Evangelicals: The New Swing Voters?

Younger Christian Conservatives Are Thinking Differently About Issues — But Are Candidates?

(CBS)  It's a new kind of political holy war - for the hearts and minds of the roughly 50 million evangelical Christians in this country.

CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric asked evangelical Christian writer and activist Jim Wallis: “Do you believe that evangelical Christians are still the domain of the GOP?”

“No, I think things are changing dramatically. They are up for grabs,” he said. “Their votes are in play.”

Evangelicals became a potent political force during the Reagan revolution, when Reagan said to a group: “I want you to know that I endorse you."

Politics became the perfect bully pulpit for their conservative viewpoints, emphasizing two issues above all: opposition to gay rights and abortion rights.

For more than two decades, their support at the polls has been critical to Republican victories. But that may be changing, and many younger evangelicals are behind it.

“A whole generation says no. There are more than two moral value issues,” Wallis said.

“There's Darfur. There’s global poverty. There’s climate change. There’s human trafficking.”

And in that new agenda, the old issues aren’t as prominent.

A new CBS News poll out tonight shows that abortion and gay rights aren't even among the top four priorities evangelicals want presidential candidates to discuss.

In fact, health care and Iraq dominate, which creates a chasm between progressive evangelicals like Jim Wallis, and more traditional leaders like Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention.

“Why were the followers of the prince of peace, the easiest ones to convince to go to war in Iraq?” Wallis said.

“I believe that when people are at war with you, it's best to be at war with them,” Land said.

Land also thinks the two issues that united evangelicals shouldn't divide them now.

“The protection of the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and everywhere in between,” he said, is one. “Secondly, protection of traditional marriage.”

But the CBS News poll shows that poverty trumps abortion as an issue evangelicals care about.

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Check out the results of the CBS News poll.
Read more about the Values Voter Summit.

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In fact, Jim Wallis believes the term "pro-life" should be redefined.

“...if I want the support of the religious right, I had better stay unborn as long as possible because once I am born, I am off the radar screen. No health care. No childcare. No nothing,” Wallis said.

Different priorities may mean a new acceptance of a new kind of GOP candidate.

Current Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani-who would be the first Republican nominee in three decades to support abortion rights-is almost tied for first among white evangelical voters.

If Giuliani succeeds, Land says the party might be over - and a third candidate, a real social conservative, could emerge.

“It'd be like asking an abolitionist to vote for a pro-slavery candidate, you just can't do it,” Land said.

Support for abortion rights isn't this year's only GOP heresy. Candidates like Giuliani, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Fred Thompson have trouble even talking about their faith - and their church attendance.

“I don't attend regularly,” Thompson said.

“The most important thing is that I am a Christian and I don't have anything else to say about the issue,” McCain said.

“I am not running for religious office,” Giuliani said.

Meanwhile, social conservatives may not attend this election if their enthusiasm for the candidates doesn't improve. Forty percent of them say they are less excited about going to the polls this time.

Once a Republican mainstay, "values voters" could become the new swing voters - and at this point, it's anyone's guess who will convert them.

“God is not a Republican or Democrat and people of faith should not be in any party's political pocket,” Wallis said.

[sgtrds]

Maybe some Christians are finally beginning to realize that their so-called "leaders" just might be the false Prophets the New testament warned them about? People like Bush, Cheney, Robertson and Dobson are the most anti-christian Christians in recent memory, at least when judged by their deeds and not their words and the same goes for any foolish enough to believe them........

[robertkjjj]

You all should realize that the key difference between Islamist extremists and Christian extremists is what they DO in the name of their beliefs, not what they believe. Islamists have carried out more than 9000 deadly attacks in the name of their religion just since 9-11. Christians: less than 5. Islamists have killed over 10 million people since the 70''s. Christians: less then 100. If you refuse recognize these facts and to have a sense of PROPORTION--which is the key word here----then you are blind or ignorant. Christians may do a protest march. They make phone calls and write letters and they vote. But, Islamists KILL. That is how THEY make THEIR points. If you think voting and suicide bombs are equivalent, then you are beyond any help. www.jihadwatch.org

[nmsuip]

What do you call it when a Republican gets taken over by a demon?

A vacant possession.

[sftodd]

Tolerate every religion EXCEPT Christianity
Posted by singinrick at 01:39 PM : Oct 19, 2007

Rick, you could not be more wrong. If only we could put all of the Christian fundamentalists and the Islamic fundamentalists into an arena so they could fight each other with their bare hands. I swear, they would continue splintering into extremist groups until there was just one idiot left arguing with himself about whether his god is the one true god! But alas, there are far too many of you lunatics in EVERY religion, which is why the future of humankind ain''t lookin'' so good.

