Religious conservatives’ uphill battle
According to the first cut of exit-poll analysis by the Pew Research Center, Obama’s support among white Catholics fell to 40 percent — seven points lower than four years ago. …
In a close election, this reaction might have made all the difference. But the election wasn’t particularly close. And the trend among white Catholics was partially offset by Latino Catholics moving in the opposite direction for reasons unrelated to abortion or religious freedom. (Obama gained three points among Hispanic Catholics and took three-quarters of their votes.) In the end, Obama won the total Catholic vote by a small margin.
This result reveals a tension at the heart of the Republican coalition. The portion of the coalition that is pushing away Latino Catholics is making the political work of conservative Catholics far more difficult. …
In the long run, social conservatives will have serious trouble exerting influence unless they are allied with rising ethnic populations, which tend toward conservative social views. But social conservatives are now in a toxic alliance with political forces — the wall-builders and advocates of self-deportation — that are alienating rising ethnic populations.
Blowback
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Just another brain-dead Bush Bot, I see. If only we became the party of Christian Socialism. If only!
Gerson better get his marching shoes on and start attacking “the evil white man” if he wants to make inroads. Maybe Sean Hannesty will have him on so they can grievance monger together?
Punchenko on November 16, 2012 at 11:31 AM
There is a solution to this. Socially conservative Latinos and Blacks can be lured away from the Democratic party and the Republican party has already done what it needs to in the past. In the 90s welfare was reformed to add a work requirement which Obama has gutted. The Republican party needs to get away from the idea that the government can never help. 1st because sometimes it can and 2nd because they are always going to try anyway.
The Republican party needs to emphasize that the government can help, but only those who want to help themselves. If the Lord helps those that helps themselves there isn’t any reason why the government shouldn’t do the same.
Rocks on November 16, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Uphill battle?
If the Christians stay home and get out of politics all together, the GOP is a permanent minority party.
portlandon on November 16, 2012 at 11:45 AM
I’ll take American sovereignty over Gerson’s sacralized entitlements, with all due respect.
Seth Halpern on November 16, 2012 at 11:50 AM
So Christian Socialism, yes? I mean, Latinos and blacks did vote for Obama who does favor on-demand abortion and gay marriage in overwhelming numbers.
Maybe it’s just the socialism they’re after — that and some divisive grievance mongering. If we become a socialist party with our own La Raza and NAACP, maybe — just maybe! — we can make some serious inroads.
Punchenko on November 16, 2012 at 11:53 AM
Until you join the 21st century with the rest of us, it doesn’t matter.
Moesart on November 16, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Brown people have shown that while they may be anti-abortion personally, it isn’t very important to them. Not with free stuff on the table.
Moesart on November 16, 2012 at 12:06 PM
No, no socialism, Christian or not. Only an idiot believes the Republican party will ever make huge gains with poor minorities. The silly idea that is being presented now is that they even have to. They don’t. But peeling off 10-20% is more than enough and way more than that percentage of Latinos are Socially Conservative. Latinos did not vote for Obama because he favors abortion and gay marriage. Many of them voted for him in spite of that.
What Latinos voted for in voting for Obama is a government that helps people. Eliminate the idea that Republicans don’t care and you can peel off some socially conservative Latinos. If we are going to continue to be stuck with huge social programs, and we are, then Republicans need to turn those to our advantage they way they did welfare in the 90s with Workfare.
Can we help those in need? Sure, but we are about teaching them to fish not giving out fishes.
Rocks on November 16, 2012 at 12:10 PM
So what’s the solution for the GOP? To start advocating free stuff? Then you lose everyone who hates the gimme mentality AND you lose the people who vote for free stuff because they just keep on voting Dem like they always have.
Missy on November 16, 2012 at 12:11 PM
melle1228 on November 16, 2012 at 12:24 PM
I didn’t demand anything. I’m not pounding my sweaty little fist, red in the face, and demanding that abortion and opposition to gay marriage should be swept under the rug. Now then, you’re pounding your sweaty little fist, getting red in the face, at the misguided thought that I’m taking your “values issues” away from you and demanding that you to compromise on your principles.
I’m not, friend.
What I am saying is that you’re not going to win Latinos and blacks on social issues alone. Oh, and we’re not the party of “free stuff” so we might as well stop right there on that front. Oh, and I forgot to mention: We’re also not a party of pandering grievance mongers, either.
So, the question is: What do we offer Latinos and black voters as a political party? The dignity of work and freedom? They’re not interested. Pro-life and traditional marriage as social policy? Once again, they’re not interested. So, how do we reach minorities? Can minorities be reached? These are the questions the party is trying to answer without compromising on our shared principles.
