Evangelicals Feeling Left Out, Poll Finds

Crucial Bloc Split On GOP Options, Feels Key Issues Are Being Ignored

(CBS)  Evangelical Christian voters formed the core of President Bush’s support in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. But according to a new CBS News poll, the next Republican nominee may have a little more work ahead of him if he wants to count on this influential bloc turning out to the polls in his favor.

The survey, conducted from Oct. 12-16, found that while evangelical voters remain overwhelmingly conservative, they are largely unsatisfied with the current crop of Republican candidates, who they feel are not discussing their priorities - not gay marriage and abortion, with which evangelical voters are often identified, but issues that are also a top priority for voters overall, including the war in Iraq and health care.

Among white evangelical registered voters, 23 percent want to hear presidential candidates discuss health care, while 20 percent want them to talk about the war in Iraq. Both figures are only slightly lower than the overall population of registered voters. Abortion and same-sex marriage were at the bottom of the list for both groups.

In what could be an ominous signal for the Republicans running for president, white evangelicals - whose political views are typically more conservative than those of black evangelicals - feel that Democrats, not Republicans, are paying more attention to their top issues. Twenty-four percent said Democrats are talking about their top issue, compared to only 10 percent who said the same about Republicans. But Democrats should not get too excited about this figure - 35 percent of white evangelicals said neither party is addressing their top concern.

Given those results, it is not surprising that white evangelicals are split on whether the GOP field is satisfactory, with 51 percent saying they wish there were more choices, while 44 percent said they were satisfied with their options.

Still, these voters are not reluctant to take sides - only 3 percent of them said they were undecided when asked who, among the Republicans running, they would like to see nominated. Fred Thompson, who officially entered the race in September, led the way with 29 percent support. He was trailed closely by Rudy Giuliani at 26 percent. John McCain came in third at 15 percent. Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee were effectively tied for fourth place, at 7 percent and 6 percent, respectively.

These numbers did not vary significantly from the overall pool of Republican primary voters, with two exceptions: Thompson ran better among evangelical voters by 8 percent, while Romney, whose Mormon faith is controversial with some born-again Christians, saw his support among evangelicals lag behind that of all Republican primary voters by 5 percent.

Evangelicals appear conflicted when it comes to Giuliani, who leads in national polls and is gaining strength in the key early primary state of New Hampshire. Giuliani supports abortion rights and, during his tenure as New York City mayor, supported expanding the rights of gays and lesbians - positions evangelical voters overwhelmingly oppose. Only 29 percent of white evangelical voters said they could vote for a candidate that disagrees with them on abortion and same-sex marriage.

Yet, when asked about Giuliani specifically, these same voters seem more flexible. Sixty-one percent of white evangelicals said they would at least consider voting for Giuliani if he were the Republican nominee in 2008, with 29 percent saying they would “definitely” vote for him. Only 17 percent said there was no way they would vote for Giuliani, while 22 percent said it was too early to judge. And 61 percent of white evangelicals said they would vote for a candidate with less conservative views than them in the general election if they believed that candidate would win.

But the biggest problem facing Giuliani or any other potential Republican nominee may be one of enthusiasm. In Mr. Bush’s 2004 campaign, his organization focused on bringing evangelical voters to the polls. For a self-identified born-again Christian like Mr. Bush, this may have been a relatively easy sell. However, the top-tier Republican candidates are not viewed as particularly religious by white evangelicals, a problem Bush did not face.

No more than 35 percent of white evangelicals believe that either Giuliani, Romney, McCain or Thompson have strong religious beliefs. Giuliani and Thompson scored particularly low on this question - only 15 percent believe that Giuliani is strongly religious, compared to 13 percent for Thompson. Those numbers are a bad sign for the GOP field, especially when one considers that 84 percent of white evangelicals consider it at least somewhat important that the candidate they vote for shares their religious beliefs, with 39 percent saying it was “very important.”

The one thing the eventual Republican nominee will clearly have working in his favor, at least when it comes to getting evangelical voters to the polls, is party identification: 57 percent of white evangelicals identify as Republican, while 58 percent define themselves as conservative.

Click here to view the complete poll results.

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,282 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone October 12-16, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. 312 interviews were conducted with white evangelicals, and 283 with white evangelicals who are registered to vote. The margin of error for those subgroups is plus or minus six percentage points.

[brianbwb-2009]

It is long past time we ignored these hypocritical fascists, who seek to have their twisted versions of religion made into law, which is a direct violation of the principle of the separation of church and state.

