Religious Right: Losing Its Grip?
The media has officially begun to cover the evangelical backlash that is afoot, especially after the emergence of the Foley debacle. Common political wisdom dictates that if this “crucial” voting bloc stays home on Election Day in November it spells certain defeat for social conservatives.
Today in the Washington Post, Alan Cooperman reports that this support is continuing to drop:
A nationwide poll of 1,500 registered voters released yesterday by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that 57 percent of white evangelicals are inclined to vote for Republican congressional candidates in the midterm elections, a 21-point drop in support among this critical part of the GOP base.
Even before the Foley scandal, the portion of white evangelicals with a “favorable” impression of the Republican Party had fallen sharply this year, from 63 percent to 54 percent, according to Pew polls.
But there is another side of this story. At face value these reports support the notion outlined above; that there is a cause and effect relationship between evangelicals and the success of social conservatives. It is this notion that forces many of our political leaders today to pander to the religious right and promote their “values agenda” despite the fact that this agenda is opposed by the majority of Americans.
But in increasing numbers evangelicals are voicing concerns over issues that the religious right leadership has tried to ignore.
As Cooperman points out in his article, the modern evangelical voter is actually concerned about the Iraq war and ethical concerns over current leadership, as evidenced by the Mark Foley scandal. I attended the recent Values Voter Summit in Washington, and I can assure you that there was no question on Dobson’s, Perkins’, or anyone else’s part about the War in Iraq. Nor was there a mention of Abramoff or other ethical lapses by current leadership. They instead focused themselves on urging their supporters to fall behind politicians who are anti-gay and anti-women’s rights.
In fact the religious right is engaged in one of the most aggressive political campaigns in decades, if not ever, and their objective is to prevent exactly the scenario that is now unfolding.
Here’s a newsflash: they are failing.
These evangelicals aren’t just rebelling against social conservatives; they are rebelling against the religious right leadership, who unabashedly promote such politicians to their constituency.
As we’ve seen in the Foley debacle, the religious right is not interested in holding their political allies accountable. They’re not interested in standing up for the values they espouse. They’re not interested in confronting morally bankrupt leaders. They’re not interested in fighting for the interests of real Americans.
As evidenced in the events held by Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council this fall, what these groups want to do is convince their followers to continue to support the leaders that Dobson and Perkins are in bed with.
What’s being left out of the story however is that despite their best efforts, the religious right is failing.
It’s imperative that we talk about this widely and ensure that next time this story is written, it includes the fact that this departure from social conservatives is taking place despite the best efforts of the religious right leadership. Their control is waning.
Good!! I’m glad to see that there is some disenfranchisement with the current political environment. But really, I’m surprised it took this long. When one believes that the power they have attained is a mandate from God, it’s not surprising when that power is abused. Fortunately, we still live in a relatively open society, one with a marginally free press. The truth will out, and it has.
Stephanie, as a recovering ex-dittohead myself, all I can say is that it is very hard for someone who had been conditioned to think one way for such a long time to make such a profound paradigm-shift in their political thinking. Also, such a change does not happen overnight, but rather is the result of a bunch of little life experiences that begin to add up.
For me, one of the big events that started me to think differently about my political beliefs was the whole evolution vs. ID/creationism debate. I was especially angered watching O’Reilly’s show following the Dover decision as he and that one judge (who I can’t spell his name off the top of my head) started ripping into such a well thought out and well written legal decision (and I did read the entire decision very carefully). It baffled me how so many “conservatives” could be so unintellectual about that issue. From there, things began to rapidly snowball, and someday I may share more of my story.
Greetings: Those who want to be called Religious Right are really trying to CON America. Until we refer to them using the proper term of “CULT” they will continue making millions off their flock. Elmer Gentry is alive an well in the Great State of Ohio and their are many more like Ron Parsley who weekly milk their cash cow, congreation in the name of JESUS.
Jesus allows this because man was born with Free Will, however come judgement day Ron and the rest will face HELL I’m certain for misleading his flock.