But please, if going all derpy-derpy Todd Akin on me, shaking your fist as if I were THE ESTABLISHMENT makes you happy, go ahead — go right the zippity-doo-da ahead.
Punchenko on November 16, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Ooh yes, trot Akin out as the socon boogie man
melle1228 on November 16, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Would an alphabetized list of all the other idiots who’ve followed in Akin’s footsteps do anything to convince you, Tweedledumbsh!t?
MelonCollie on November 16, 2012 at 1:07 PM
We don’t, and we can’t. Though it’s not necessarily minorities that are the problem: it’s the lack of a culture of American exceptionalism, founded on making your own way. There are now plenty of ‘majority’ Americans who fall into that category, as well. Aiming for minorities simply because they’re a visually identifiable block is the essence of racism/tribalism (and is the
liberalfascist modus operandi).GWB on November 16, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Look A$$hat, there are a lot of dumb$hit moderate squishy libertarian politicians out there as well. No one is tarrying you with those boogie men. How about I just assume you are an idiot anti-semite since that seems to be the prevailing wisdom in a lot of libertarian circles.
melle1228 on November 16, 2012 at 1:31 PM
They’re not ‘boogeymen’ bucko, much as I wish they were. They’re elected officials making idiots of themselves and harming the entire pro-life cause. Or do you think their ill-considered statements don’t blow back on us?
If you’re too stupid and lazy to do anything but parrot Godwins-law-breaking stereotypes, go right ahead. Because I’m long past being deterred by some random wingnut who wouldn’t know actual anti-semitism if it punched him in his ugly face.
MelonCollie on November 16, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Yeah and libertarians can claim Jesse “9/11 was an inside job” Ventura. Like I said, idiots come in all political persuasion.
LOL- Godwin’s law– Yeah because I was talking about Hitlers and Nazis all over my post.// And sweetie, you wouldn’t know a true Socon other than your parody if they punched you in the frickin face mmkay.
melle1228 on November 16, 2012 at 1:41 PM
…Jesse WHO?! Maybe it’s been too long, I don’t have a clue who that is.
My point was that these guys are not ‘boogeymen’ AKA made-up people just for the purposes of smearing.
As if you could have possibly meant anything else.
So sorry to shatter your bubble you barren b!tchcake, but I’ve had long face-to-face arguments with REAL Socons. And tried to comfort a few who were in tears after yet another anti-abortion campaign came to nothing.
And if you want to actually see a real anti-Semite, look no further than the threads about rockets being fired into Israeli cities. THOSE are your ACTUAL ‘anti-semites’, moron. Not some random guy on the internet.
MelonCollie on November 16, 2012 at 1:45 PM
“Barren b!tchcake — bwwahha.. Wonder where in the hell that the Democratic Party get that there might be misogyny and disprespect for women in the Republican Party. Tears because abortion campaign came to nothing. It really must be all the drama queens you hang around that are the problem.
Yeah because there is no anti-semitism in the Libertarian Party, because the support for Palestine is just soooo Pro-jew, and if the Israel state just disappeared tomorrow then the Palestinians would suddenly become advocates for peace and anti-terrorism.
melle1228 on November 16, 2012 at 1:50 PM
I sure as hell don’t know! Why don’t you go ask them when you’re tired of me pointing you out as a complete fool?
So in your mind these two are equal:
“Like…um…why do we support the jews all the time, man?”
“ALLUH AKBAR! DEATH TO ISRAEL! DEATH TO AMERICA! KILLKILLKILL!!!”
There’s more racism in the right wing then there is anti-semitism in the Libertarian Party – not freaking much.
A buncha idealistic kids whose ‘support’ may extend to buying a t-shirt is a pretty petty threat.
Please tell me where I’ve said that.
Oh wait, I haven’t.
MelonCollie on November 16, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Actually no you didn’t. Here’s what we know: I said that you guys use Todd Akin as a boogie man to tar all social conservative with. You came back with “but Akin is real.” I then said that all political persuasion have idiots in it, should we tar the individuals in the faction with all the idiot politicians who represent them?” And I threw out a couple of idiotic examples of libertarin politicians and their views. Of which, you called me- what was it.. Oh yeah a ‘barren b!tch.” And then gloated to yourself that “boy I made her look like a fool.” If what you go in the exchange was different and it helps with your small ego-well any mental help for you would be an improvement.
melle1228 on November 16, 2012 at 2:02 PM