If we continue to decrease their influence, we will see a corresponding drop in crime, war, and other unnecessary social strife.

[quatrops]

The "separation of church and state", when viewed as a constitutional issue, opens a Pandora''s box in that requires a legal interpretation of the framer''s or ammender''s intent.

However, when viewed as a matter of historical tradition, it is less complex. We can look back and observe where our society stood on the issue, and it was fairly consistent until the revolution of the religious right in or around 2000.

The constitution requires the government to "pay attention" to the concept, but, I believe, implies that the populace do so also.

When the religious right, composed primarily of fundamentalist evangelical Christians, organized a powerful consortium to impose its will on the state, it violated 200+ years of tradition.

I, for one, am not unhappy that they are less of a force than they were for too long a time.

[lastdance2]

If the US Treasury had any Balls - They would have Seized the Assets of
Those churches Years ago.

The Treasury Department - The Justice Department - The FBI
Are totally and Completely Corrupt with - Contemptible Disgusting Acts of
Nepotism and Patronization within its own Ranks -

The Justice Department - The US Treasury and The FBI
No longer have any real function.

To Patronize and Fraternize - The Republican (Nazi) Party is
The only - Job Description - of the FBI - The Justice Department and
The US Treasury

Lastdance

[adian1-2009]

The less influence of the RELIGIOUS RIGHT in politics, the better for the nation. These fundamentalist bigots hurt the system and hurt the nation. Just take a look: Bush, Cheney, Rove. Do you want more of the same again?

[trillion1]

Thank God.

[sleepyric]

I''m glad they''re feeling left out. They should be feeling mighty guilty of helping usher in such a monster. How do you sleep at night?

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by adian1 at 06:15 AM : Oct 19, 2007

Amen.

[red1530]

I hope the far left feels left out because in my opinion they are just as bad as the far right.

[hwy71so]

"The phrase "separation of church and state" is derived from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to a group identifying themselves as the Danbury Baptists."

It is not a Constitutional condition.

Open a book before you open your mouth.

[hwy71so]

The intent was to not let one particular religious organization run the country/government. It was not intended ANYWHERE in the Constitution or any other documents for God to be silenced. Yet you lefties are CONSTANTLY violating the christians'' Constitutional rights by silencing their free exercise of the same.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" --the 1st Amendment.

[simonsez40]

"The phrase "separation of church and state" is derived from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to a group identifying themselves as the Danbury Baptists."

It is not a Constitutional condition.

It should be or we''ll be conducting a new seris of WITCH TRIALS like they did in Salem, Mass. All because of bunch of religious zealots took the law into their own hands!

[simonsez40]

A quote from a Religious Righter..

"I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good... Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty, we are called on by God to conquer this country. We don''t want equal time. We don''t want pluralism."
--Randall Terry, The News Sentinel, (Ft. Wayne, IN.), 8/16/93

hmmm sounds kind of like a muslim if you ask me.......same hate and zealous quest for power.

[simonsez40]

"Most politically active Christians don''t want equal time with homosexuals, abortionists, animal worshipping pagans, witches, radical feminists and pornographers. We want them silenced and mercifully disciplined according to the word of God."
--Jay Rogers reviewing Ralph Reed''s Politically Incorrect in "Chalcedon Report," 2/95

Silenced - anyone that is against them.....silenced....is that freedom of speech?

[hwy71so]

Never heard of either of those two individuals.

The christian merely wants the freedom to worship God as is necessary and pay Him due honor. Anyway, how can a christian "submit to the governing authorities" (Rom 13), if he is the governing authority? No, we merely want the freedom to worship without being censored. However, someone found that letter written by Jefferson and manipulated it so as to make it constitutional law that religion is not to have a voice. Where in fact, the constitution itself protects those who wish to pursue their religious beliefs.

I guarantee that I could go to school and voice a prayer with my children before sending them to their classes and I''d have someone crying that I''d violated their constitutional rights, where in fact I was merely exercising my own.

They''ve removed God from the schools, no, they''ve banned Him from the schools in violation of the Constitution.

This society is doing everything they can to one by one discredit the amendments to the Constitution.

[cbs_oliver]

While recognizing that the pool of people who consider themselves evangelicals who consider themselves Democratic is small, restricting so many questions in the poll to evaluations of only Republican candidates, with Democratic candidates excluded for those questions, made the CBS poll a bit of a Republican "push poll."