Twice I have picketed this organization in Ohio, once at our State House when they kicked off REFORMATION OHIO and once at their World Harvest Church. The way they over reacted both times, against one born again Christian was all the proof I needed to prove my point.
That being they are afraid you will discover that they are in fact nothing more than a CULT. I met their NAZI STORM TROPPERS and survived to tell you about it. Dave an American Patriot for Peace and a US Army Veteran 65-68
Hey Tony,
I too was a “dittohead” until a few years ago, so it’s no surprise to me how hard it can be to deal with such a monumental shift in perspective. I’m just glad that it seems to be happening, if even in small amounts.
I voted for GW Bush, twice.
My mistake.
I’m glad the Christian Reich is getting their due. I’ve long been a dreaded “moderate” Republican for years although my in-laws are dyed in the wool Bush can do no wrong lovers. Like Dave, I live in Ohio too and think these dominionists are a cult. I’m waiting for the collapse of the Ohio Republican party at the hands of the extremists so we can clean up the mess the righties have made for several years.
I’m a Republican voting for Strickland. Sorry Ken Blackwell, you were a sorry Secretary of State and I don’t want you as Governor! And I don’t want Rod Parsley as your shadow Lt. Governor either!
Ron,
Your post is very well appreciated by me. Well stated. Thanks.
By the wy, I have seen Rod Parsley on the christian station a couple times. The only thing I can say is that I was very embarrased for him.
To Whom it May Concern,
I was just talking with a crony of mine- ok, my wife, and she sprung a new angle on me. She says, the preachers of today are just like the god that they want you to worship. That god always asked for the very best. The unblemished lamb. So, since they represent that god, they think they should have the very best too.
The “Priesthood” is a business- and poltics- and sexual adventures- and graft- and corruption, just like any other ideological endeavour. These guys are just men. If you take a sample of preachers, they will be a representative within a few points.
So, my question is why do you support these priest craftsmen and their luxurious lifestyle? Are they gods?
Or, should they be giving their expendable income to the poor as they ask you to?
I was just wondering.
Respectfully submitted. /d
Mark,
That admission you made was heartwarming, yet disengeuous.
Was your jesus a millionaire?
Did he keep anything for himself?
Did he think that because he was the son of god that he deserved to be better off than the rank and file christian?
Are these preachers the son of god? Then why would they think they should live the lifstyle of sons of gods? Just wondering.
Just wondering wy these wannabe sons of god think they can keep an unproportionate amount of money to themselves?
Why am I so embarassed when I watch these guys on tv.?
Did you ever wonder why bad people get themselves in to a position of authority? That is a PhD thesis on its own.
I know for a fact that a lot of religious folks have wonderful pastors of their churches. I have met many of these wonderful men and women. They are there to comfort and console. They are definitely not there to build a political empire.
If I could tell you what I have lived through and seen of all this, you would barf. I wish I could say it is all explained in my new book, but, alass, the book is on the back burner, again, because I am needed to support these underachievers that I live with.
I am certain that you have heard enough of me for tonight, so good night.
Dale,
My comment is an expression of disappointment in many of the decisions made by GWB. In particular, leading us into an extremely costly war in Iraq, using the “war on terror” (a term I really despise) to erode our 4th amendment rights and his refusal to address the illegal alien problem.
Bush has done more to erode our freedoms than the ‘terrorists’ ever could. At every turn he carves out more of our freedoms and patches the gaping wounds with flimsy bandagaes of security.
On every bill the man has signed (over 800, more than any president before him), Bush has tacked on a little note saying that he will enforce only the parts of the bill he wants to. And in numerous occassions he has said that he is above the law, and even come just short of calling those who disagree with him, traitors.
It if walks like a dictator, and talks like a dictator…
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/A_Special_comment_about_lying_by_1006.html
Stephanie and Tony, I’m glad you both graduated away from the ranks of the dittoheads. Welcome to the real world!
