Faith Factor Proves Key in U.S. Elections

Reclaiming America.org ^ | 11-03-04 | Sam Kastensmidt

[Salvation]

Faith Factor Proves Key in U.S. Elections
Wednesday, November 03, 2004

By Sam Kastensmidt

In an election that recorded the highest rate of voter turnout since the controversial 1968 Presidential election (Richard Nixon vs. Hubert Humphrey), President George W. Bush has been reelected with the highest number of popular votes in U.S. history. Amidst this flood of voters, pollsters have been thoroughly surprised by the number one issue cited by American voters — “moral issues.”

The “Values Vote” Drives Results

The morning following the election, the Washington Post summed up the Bush victory. “The Bush campaign super-charged the ‘moral minority.’ Exit polls showed 21 percent of voters said moral values were the most important issue — and 78 percent of them voted for Bush. That’s about 18 million Bush votes right there.”

CNN’s exit polls found slightly different numbers with the same result; voters were concerned with the moral climate of America. Though the campaigns centered around terrorism, health care, the war in Iraq, and the economy, no issue garnered more interest than “moral values.” According to CNN News exit polls:

• 22% of voters chose moral values as their chief concern;
  
• 20% of voters chose the economy/jobs as their chief concern;
  
• 19% of voters chose terrorism as their chief concern;
  
• 15% of voters chose the war in Iraq as their chief concern;
  
• 8% of voters chose health care as their chief concern.
  
  CENTER Identifies Nearly 400,000 Christian Voters
  
  Get-Out-the-Vote efforts among Christian organizations was virtually unprecedented. ChristianVotes.com, the CENTER's website to rally Christian voters, identified nearly 400,000 Christians, who each pledged to register, pray, and vote in the 2004 election. In addition, these voters were kept informed of the latest ballot initiatives, proposed amendments, primary dates, registration deadlines, availability of non-partisan Christian voter guides, and general election information.
  
  Collateral Benefits of the Values Vote
  
  Prior to the 2004 general election, six states had already approved constitutional amendments defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman (Hawaii, Alaska, Nebraska, Nevada, Missouri, and Louisiana).
  
  The November 2 election opened the possibility for eleven additional states to add similar constitutional amendments protecting traditional marriage. Voters in each of these states approved the measures by considerable margins.
  
  Arkansas – 75% approval
  Georgia – 77% approval
  Kentucky – 75% approval
  Michigan – 59% approval
  Mississippi – 86% approval
  Montana – 66% approval
  North Dakota – 73% approval
  Ohio – 62% approval
  Oklahoma – 76% approval
  Oregon – 57% approval
  Utah – 66% approval
  
  Other Initiatives on the Ballot
  
  Marriage was not the only moral victory on November 2. Sixty-five percent of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment to the state constitution requiring parental notification prior to a minor’s abortion.
  
  A voter initiative calling for police leniency toward criminal prostitution in Berkeley, California, failed to pass by a margin of 66-34 in Berkeley, California.
  
  Oregon voters rejected an initiative calling for expanded access to medical marijuana.
  
  Engineer of the Filibuster Loses Senate Seat
  
  In another stunning development, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle was unseated by challenger John Thune, marking the first time that a Senate leader had been defeated in more than 50 years. According to polls conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky Internation, Thune received his base support from “those who see themselves as conservative Protestants and voters who put the most emphasis on protecting moral values.”
  
  Daschle had become well known for initiating the filibusters which blocked many of President Bush’s pro-life judicial nominations from receiving a simple up or down majority vote on the Senate floor. Senator-elect Thune’s campaign reminded voters of the judicial activism in our modern courts and the need for judges who will interpret, rather than create, law.
  
  Pro-Lifers Growing in U.S. Senate
  
  In addition to the above-mentioned results, this election will add several pro-life names to the United States Senate.
  
  Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
  Tom Coburn (R-OK)
  Jim DeMint (R-SC)
  Richard Burr (R-NC)
  John Thune (R-SD)
  David Vitter (R-LA)
  Mel Martinez (R-FL)
  
  A Statement from Dr. Kennedy
  
  Dr. D. James Kennedy, president and founder of the CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA, commented, “This verdict of the people gives me hope. It may be that America may yet return to a recognition of the importance of religion and morality in public life. It is my prayer that we will return to the wisdom of the first Congress, expressed more than 200 years ago in the Northwest Ordinance, which stated, ‘Religion, morality, and knowledge [are] necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind.’”
  
  Take Action!
  
  Congratulate President George W. Bush on an impressive victory and encourage him to stand firm on the issues pertaining to moral values.
  
  President George W. Bush
  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  Washington, D.C. 20500
  (202) 456-1414
  

  ---

  Source List:

  “CNN 2004 Exit Polls,” CNN News, November 2, 2004.
  http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html
  

  “How Did He Do It?” Washington Post, November 3, 2004.
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22221-2004Nov3.html
  

  
  

[Salvation]

The morals and values of most Americans were very evident in this election.

Will the nation turn more to God during the next four years? I think so.