[starleo146]

This is because the clergy men and most if not all of the followers are about control, not love. They don''''t love or care. They want a sense of empowerment and authority. There is an immense difference that their individual personality pathologies does not allow them to see. They are screaming with their pigtails flying, "I''''m not listening, I''''m not listening, God is on my side because I say so" Many "christians" will end up shocked. They will be the ones that are referred to by Jesus in the bible saying "but we worshipped and praised you" with Jesus saying, "you do not know who I am, get behind me satan."

Posted by l8c6 at 08:17 PM : Oct 19, 2007

You know this was pretty poignant to me 18c6 and I am glad you said it. It is true

[nmsuip]

What''s the difference between a republican & the rear end of a horse?

I don''t know either.

[booyaw78]

Whats empathy mean? Sounds like butttfukkkin..

[realpatriot1]

starleo,

Thanks, i try.

speakinup,

I know you weren''t talking about Vietnam and I still think it was classless. I''m not trying to single you out, there are plenty of classless remarks coming from all angles veryday on here.

The fact that it had the unintended consequence of feeding into the sensitivity that a vet still has from the division over Vietnam and the viscious name-calling and blame that went on then just demonstrates the need we all have to measure our words and try to have more empathy for each other.

That goes for everybody, including myself.

[booyaw78]

I say we cut the dorks off basttttard kids fathers. What do ya say, chump?

[booyaw78]

"Why does a man have to control himself?" Cries the liberal.

"Because he''s grown man, fer Christ''s sakes!" Responds the average american.

And this is not the abortion issue, you ******* shyythead.

[booyaw78]

Control? Dude. A fella should keep his pants on. Only would liberal would talk about control with regards to abortion.

[l8c6]

JackSteen1....
You have made one of the best points of all the posts concerning reproductive rights. I too, have found it to be quite strange that the right wing is so adament about their stand against abortion citing it as a "moral issue" but after the child is born their attitude is "it''''s your problem, not ours."

Posted by geezer62

This is because the clergy men and most if not all of the followers are about control, not love. They don''t love or care. They want a sense of empowerment and authority. There is an immense difference that their individual personality pathologies does not allow them to see. They are screaming with their pigtails flying, "I''m not listening, I''m not listening, God is on my side because I say so" Many "christians" will end up shocked. They will be the ones that are referred to by Jesus in the bible saying "but we worshipped and praised you" with Jesus saying, "you do not know who I am, get behind me satan."

[l8c6]

singinrick

How convenient for you to believe God is on YOUR side.

[booyaw78]

George W. Bush can benchpress 150 lbs!

[starleo146]

Posted by realpatriot1 at 03:26 PM : Oct 19, 2007


REAL PATRIOT YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL WAY OF EXPRESSING YOURSELF AND making your point with such calm and intelligence I appreciate that so much. thank you

[starleo146]

George W. Bush is the sheep in wolves clothing.

Posted by Iceman_1960 at 11:00 AM : Oct 19, 2007


ICE BOY YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD FOR SURE

[starleo146]

Antonio123,

I''''ve had enough of them too so I certainly understand your frustration. I also totally understand you being
especially ticked off at being called a baby-killer, that was classless.

Our job as Democrats though is to do our part to bind the nation''''s wounds. We can''''t control what they do but we''''re responsible for ourselves.

Bear in mind that there''''splenty of venom coming from the dems toward the repubs on this blog and it all feeds on itself.



Posted by realpatriot1

YOUR POST WAS RIGHT ON AGAIN THANKS

[speakinup]

antoniof123 - baby killer.
Posted by speakinup at 03:09 PM : Oct 19, 2007

"you have just insulted every Viet Nam vet that there ever was. "

Wrong again, antoniof123. You got realpatriot1 to believe you ''out of context'' comment though, didn''t you.

So, anyone that thinks I''m an SDS freek that called people ''baby-killers'' - keep in mind I went into ROTC in 1969. The year Kent State happened.

realpatriot1, if yo care to know the TRUTH, you need to take a look the discussion immediate prior to when I called antoniof12 a baby killer. It was NOT because of anything having to do with Vietnam. That country NEVER came up.

antoniof12 - is just a frustrated little piece''oshit taht is willing to lie and take things out of context to sway people towards his point of view, or badmouth his opponent.

BABY-KILLER! To bad you weren''t aborted - antoniof12.

[realpatriot1]

Antonio123,

I''ve had enough of them too so I certainly understand your frustration. I also totally understand you being
especially ticked off at being called a baby-killer, that was classless.

Our job as Democrats though is to do our part to bind the nation''s wounds. We can''t control what they do but we''re responsible for ourselves.

Bear in mind that there''splenty of venom coming from the dems toward the repubs on this blog and it all feeds on itself.

[speakinup]

antoniof123 - Got me there - I''m ignorant as to how they intentionally aren''t be taken care of. They DEFINITLY deserve to be.

Having been a troop once myself - and haveing a father that has an oak leaf cluster on his purple heart - and desiring to support those that fight for us, I would always want to take care of them. I find it hard to belive it would be an act of commission - probably more an act of omission if it happens.