Too bad.

It seems to have been a nice poll otherwise.

I would have been interested to see what evangelical people thought about the positions of the individual Democrats on the issues.

[cbs_oliver]

Despite what I saud earlier I still think this is a very good poll.

CBS polls have been excellent lately, and the analyses has been sharp too.

Good work!

[grumpas]

Well, we can see how well this bunch did when they elected Bush! The most immoral man on the planet! Whose corruption and criminal activities have become legendary around the world. I have begun to view these people a lot differently than I used to. I always thought they knew what moral''s and values were. But, it''s obvious they don''t because they voted Bush in twice. The last time I was in church I was told moral''s goes much further than ***! But, these people are obsessing about abortion and ***. While ignoring the blatant corrupt brought on by excessive greed that is devouring this country alive. Just some more sick radicals with an agenda they are trying to shove down American''s throats.

[liberalme]

These Bible thumpers have broken more commandments than anyone.

They''re judgemental, they promote hate against anything they don''t believe in, they (in their own minds) are superior to anyone in the name of Jesus.

If we truly read the Bible and 10 commandments, these people have it all wrong.

God didn''t make us different to teach us hate-he made us different to teach us understanding, tolerance and forgivness--these people have none of this.

[ianlou]

I hope the far left feels left out because in my opinion they are just as bad as the far right.

Posted by Red1530 at 08:09 AM : Oct 19, 2007

How do you know?
In Washington, The Left have not had the power to do anything in the last 10 years.

We''ll see after the next 10 years.

[hwy71so]

There is no where in the Bible that teaches us to be tolerant of misdeeds. On the contrary, the Bible teaches us to expose and disassociate with the same.

[quatrops]

The term "Christian nation" too easily implies a relationship between the state and a particular religious organization that the first 10 words of the 1st Ammendment sought to prohibit. We may be a nation of Christians, statistically, but we''re not a Christian nation.

Hwy71 and like thinkers complain they are being silenced. Not so. Their words and actions which the constitution prohibits are those which, reasonably interpreted, imply state sponsorship of a particular religious body or the "establishment" of same.

One could suspect that the progenitors of some of these commenters spent too much time in the shallow end of the gene pool!

[micma-2009]

If the evangelicals top issues are now health care and the war on Iraq, then they will not get anything of substance from the Republicons. Republicons get much of their money from military contractors, pharmacueticals and insurance companies. All they can do for them is bash *** and abortion.


These evangelical nutjobs will vote for anyone who pretends to be a Christian.

[micma-2009]

Hwy71So


Really? Where does Jesus say this?

[hwy71so]

Okay, just as with the silencing of religion (in opposition of the first amendment) you are also attacking the right to keep and bear arms (which "shall not be infringed"). Furthermore, there''s the freedom of press, the right to an attorney, etc. How about innocent until proven guilty; OJ was never proven guilty by a jury of his peers, yet you all say he''s guilty of murder. He was punished for the same, though he was NOT proven guilty.

Its the Democrats'' "liberal" way. Discredit the Constitution and establish a nation of chaos. We''ve been dealing with it for the past 7 years through the democrats'' manipulative propoganda swaying the sheeple. There are still those of us, however, who won''t be swayed!

You want to just totally discredit the Constitution.

The freedom of religion is the first and foremost on your agenda as it prevents you from your favored chaos.

[liberalme]

micma,

They have twisted the Bible to suit their own lifestyle-that is to be above everyone--the "chosed" the only ones going to heaven--if it weren''t so sick, it would be funny!

[tyjohn47]

Rebloodlicans are already in deep caca in terms of next years election. Without a solid base of evangelicals to rely on theyre, frankly, dead meat next year! The Democripps will rip them a new one.

[taddles-2009]

"This society is doing everything they can to one by one discredit the amendments to the Constitution.

Posted by Hwy71So at 09:30 AM : Oct 19, 2007"

Excerpt of the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

I think you''re the one who doesn''t understand the separation issue. It''s about keeping a state entity (school, court etc.)from enforcing a particular religious doctrine or restricting your freedom to practice your particular religion. As was posted before, we are not a "Christian nation", we are a nation that is predominantly Christian. I no more want the state dictating your views on religion to me any more than you want the state dictating my views to you.

No one is stopping you from praying with your children when you drop them off at school. We are, however, stopping you from making everyone pray with your children at school.