[truthandlife]

(FLASHBACK) Secrets of the "Reagan Democrats”--DEJA VU 2004

[Salvation]

This was mentioned on Brit Hume's show yesterday. I think it is worth a discussion.

[Salvation]

Any other thoughts?

[Salvation]

Catholic/Christian Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic/Christian Discussion Ping List.

[truthandlife]

George W. Bush will get a lot done during the next 4 years and I really believe it will be known as the 4 years that tunned back liberalism on its head.

I think instead of the Republican Revolution we should call it the "Conservative Revolution."

[missyme]

Funny how nobody got what the world was truly needing with the success of "The Passion of the Christ" as well as how many Americans were sick and tired of the smut on television in the movies, the insult to GOD and America by throwing the Ten Commandments out of public life, prayer in schools christian symbols, and the ultimate INSULT for the way of life "The Family" by trying to make a GOD loving nation accept Homosexual Marraiges"

They were a day late and many dollars short. America has spoke by standing up for GOD, Country and doing the right thing, by GOD's standards not every man's version.

GOD armies will alawys win and will continue until this world ends...

[Mr. Keys]

Meanwhile the dims are trying to figure out the best way to talk about moral values for 2008. But first they must have some.

[95 Bravo]

Agreed. I watched both FNC and CNN last night and all the Dem pundits kept asking over and over, "how do we address the morals issue"? Newsflash, idiots- start by running candidates who HAVE some morals! Oh, wait- then they wouldn't be Democrats. And they wonder why they got kicked to the curb Nov. 2nd. Astounding!

[Stubborn]

Will the nation turn more to God during the next four years? I think so.

I think most all of us hope that will be the case, but it all depends on how ya look at it. One thing I find sad is that between the above 11 states, nearly 1/3 voted against Marriage as a Sacrament.

As little as 5 years ago, that 1/3 might have only been 1/10 or 1/50. If, as I suspect, thats the case, then the continual weakening of morals is still progressing while the rejection of God overall is on the increase - (can't have one without the other and vise versa).

Just wanted to point out the other side of the coin and add that this example applies, I think, to the entire moral issue, including pro-lifers in the Senate/Congress/Government and that in the coming elections/decisions, its more likely that its only a matter of time before the foes emerge victorious, unless the nation actually does turn back to God.

[ex-snook]

Thanks for the ping.

I think a potential great happening is that the Democract party will realize that they can't win a national election running as the pro-abortion party. Casey's son won in Pennsylvania running for a Democrat State office while Specter was winning.

[Mr. Keys]

This just gives us four years to head them off at the pass by matching up what they say with what they do.

[kidd]

I recall hearing that the majority of Catholic voted Republican for the first time. Can anyone confirm this?

[Gerish]

I hope the nation does also. I am still waiting to see what percentage of the Catholic vote went for the President. That should be an interesting number.

I also think what did Kerry in for many Catholics was his stand on abortion and gay marriages. You can only push people so far with your leftist views before they start pushing back.

[happygrl]

bttt

[Salvation]

** But first they must have some.**

So true!

[Salvation]

I'm sure the numbers will come out later -- but how about all these threads?

President Bush: Shares Our Catholic Values

President Bush and John Kerry: On the Issues Important to Catholics

"Seismic" Catholic Shift to Bush [Insight ]

Catholics for Bush

Analyst cites abortion stance as some Catholic voters shift to Bush

Poll: Catholics Trending Towards Bush

Kerry Losing Ground Among White Catholics

Voting Our Conscience, Not Our Religion [Catholic Prof Says "Vote Kerry"]

Vatican: Kerry guilty of heresy; incurrs automatic excommunication

Should a Catholic Vote for Bush or Kerry?

Why is Bush getting the bishop's blessing?

Ambassador Ray Flynn in Cleveland 10/16/2004- "Vote 2004: The Catholic Factor"

John Kerry Flip-Flops on When to Use His Catholic Belief on Politics

Abortion is Turning Democrats Off to Kerry

Planned Parenthood Unveils TV Ads Backing John Kerry on Abortion

Spiritual Windsurfer [Kerry]

Kerry’s Auxiliary Bishops

The army of God marching for Bush

The Catholics for Bush website is now live!

America at the Crossroads

(Clinton Apointee Raymond)Flynn: Catholics must vote for culture of life

Priest: It's a sin to vote pro-choice

Some attempts to sabotage Catholic voters

Kerry's Catholic Supporters

Kerry Scolds Vatican Over Gay Marriage

Monsignor Jude O'Doherty and President Bush

Catholic bishops should beware of Kerry's 'respect'

[Rosary]

Way to go! GOOD ANSWER ! Yeap, The Passion of the Christ showed the power of the God-fearing people ...so in this voting year, I Hope!

[CarolinaGOP]

The GOP needs to remember this as they consider their presidential nominee for 2008, especially where the social liberal "front-runners" are concerned. I know a lot of Christian conservatives that will NEVER vote for someone who is pro-choice.

[Salvation]

PRESIDENT BUSH WON CATHOLIC VOTE