Sorry, but the facts do NOT bear that out; you may say it as much as you want to, but Evangelicals did not vote in any larger numbers than they did in 2000.
In past years, the story line has involved Angry White Males, or Willie Horton-bashing racists. This year, the official story is that throngs of homophobic, Red America values-voters surged to the polls to put George Bush over the top.
This theory certainly flatters liberals, and it is certainly wrong.
Here are the facts. As Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center points out, there was no disproportionate surge in the evangelical vote this year. Evangelicals made up the same share of the electorate this year as they did in 2000. There was no increase in the percentage of voters who are pro-life. Sixteen percent of voters said abortions should be illegal in all circumstances. There was no increase in the percentage of voters who say they pray daily.
It's true that Bush did get a few more evangelicals to vote Republican, but Kohut, whose final poll nailed the election result dead-on, reminds us that public opinion on gay issues over all has been moving leftward over the years. Majorities oppose gay marriage, but in the exit polls Tuesday, 25 percent of the voters supported gay marriage and 35 percent of voters supported civil unions. There is a big middle on gay rights issues, as there is on most social issues.
What we are seeing is a diverse but stable Republican coalition gradually eclipsing a diverse and stable Democratic coalition. Social issues are important, but they don't come close to telling the whole story. Some of the liberal reaction reminds me of a phrase I came across recently: The rage of the drowning man.
Facts are such pesky nuisances.
Let's belittle the contributions of the Christian voters.
You're a genius.
Hi Howlin
"We'll just stay home, just like we did in 2000."
They almost put Gore in the White House and lost the pro-life movement all the conservative judges and advancements we've achieved for the last four years. And instead of hanging their heads in shame and learning from what their mistake almost cost us, they are bragging about it and promising to do it again.
Sorry, but the facts do NOT bear that out; you may say it as much as you want to, but Evangelicals did not vote in any larger numbers than they did in 2000.
>>>
You're right. It's when they stay home or vote 3rd Party that the GOP hasn't a prayer...I love watching the GOP grassroots in action without Conservatives...it's called bobdole and Bush 1.
The key change this time was the CATHOLIC vote.
The Evangelicals always come out.
But never before has the CATHOLIC Church so openly taken sides in an American election, and in doing so, transferred the historical allegiance of a substantial portion of its people from one party to the other.
For this election.
If all that pro-life Catholics get for this is an immediate, election day slap in the face from Arlen Specter, saying that he's not going to let judges get by him who'll overturn Roe, followed by the Senate's decision to keep Specter on track for judiciary, the disillusionment of Catholics will be deep and lasting.