%u201CPeople who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.%u201D Dave Barry

[taddles-2009]

"Its the Democrats'''' "liberal" way. Discredit the Constitution and establish a nation of chaos. We''''ve been dealing with it for the past 7 years through the democrats'''' manipulative propoganda swaying the sheeple.

Posted by Hwy71So at 10:58 AM : Oct 19, 2007"

Ok this is just stupid. Who has been running the government for the past 7 years? Which party was in the majority and controlled both houses of congress, the white house and the supreme court? oh yea...YOUR party!. You pin-head, what do you think the Dems have been screaming about for 7 years? you and your Republiscum nut-jobs gutting the Constitution that''s what! Now you claim WE have spent 7 years trashing it?!? I only have one question for you...how can you breath with your head shoved that far up your a$$?

[micma-2009]

Hwy71So

Ok, now you are just rambling and making silly accusations that have no basis in reality. The assualt on the Constitution has been coming from the right. No one wants to take your guns away or your right to practice your religion. As for OJ, if you think he''s innocent then your just a nut.

[photogeezer]

"Left Behind". The irony is irresitable. They are being left in the dust because they are anti-science, limit "moral" issues to abortion and decent treatment of g***, advocate invasion and occupation of the Middle East and condone torture. They think that the way to defeat radical Islam (a minority in Islam, BTW) is to be more like them, in intolerance, hate and violence.

What they have left behind is the revolutionary nature of the teaching of Christ, that love, forgiveness, forbearance go contrary to "conventional wisdom".

[lochlan-2009]

I don''''t like having prejudices, but I am really getting ***!ng tired of these people and their *** up my country with their manipulation and corruption of the U.S. government and liberty in justice. They''''ve cost every citizen in this country huge, and not just in $$$ but in freedoms as well. All because they want the whole world to obey and concede to their religious cults beliefs. An Evangelical Tyranny.

[hwy71so]

My right to keep and bear arms has been infringed in that in order for me to carry a handgun, I have to register with the government and then hide it from view. If I were without transportation and I needed a hunting rifle repaired, I would either have to hire someone to come pick it up or do the repairs myself. I would be "illegal" for me to carry it to the repair shop if I had to walk for I would be wielding a firearm in public.

If I do not have that permit and I am attacked I can not defend myself with a firearm by law because I do not have a concealed carry permit. Now what part of that tells you that my rights have not been infringed?

It doesn''t matter what I think about OJ. The jury could/would/did not find him guilty. Then he was tried again for THE SAME CRIME under a different title; DOUBLE JEOPARDY.

The Constitution to the liberals is a J-O-K-E!

[tejasdemo]

Left behind ? These fruitcakes need to be left out !

[hwy71so]

Its you people that''s caused this country to deteriorate as it has. Free love and weed for all......... Blasted hippies!

[simonsez40]

Ummmm the Constitution has been something to manuever around, dismantle, avoid and basically make a mockery of to Bush and the Republican House and Senate for going on 7 years.

They took their ''christian base'' Republican party and showed the world they are all wolves in sheep clothing - making a point to be the most CORRUPT set of Christian Republicans I''ve ever seen.

Repugs should be angry they gave Christians and their party such a horrible conception. They''ve done both parties a disservice - so when do they start looking at themselves and taking responsibility? I''d ask the same of the Democrats if they had been in any position of power since Clinton - but they haven''t.

We will see when in 2008 - and I will hold them all accountable..........

[ov442]

I think they need another Ted Haggard to lift them up to a new level of Evangelical political lobbying and great leadership values to advance their agenda.

[fralene-2009]

Left out? They should be run out of the country, or at least tarred and feathered after saddling this country with the idiot Bush for 8 years. My former (Republican) party has been taken over by war-mongering, free-spending, hate driven, intolerant, judgemental, self-righteous, hypocritical, wedge issue devising, sexually repressed, whining, close- minded, Fox news watching, Rush Limpbaugh and Ann Coulter loving, environmentally degrading, pathetic excuses for humanity. Christians? Bullcrap!

[ianlou]

"Evangelicals Feeling Left Out"
BOO-HOO

As a Middle of the road Democrat, I have felt "Left Out" for the last seven years.
Maybe if I create a church and foam at the mouth, someone will care.

[honestabe8]

Hwy71So: Where is this free love and weed?

[roger3815]

If only we could ban people with imaginary friends from voting, America would be a better place.

