Focus on moral values tipped vote for Bush

Washington Times ^ | Nov 4, 2004 | Joseph Curl and Julia Duin

[animoveritas]

From the Nation/Politics section Moral values topped the list of issues voters were most concerned about when they went to the polls on Election Day, with Catholics, evangelicals, blacks and Hispanics joining an ad hoc coalition that re-elected President Bush by 3.5 million votes.

[sdpatriot]

notice the dead slience from the msm on the Swifties and POW's? what they revealed was all about these mysterious "moral values", or lack thereof.... couple that with George Bush's faith in God and strong leadership - and i do believe people voted on "moral Value" when it comes to who was the honorable candidate. it's hilarious watching the media scrambling around searching for what these mystery "moral values" are.. sheesh.. that speaks volumes..

[Piranha]

In my opinion, character was dramatically more important than morals. If Kerry weren't such a chameleonlike faker who lied throughout his entire career and cared only for himself, he would have done much better.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Kerry stupidly aligned himself with the Hollywood Creed . . .

Spot on! See my tag - and this

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[piperpilot]

I overheard a conversation this morning between two uber-libs in my office. One was explaining to the other that she had figured out why Kerry lost. She said that people in the red states--rubes that they are--believe that morals are their salvation and that if there are no gay people around, they will go straight to heaven. Given that I am the lone wolf conservative in a sea of Dims here at a non-profit in DC and am trying not to gloat, I refrained from saying anything, but I am more confident than ever that these people have been drinking the Dim Kool-Aid for way too long and are simply incapable of ever getting it. They really believe that they are right and anyone who doesn't believe in their so-called enlightened view of the world is bad. I can only shake my head and smile to myself at their misery.

[Dubya_gal]

I find it interesting that the news media is finally beginning to catch on to this. It doesn't surprise me in the least that the exit polls showed that moral values are important; most of my close friends are not news junkies like me, nor are they partisans really; they gave both candidates an equal shot until the last few weeks of the campaign. But these friends are conservative Christians and after watching the third debate it became clear that Bush was guided by his faith in his decisions, and that made an impact. Others of them were interested in specific issues that they felt uncomfortable with supporting (gay marriage, abortion).

But the sense I got from talking to my "evangelical" friends was that moral values were tipping the scales in favor of Bush (the other stuff--taxes, economy, the war--they didn't really know who was right, but they were willing to give Bush the benefit of the doubt once they sensed that he was trying to do what was right).

The pollsters are confused and trying to spin this because they don't "get" that moral values are not just positions on abortion and gay rights (which don't normally poll as #1 issues for large numbers of people). Those political stances are certainly an important part of that category, but moral issues for me is something broader and more undefined: it is about culture and worldview--are you seeking what is moral in your personal life? Looking for God's will? Is your faith central to the kind of person you are? That is the issue. John Kerry, despite his noble stint as an alter boy, seems to see religion as something to discard when the debate is over. It doesn't guide his approach to life, and Christians see this. And in a country that seems morally on the decline, we want a leader who sets a positive example.

But the news media is just now catching on. Aaron Brown spent a large amount of his show last night pondering this issue as if it was something new and strange. Most of these news people live in NY or LA and don't really understand the culture of red-state "flyover country". So it is all new, strange territory.

[Little Ray]

I have a friend who believes the referendums on marriage are a large part of the reason Pres. Bush was re-elected. People who never voted before, came out to vote on this issue.

[sdpatriot]

>>In my opinion, character was dramatically more important than morals. <<

i believe character is inclusive of moral value. you could probably make an outline starting something like this:

moral values
1) character
a) duty
b) honor
c)
etc

2) religion
a)

3) patriotism
a) sacrifice
etc...