The more Evangelicals change...

Abortion trumps all. And this one is about the judges...

I'm probably not typical, but I'm an evangelical, and I wouldn't touch either of these guys with a ten-foot pole. I'm writing in Ron Paul, and I know a few other evangelicals who are doing the same. I'm extremely frustrated with the lack of thought in religious circles as to what kind of message they send Republicans when they vote for them no matter what. I hope they'll come around, but the truth is, most evangelicals just don't apply that much thought to politics. They have stuff to do...unlike me, apparently.

I'm an evangelical, and I can tell you that many people in my congregation have flirted with the idea of voting for Obama. Ultimately, however, most of them say they can't do it. I know a few who are definitely going to cast their ballot for him. Like anyone else, they're simply deciding between two choices. It's not about being "chumps." That's the nature of the two-party system. And as much we'd like to complain about it, the two-party system is about avoiding the fractionalism and the "coalition" traffic jams they call governments in other countries. I haven't decided who I'll vote for, incidentally.

My guess is that it is simple, common sense. They certainly don't want Obama. A protest vote is a vote for Obama given how close the race is in most states right now. I'm not surprised at all.

Another Evangelical here...

I agree with Mark Twain. There are three types of untruths: lies, damned lies, and statistics. Sorry Rod, but I don't put much stock in polls of any kind. Especially those that touch on faith issues. For one thing, the term "evangelical" is often misused by pollsters. Often, they conflate it with "fundamentalist." These kinds of mistakes can really throw off the data.

It is cerainly true that fundies are staying with the Rs (with a few promising to vote Constitution Party). But within evangelicalism (which has always been a far more complex category), there has been an undeniable shift since the last election.

I trust what I hear and see in the pews. And there is significant disenchantment with Bush, and with the Republicans generally. On other threads I've recounted several close friends and family members who've always been guaranteed pro-life votes for the Reps, but who now are going for Obama. I also know many other fellow Evangelicals who, although they were once enthusiastic for the Republican candidate (Reagan and Bush in past elections) are now holding their noses and complaining loudly about having to vote for McCain. When election day comes, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them decide not to vote at all or even end up going Obama. The war really troubles a lot of evangelicals, and if McCain continues to beat the drums he may push more of us toward Obama.

Plus, there is generally more of a recognition that politics won't save us, and that those who promised it would were selling snake oil. The stock of Dobson, Robertson, et al has dropped noticeably within evangelicalism. Rick Warren (a far more nonpartisan guy, with an agenda that extends into some issues of the Left) has stolen center stage from them.

I think the Pew study underestimates what's really happening.

One thing to keep in mind here, conservatives are in a tizzy now because John McCain might pick someone like Ridge or even Lieberman. I'm sure if he does go with Lieberman, they'll find a way to justify their newfound appreciation of Al Gore's old running mate.

Anyhow, given their demonstrated suppliance, all the GOP has to do is keep itself just slightly to the left of the Democratic candidate, and evangelicals will support their candid, albeit tepidly.

Since McCain is known as a moderate conservative Republican who often reaches across the aisle, he needs to urge the party leaders to not get too closely attached to these evangelicals. The Southern Strategy backfired when the GOP started losing the support of moderates, independents, and former GOP states.

Not to seem ignorant, but how does one go about writing in a vote? I to intend to write in Ron Paul but would have no idea how to go about it and I don't think the pleasant grandma sort of ladies running the polling place do either.

I also wonder if any provisions have been made for "write-in" votes with these "new-fangled" compooterized voting machines. Ours,for this year at least, are still the standard lever madels.

And the reason evangelicals, such as myself, almost always end up voting for the Republican candidate, no matter how greatly we disagree with them, is the simply "a third party vote is a vote for the Dem candidate" argument. Here's my argument, with McCain, no matter what he says, he will not be appointing truly conservative Supreme Court judges anyway, I'm not even sure they make those any more. The best we can hope for is more neo-cons, pro-choice and pro-eminent domain. I don't need it.

McCain and the GOP in general need to steer the party away from the Religious Right and ultra-right and back near the center as Clinton and the DLC tried to do with the Democrats. Only then can the Republicans win back the public, former GOP states, and previous huge electoral victories. McCain and the moderate, moderate conservative, and "RINO" Republicans shouldn't pay too much attention to the Limbaughs, Hannitys, Coulters, and Dobsons of the party. After all, the religious and social conservatives won't have anywhere else to go, so they'll have to learn to compromise as the liberals did when the moderate and conservative Dems flooded into Congress in '06.