[lochlan-2009]

"The Constitution to the liberals is a J-O-K-E!" - HWY71

When the dems were trying to ban guns, I agree that they were infringing on the constitution, and obviously so did the majority of the rest of the country, since in 1994 the Democrats were removed from the House and the Senate. Now the problem lies on the other side of the isle with catch phrases like "patriot act" and "homeland security" for infringing on the constitution and our freedoms. When representation begin to attack our freedoms and scandals and corruption become the norm, it''s time for them to be removed, party, individual, whomever. That is our duty as Americans.
As for the examples you gave for guns. Only pistols need to be concealed, except in states with open carry. Rifles can be carried in public, they do have to be unloaded. Of course, to not get on peoples nerves it would be prudent to take it apart, and put it in a bag.

[lloydbest1]

Posted by fralene at 11:59 AM : Oct 19, 2007

Understood. And I sympathize. There are times, I am ashamed to say, that I have wanted to see all of them rounded up and shot......
But if we do that, if we marginalize these people; stigmatize and suppress them then we are guilty of the same self righteous, mean spirited, intolerant behavior that have made the Christ-o-fascists the primary poster children for family planning.
Much of Christian (far) Right''s posturing is based on fear and ignorance. Their primary power base is in a part of the country that welcomes social change reluctantly if at all. Many of them are busy enough getting on with the business of survival that they have no time, let alone energy, to do any independant thinking. So strong and inflexible moral absolutes absolves them the responsibility of thought and inquiry.
A strong program of secular public education, emphasizing respect for all people and assumption of the inherent worth of all would go a long way toward blunting the corrosive influence of the extreme right. Problem is, deep in the heart of America''s Redneckistan, secular education is viewed with mistrust if not outright hostility and the folks we need to reach the most have been yanked from the system and isolated in the theology of fear, hellfire and dam*ation.
Yes, we must disempower the "Religious" right but doing so will be a long and involved process that will require patience. And at that, we aren''t going to reach them all.

[rayuk-2009]

Evangelicals should have a draft Ted Haggard for president strategy. He is perfect because his values and truthfulness mirrors theirs exactly. Go Ted!

[antoniof123]

LloydBest1 I used to believe the same way you do but time has changed me. You can not reason with them they just won''t allow it. In fact their ministers teach them how to not be reasoned with. They teach them to call others names belittle others and say that they will burn in hell.

I no longer am patience with them. In fact now when they try to give me their are you going to heaven or hell speech. I tell them hell and if they don''t leave me a lone I will make sure that I take them with me. Most of the time it works but sometimes I have to get a little louder with them. Use your imagination as to what needs to be done.

[antoniof123]

Posted by Hwy71So at 11:37 AM : Oct 19, 2007

I don''t know where you live but in Florida we have the castle law and we can use our guns to defend ourselves. So instead of blaming us liberals and I am now for sure (I also have a few guns including my personal faviorte a Glock) blame yourself for allowing the laws. The NRA are a bunch of nut cases that do nothing except support the GOP and make more of a mess for us gun owners. I say everyone should be trained and if the NRA won''t do it then I and a few other dads will.

Thank you but no thank you any longer.

[presronpaul]

Aw, do the wittle crazy intolerent "Christians" get their feelings hurt?

[cdfoxtrot]

"Evangelicals Feeling Left Out, Poll Finds". Well boo, hoo. Now maybe they know how the rest of us have felt since, oh, the mid-90s, when their extremist views began to be heard and implemented in Washington.

[ksjeff-2009]

The wingnuts need their own party. Then that party will siphon off enough votes from the Republican nominee that he will lose, and the Dems will have it. If it wasn''t for that G.D. idiot Nader, Kerry would be president now, and Bush would be back in Crawford with horsesh*t on his boots.

[ioweign]

A quote from a Religious Righter..

"I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good... Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty, we are called on by God to conquer this country. We don''''t want equal time. We don''''t want pluralism."
--Randall Terry, The News Sentinel, (Ft. Wayne, IN.), 8/16/93

hmmm sounds kind of like a muslim if you ask me.......same hate and zealous quest for power.


Posted by simonsez40 at 09:08 AM : Oct 19, 2007



I call them the American Taliban.

[homjett]

I think if Gov. Romney was anything but a Morman, he would be leading in the National Polls. I would like to see a Romney/Huckabee ticket. I believe Romney is the right man for bringing the country together, he has provent that he can work with folks of all stripes. What he accomplished with the Olympics is a impressive story. In this time in history, being a Morman should not matter. I think we have some folks in Congress that are Mormans, even a Muslim.