How the Democrats lost the Evangelicals

[Paul Whitaker]

http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/democrats.lost.evangelicals.htm

This appears in Drury's blog. Very interesting! Most of his stuff is.

[Jim Franklin]

I tried to respond to Drury's blog but it would not accept it. I wrote: I grew up in an evangelical pastor's home where both mother and father were ordained ministers. I was deeply impressed when I listened to the two conventions in 1948 when the Democrats opened with "Dixie" and the Republicans opened with "Battle Hymn of the Republic" with "My eyes have seen the coming of the Lord." Then one of the Democrats interjected during President Truman's speech with "Give 'em Hell, Harry" and he responded, "that's exactly what I am trying to do."

There was no question as to whether we were "(re)publicans or (cursing) sinners."

Drury pretty well nails the reasons why many evangelical Democrats left for the GOP or independency. The only one I think may have been left out would be some of the characters or the lack there of among the Democrats beside the clintons such as the two Massachusetts senators. And my folks used to shop at Hubert Humphrey's dad's store in Huron, SD and also knew George McGovern's Free Methodist pastor father.

My dad had voted for Teddy Roosevelt and every Republican candidate after that except I think he may have voted for the Prohibition candidate a time or two.

[Andrew Henck]

Aren't the Republicans losing the Evangelicals, not the Democrats?

I don't want to speak for all Evangelicals, but I think if anything, more and more are voting for Democrats (look at the midterm congressional election results) and they are looking away from the Republican Party for possibilities for future leadership in our nation.

Bush has and continues to lose support amongst the Evangelical vote. Sure he still has a considerable bloc of support within the Evangelical community, however, it is considerably smaller than when he was first elected. I personally am more open then ever to considering casting my vote, as an "Evangelical" for a Democrat in the 2008 election. Sure, a few years back, I wouldn't have thought twice about this. However, as I said earlier, I think the headline should be "how the Republicans lost the Evangelicals."

Am I the only crazy one that thinks this way?

Enjoy the evening...

[Jim Franklin]

Andrew, I am sure that given the examples he is referring to the 70s,80s and 90s probably earlier than your consideration of the last election. That is the time frame that seems to be his focus.

[Dale Cozby]

I can never vote for a canidate that endorses murder, oops I mean abortion. Period. End of story.

IF no other issue existed that seperated the two parties this one would be reason enough. It is the biggeest national sin we have ever done.

I cast votes against such people. I dare say I truly endorse no politician because I will find something to disagree with them all over.
Abortion and Christianity are incompatable. Period.

[Billy Cox]

Aren't the Republicans losing the Evangelicals, not the Democrats?

I don't want to speak for all Evangelicals, but I think if anything, more and more are voting for Democrats (look at the midterm congressional election results) and they are looking away from the Republican Party for possibilities for future leadership in our nation.

Bush has and continues to lose support amongst the Evangelical vote. Sure he still has a considerable bloc of support within the Evangelical community, however, it is considerably smaller than when he was first elected. I personally am more open then ever to considering casting my vote, as an "Evangelical" for a Democrat in the 2008 election. Sure, a few years back, I wouldn't have thought twice about this. However, as I said earlier, I think the headline should be "how the Republicans lost the Evangelicals."

Am I the only crazy one that thinks this way?

Enjoy the evening...

Well, there comes a point when one party has so many evangelicals, that the only way from there is 'down'.

I remember Dobson after the 2004 election warning the republican party not to forget that the far-right religious conservatives put Bush in office.

This whole quest to get an evangelical conservative christian elected President reminds me of the movie 'Vacation'...where the family treks all the way across the USA to visit WallyWorld (think Disneyland) and when they get there it's closed. So we've had a Bible-believin' Christian in the White House for 8 years and what meaningful difference has it made?

Dobson and his minions have nowhere to go in terms of political influence but down.