Regarding how some conservatives can be so unintellectual, I think it’s simply because some of them, like Bill O’Lielly and Wuss Windbag, have both made a fortune by appealing to a large number of people who feel they are somehow victims of liberalism, or who are just ignorant, maybe even plain stupid, bigots. Both O’Lielly and Windbag know what they’re doing.
The reason you are now ex-dittoheads is because you’re brighter than those who are still dittoheads.
Although I regularly read this blog; today is the first time for me to reply.
I wanted to say I am happy to see that people are finally seeing GWB for what he really is. I didn’t like him as Gov., Could not believe he weasled his way into the White House, and REALLY could not believe he got elected for a second term. Really, I could have cried, but I figured I better keep my guard up, no telling WHAT could happen in America next.
Being from TX, I hate when they refer to it as a “RED” state…..I did not support any “RED” candidates.
I had a hunch GWB would try and change the rules as he goes along, just as TX GOP re-drew the district lines, That is what they do best…. “STRATEGERY!” ( to quote Saturday Night Live.) And don’t get me started on Cheney!
All: why they are ‘dittoheads” is because they reach positions based on BELIEF(ditto), NOT REASON…..rational , reasoning person will NOT reach the same conclusions that believers do—plain and simple.
We have not a “culture war” , but a war of ” Rational Reasonig ” vs “dogmatic belief”.
Jumper is a typical example….his positions are premised on belief in NT (and some OT –when convenient to his position) and other dogma he has heard about our nation’s founding. Yet even when confronted with EVIDENCE to refute such, he dogmaticly clings to belief.
Many pseudo-conservatives who express disppointment with Republicans will still “hold their noses’ while they mark the REP. box!
persons
reasoning
dogmatically
Lisa,
Thanks for the link. Keith Olbermann is truly the voice of reason. Hopefully, the administration won’t arrest him.
The positions taken by the current SBC are not conservative, they are radical. They are not advocating returning to traditional Baptist tenets like “priesthood of the believer”, but abandoning them. Please do not call them conservatives. And yes, as a member of an SBC church, their is something very cultlike about them. But not all, by far, of the members of churches that belong to the SBC agree with them. I believe a couter-revolution is underway among true conservative Christians. How can we be Christians, followers of Christ, and support those who advocate torture? It is not possible.
Kiamichi; I hope you are correct abnout other christians turning their backs on the SBC and rabid religious reich , and that you are not “a voice in the wilderness”.
BTW : are you Kiamichi by blood?
Get a load of this! Bush is stating that he has the Constitutional right to hire unqualified persons to head FEMA.
Can I get a group head slap?
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/06/bush-fema-signing-statement/
THANKS LISA THAT’S A GOOD SITE.
To All: KING GEORGE is a deranged MEGALOMANIAC.
As I have said before I am EXPONENTIALLY more concerned with what King George HAS ACTUALLY done to DESTROY our Constitutional Democracy than I am with what Osama MIGHT do to destroy our infrastructure!
The Const give SPECIFIC power to the president if he disagrees with a Congressional enactment: the VETO power.
If the Prez Vetoes a Bill , it goes back to Congress to modify it to suit the Pres or OVERRIDE his veto.
He does NOT have Const authority to pick and choose those portions he’ll enforce , nor does he have de facto line item veto powers.
He took an oath of office before his vision of his Lord to Faithfully e honor the Const and to faithfully execiute the laws of the land.
He is an USURPER and Pretender!
And here is another article from the Boston Globe.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/10/05/bush_signings_called_effort_to_expand_power/
Count me in with a very disturbed head slap. This ain’t funny anymore. To be honest, I always considered the “dictator” talk to be more hot air than actual truth. Until now.
Is this time going to be the twilight of democracy in America?
Or the start of a civil war?
HISTORY
Now do you believe me? I told you before that this was where we were headed, and you brushed me off. Your not laughing anymore, are you?
If you really want to know where we are headed, read the recently passed bill HR6166, also called the Torture Bill. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.6166:
You think it does not apply to U.S. citizens? Think again.
