All the Democrats are pro-choice and mostly pro-gay, so they are out, and the three front runners for GOP nomination, Rudy, Mitt, and Fred Thompson aren’t really ideal choices for the Christian right. Rudy is also pro-choice and supports gay rights. Plus, he’s been married three times. Thompson’s also a divorcee and hasn’t shown much overt support for the conservative religious base throughout his career. Romney has the strongest religious background, but he’s Mormon, which turns off the evangelicals.
So when push comes to shove will the religious right vote for one of these men rather than see a godless liberal in the White House. I tend to think that with no clear choice for them we will see a decrease in their turnout at the polls in 08.
They will vote Republican, what else are they gonna do? They may not vote as enthusiastically or in as large number, but vote Republican they will. I think both sides recognize this, therefore neither side finds pandering to them to be worthwhile.
I’d say their support will likely go to Thompson, even if they’re holding their nose as they pull the lever. And I agree that their turnout might be reduced over that of recent elections.
I guess we really mean the white Christian right, don’t we?
Depends on if the Pubbies load the ballots with gay marriage referendums. Gay marriage referendums draw out the black Christian right like nothing else can.
I’ve done an extensive survey of all the evangelical Christians who use my toothbrush, and that population has unanimously reported the following voting strategy:
In the primaries, vote for Barck Obama, holding one’s nose at his pro-choice stand and repeating to oneself that the president has little power over abortion legislation.
In the general election, if Obama is not available, vote for whoever is running against Hillary Clinton.
I agree, but you didn’t say living perfectly at all times in the post I was responding to. Adultery isn’t “adhering closely” to his religious beliefs. And the candidates you didn’t mention didn’t have such obvious lapses (that I know of, though I honestly don’t know that much about the candidates personal lives). So I was asking why you believe McCain was a better Episcopalian then Edwards and Hillary are Methodists or Thompson is a crummy Church of Christ member.
Yea, I’m still honestly wondering what the criteria is that we’re using. Especially, if we’re going to forgive minor lapses (which I agree makes sense), then I can’t really see why Obama or McCain are more true to their faith then Hillary or Edwards. But again, I don’t really know much about the religious lives of the candidates. I’d be interested if moto (or anyone else) wants to elaborate.
Aren’t they running out of states to do that in? What are they going to do, announce a referendum to re-ammend the state constitution to really, really, really ban gay marriage?
Some of the referenda were designed in such a way that the issue would most likely have to be revisited at some point in the near future. I don’t have a cite, but I remember someone pointing this out back in 2004.
As to the OP–they’ll vote for the Republican, even if it’s Rudy or Romney, but a whole lot of them will just stay home.
The dems should use referendums to draw out voters.
The Christian right will vote republican. They might run a third party hopeful, but most people vote party line to assure a win. It’s a shame that we have such a narrow range of ideology between the two parties. I would like to see massive reform, but I doubt it will happen.
I don’t understand how the Christian right can justify the republican vote. Most republican women are pro-choice, and it seems there are quite a few gay republican representatives. I firmly believe The Supreme Court, despite how conservative, will protect the first amendment and separation of Church and State. What exactly are they voting for? Trickle down economics?
Huckabee will take off after he finishes second (or better) in Iowa. He will be a much bigger player than most people realize. I expect him to be a VP nominee at the very least.
It would seem that Huckabee is the natural candidate of the C’tian Right but the race is too tight & he’s still too new to the scene. As a result, truthfully, I think we’ll be scattered among them all. I have less problem with Mitt’s faith than Rudy’s politics. I could easily support Romney for President- much as I might debate the tenets of his religion.