party of Mammon n/t

[1932]

15. ...for rejecting Constantinian Christianity, as evangelical Cornel West puts it.

see below for link to his book.

[54anickel]

4. I really dislike when they use the "evangelical" title, especially when

they are trying to tie it to the "fundies". They really are not the same groups, and you can see that in some of the poll results. You can see the die hard Falwell/Dobson "fundie" types are a minority in this group. Then again, I don't know a lot of fundies that hangout at Beliefnet either.

Abortion and gay marriage/homosexuality were second and third among evangelicals' electoral concerns, cited by 16 percent and 10.7 percent respectively.

snip>

Among Christian leaders, evangelist Billy Graham -- a household name in America who has long distanced himself from overt political activity -- was viewed favorably by 86 percent of the evangelicals polled by Beliefnet.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, a prominent conservative Christian, was viewed in a favorable light by only 17 percent.

[dogfacedboy]

9. Billy Graham has never been like Falwell or Robertson.

He had the ear of a few Presidents on both sides of the aisle. I remember him being a sort of "America's Chaplain". Not a politician himself, like Falwell or Robertson.

[54anickel]

21. Yeah, and his rating is so high in this poll compared to Falwell. Graham

had a large following from a wide range of Christians, where as Falwell has that "fundie" niche. Evangelical covers a lot of turf, and I believe the Bush/Republican-loving, "in-your-face segment" is a much smaller percertage than they allude to. It's the same errant clumping of Christians they tried to do with the '04 polls when they practically demonized the Dems as not having "Christian" values. At least that's my take on it. :shrug:

[susanna]

24. That's 'cause Falwell doesn't walk his talk.

He is the original snake oil preacher...he loves destruction. I NEVER see him building anything up. I wouldn't listen to a word he says, and I'm a Christian.

[democrat_patriot]

5. Excellent. We do all agree on helping the poor and sick.

Not to mention protecting Gods' Green Earth. Right?

[PATRICK]

6. As with anyone else

whose allegiance is all emotion, winning is almost everything. That more than any principle will show the quality of their political dedication in a party that doesn't really believe in each other's touted principles anyway. What else besides raw political power, now rocked, have they gained as a base and what do they have to look forward to? They are left behind.

[neoblues]

7. It's a fine thing...

that the Evangelical/Christian Politi-stremists decided the Republican Party hadn't given them much of what they had wanted (and, as mentioned in the excerpt from the article, were rife with corruption and supporting an increasingly unpopular "war" (warlike occupation of IRAQ)--which the Evangelicals themselves had finally become unhappy with)--and so withheld a growing percentage of their votes. That's a fine thing, in that it help the cause of Truth, Decency and Proper Government, best represented by the Democratic Party, by weakening the party that least represents those causes.

However, it's also a good thing that the Republican leadership did fail to give them what they want in many cases, despite promising much and never really intending to follow through (and that elected Republicans were exposed as corrupt while supporting the failed occupatoin of IRAQ). Good, because many of their aims would necessarily damage secular government and promote the growth of a veritable Christian Theocracy with rather extremist views/laws and policies.

I would hate to have to disparage a segment of the American public, but alas, the reality is that these two groups deserve each other and are hardly representative of the best qualities of what we mean when we say "America" or "American". They seem to conform to a rather twisted and fatally flawed version of that ideal. We must work to change their minds though given how deeply held their beliefs, this promises to be difficult. Fortunately, most of the individuals in question have never really questioned or reflected on the beliefs they've been immersed in; and if we can just get them to think about it, many will realize they've been operating under false assumptions and begin to make the efforts required to change their own minds.

Aside from helping people to see the folly of Conservatism/Republicanism and the dangers of Theocratic government, anything we can do to further the divisions between mainstream Republicans and their Religious activist subset is probably worthy of pursuit--especially as 2008 approaches.

[dogfacedboy]

10. One of two things will happen soon.

The religious right will push for control of the Republican party. If that doesn't work for them by '08, which it won't, a third party made up of the religious right and the secular political hard right will emerge.
Neither of these groups trust the Republicans any longer.

[54anickel]

22. Robertson "threatened" that in the past, but he knows there wouldn't

be enough for him to win - they need each other. They admitted as much back in the Perot days and when Buchanan threatened to join the Reform Party in 99.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MKY/is_17_28/ai_n6362677

Robertson: if Bush 'touches' Jerusalem, we'll form 3rd party
Catholic New Times, Nov 7, 2004
JERUSALEM -- According to Ha'Aretz, one of Israel's leading newspapers influential American evangelist Pat Robertson said that Evangelical Christians feel so deeply about Jerusalem, that if President George W. Bush were to "touch" Jerusalem, Evangelicals would abandon their traditional Republican leanings and form a third party.