“Subsection 4(b) (26) of section 950v. of HR 6166 - Crimes triable by military commissions - includes the following definition.
“Any person subject to this chapter who, in breach of an allegiance or duty to the United States, knowingly and intentionally aids an enemy of the United States, or one of the co-belligerents of the enemy, shall be punished as a military commission under this chapter may direct.”
For an individual to hold an allegiance or duty to the United States they need to be a citizen of the United States. Why would a foreign terrorist have any allegiance to the United States to breach in the first place?”
Follow this link to read the rest of the article: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/infowarsnews/message/1085
The Maddness of King George has to stop, or else this nation will have hell to pay, if it even exists anymore.
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/content/2006/10/bush_once_again.html
And two weeks ago, a White House leak quoted Karl Rove, Bush’s PR manager saying that there would be an ‘October Suprise’ to ensure that the Republicans maintained control of the House and Senate. And with Bush frothing at the mouth to attack Iran even though they will never be a nuclear power within the next decade, it will either be the threat of a nuclear device, a dirty bomb, or a real live nuclear bomb going off in a major U.S. city.
Either way, we would be up a creek. Bush did no sign HR 6166 so he could not use it. It will be used to arrest those who disagree with Bush and his policies. Even the Senators and Representatives who voted for the bill in the first place.
And Fred, I do see us headed for Civil War within the next few years. Before 9/11, New Hampshire was threatening to cecide from the union under protest of the direction the nation was headed.
And Dick Chaney said himself, that in order for the Neo-Cons to have total control, there would need to be a mass casualtiy producing event—”like a new Pearl Harbor.”
http://www.spp.gov/
Rabbit,
What was your link to? I checked it, and it came back to “page cannot be found.” I’ll keep checking.
Lisa,
New Hampshire was actually thinking of seceding from the U.S.? I’ll have to find out more about that.
I hate to say it, but some of these people may have the right idea.
http://www.april-fools.us/university-nh-secedes.htm
The regular people may think that this is a joke, but this University was serious.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Northeast/03/02/killington.secession.ap/
http://www.republicofnh.org/platform.html
This is why I said that I see Civil War soon, because there is talk here in Texas of seceding from the union as well. And it’s not just the crazy Minute Men either. Bush’s play for unlimited power will tear this nation apart. And I seriously doubt we will have any Abrham Lincolns to bring it back together again.
Well, I found out more. Turns out there are secessionist movements in states all over the country. www.republicofnh.org is a site for the proposed Republic of New Hampshire. The Independence Party of Alaska has been active since 1984 and has over 13000 registered members.
Oops, meant to say more before I submitted that. There’s a small movement in my old home state of California. Aso, Hawaii, Vermont, Texas, the American Southwest (Aztlan), the Pacific Northwest (Cascadia), the South, and others. The most interesting one I found, though, was South Carolina:
In 2005, a group of right-wing Evangelical Christians began a movement to create an independent South Carolina. Based on their perception of the United States’ permissive attitude and culture, supporters of this movement hope to create a Christianist, Biblically-based government in the new Republic of South Carolina.
How’s that sound? Anyhow, most of these are fringe groups now, but that could change if the administration gets too grabby. There are a lot of seeds out there. Let’s hope we don’t get into an environment where they’ll take root.
By the way, has anyone seen the film After Twilight? It’s a short film, availible on DVD, in which Texas has seceded from the U.S. and become an opressive theocracy. Excellent film.
I’ve written my senators and congressmen, as requested by several political groups I belong to, asking them to support censure and impeachment of George W. Boob, for his many offenses, including his use of “signing statements” to avoid implementing laws he disagrees with. He’s issued more than 800 such statements, more than all other past presidents combined.
The replies I received from them mentioned a few censure resolutions that are currently sitting waiting for committees to act on them. But because both the House and Senate are controlled by Repuglicans, no action will be taken, because the majority party controls the agenda.
I will also write to ask if I, as a citizen, might have standing to sue Boob for doing such things. I’m assuming I don’t.
HISTORY
IS
REPEATING
ITSELF AGAIN
NOW
NOW
I apologize for all the postings on the same thing, it didn’t seem like it was working for more than an afternoon and an evening. I do the last ones work, however.
N. Korea’s test was sucessful, just learned that off the press…
Lisa wrote: “Now do you believe me? I told you before that this was where we were headed, and you brushed me off. Your not laughing anymore, are you?”
I’ve just finished reading the links that you provided. This is the first time that I’ve read anything like this, and to say I’m stunned would be a tremendous understatement. And to think that Congress (regardless of which party would be in control) would just sit silently and let its authority be usurped is just simply amazing. Therefore, no, I’m not laughing. If anything, over the last year or so I’ve been suffering from some serious “buyer’s remorse.”
It has been awhile, but when I took my basis civics and governmental studies classes in school, I was taught that the framers of the Constitution were so leery of having power consolidated with a chief executive that, even though there is division of power with checks and balances, the legislative branch was supposed to be the strongest of the three branches of government.
The arrogance of this administration, along with its on-going abandonment of what I considered to be the fundamentals of the republican party and its marginalization of any remaining moderates left in the party, has made it impossible for many moderates such as myself to support the party this November. Fortunately, I live in one of the few remaining competitive legislative districts, and we have a good chance to vote out the current republican religious nutbag (if the recent polling data is correct) and take back one of the 15 seats needed to end the republican party’s control of the House.
Lisa,
I’m still brushing you off. These people are cranks and kooks and some hang with them just for the lark. The people of Key West have been trying to succed from the Union for years now and become known as the “Conch Republic.”
Just spend some time in New Hampsire and you will see what I mean. To say they are a minority is a gross understatement.
Lisa,
Reading all those conspiracy theories, and believing in them, may cause permanent brain damage.
Although we fought a Civil war over the issue (and others) there is NOTHING in the Const. that says,” Once you join our little club , you can never resign, exit , secede”.
I think the right to renounce a society and its governmnet is an INHERENT right of man and a retained right of states.
Actually, Yahweh, after the “Late Unpleasantness”, wording was added to the Constitution (I believe it was Amendment #14) that pretty much makes secession illegal.
Illegal or not, if America does become Amerika, people will start looking around at other options. As for the seccessionist groups being cranks and kooks, Dale, I would point out that most people in 1772 called the American revolutionaries similar names.
But, if the Democrats regain control of at least the House (which I think they will, barring vote-rigging), and they have regrown an actual backbone (which I think they have), then with luck, I believe we can avoid it this time around. Or is that just wishful thinking?
Joel, Baby! You’re back!!
Pennsylvania Constitution
Political Powers
Section 2.
All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness. For the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper.
Lynne: I do not see anything in 14th A. to Const that says “you can’t quit our little club whenever you want to”(or words to that effect).
Lynne,
I think the 14th means you cannot join an insurrection if you are holding office, or something like that. Don’t have time to look just now. gotta run.
Lynne & Stephanie: it’s seems ya’ll were MIA a couple of days.
Nice to hear from ya’ll again.
On a [sort of] vacation this week. I actually go back home tonight.
I’ve been down with an ear infection that made merely holding my head up almost intolerable, pain-wise. I’m better now, though, but thanks for missing me, Yahweh.
Hey All: I received my defcon Bumper Sticker. “Because the Religious Right is Wrong”.
I am getting ready to ( or as some say down here,” I’s a fixin to”) PROUDLY apply such to my bumper!
Hey, I want one!!
Those bumper stickers are available to you at a nominal cost, Stephanie. Just part with a couple bucks you little tight wad.
[…] Talk about desperate. This only plays into the notion that it isn’t just the social conservative political leadership that is “losing its grip” over evangelicals; it’s the religious right leadership itself. […]
[…] The religious right is attempting to use yesterday’s decision by New Jersey’s Supreme Court to rally their (estranged?) supporters — ala 2004. […]
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