Evangelical Christians, estimated at tens of millions of Americans--overwhelmingly support Bush for his pro-Israel policies, Robertson told a Jerusalem news conference on October 4. But if Bush shifted his position toward support for Jerusalem as a capital for both Israel and a Palestinian state, his Evangelical backing would disappear, Robertson indicated.



From '99 http://graphics.boston.com/news/politics/campaign2000/news/Pat_Robertson_hits_Buchanan_on_third_party+.shtml

WASHINGTON - Signaling a split between Patrick J. Buchanan and religious conservatives, Christian Coalition President Pat Robertson warned yesterday that a third-party candidacy could doom Republican prospects in the presidential election.

snip>

Robertson became the latest GOP figure to voice concern that a third-party candidacy would harm the party in the general election. Robertson said he is convinced Bill Clinton won in 1992 and 1996 because the third-party candidacy of Ross Perot drew away votes from the Republicans, and Robertson fears history will repeat itself.

snip>

In the past two weeks, Bush has asked Buchanan not to leave the Republican Party, noting that many have said President George Bush's reelection bid in 1992 was doomed by Perot.

Robertson is especially concerned about the impact of a third party because the Christian Coalition is at its weakest financial and political point in its 10-year history. Robertson, who said he is ''not satisfied'' with the state of the group, recently donated $1 million to keep afloat the coalition, which claims only 15 to 20 active state organizations.

Still, the coalition recently won a court ruling allowing it to distribute its voter guides, which typically give favorable ratings to Republicans, and Robertson said the organization will regain strength in the coming months.

''We will be the margin of victory in the key states,'' Robertson said. ''The Christian Coalition is going to be bigger and stronger and more powerful than ever.''

[LiberalFighter]

23. Either way they both lose

[0007]

8. Just like the repukes, they can't take a punch

[Malva Zebrina]

11. What is it that the Evangelicals want anyhow?

total control over the United States and with such a desire are willing to give up their freedom of religion to governmental oversight?

I don't get it. They want a theocracy? What? They want the right to accost you on the street or in your home? What?

If the cult provides the opportunity toward the belief that the US is a "Christian Nation", what exactly is it they are striving for when they accost you on the street, invade your space, and ignore your directive to not visit you again in the premises of your property.

Just go to your church and contemplate or examine your conscience--if that is at all possible with all the glitter, the tee vee, the snack bars and the recreation facilites afforded to you and your family for being a member. Leaves little time for personal reflection, I would think.

[AnneD]

13. Excellent thought...

what DOES the evangelical right want?

I guess I am on the evangelical left and I know EXACTLY what I want; food for our pantries so that no one goes to bed hungry in this country, universal basic health care, esp for our young and elderly so they don't suffer, affordable housing so they are protected, decent basic education for all (and real help for advanced education be it vocational or college) so they can make their way in this world. As a Christian I am compelled to take care of my neighbour. I tithe generously but it is a bit more than I can handle, so I would like a little help on this one.

[wholetruth00]

12. They should first "sour" on their leadership who continues to fleece the flock

of their money and good senses.

[1932]

14. Jim Wallis and Cornel West are two evangelicals who wrote excellent books

about politics and faith in the last four years.

If more evangelicals read those books before 2008, I'd say that Republicans are going to see an even bigger drop in support.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0060558288.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_OU01_SCLZZZZZZZ_V51306847_.jpg
God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It by Jim Wallis
"MANY OF US FEEL that our faith has been stolen, and it's time to take it back..."
http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Politics-Right-Wrong-Doesnt/dp/0060558288

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1594200297.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_OU01_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism by Cornel West
"A decade ago I wrote Race Matters in order to spark a candid public conversation about America's most explosive issue and most difficult dilemma: the..."
http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Matters-Winning-Against-Imperialism/dp/1594200297

[bemildred]

18. Mr West is an excellent writer.

"Race Matters" is good too.

[1932]

20. Democracy Matters is the best book, by far, on contemporary politics that I've

read in the last three years. There was absolutely nothing in it with which I did not agree.

And faith is a central element in West's analysis.

[AlinPA]

16. Which of them talk in tongues and want to smash gay people and have

Jesus camp and want to eliminate science in school and think the universe is 6000 years old and the sun revolves around the earth, etc? Those sound like the republicans.

[AndyTiedye]

19. Doesn't Say How Many Fundies Stayed Home on Election Day

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. Why don't they just start their own damn party?

The fact that the thugs were pandering to this particular set of nutcases was even worse than their being in bed with corporate monopolies.

[Ringo84]

26. That's encouraging. [end]