I recently read an opinion in the New York Times titled Do As I Do, Not As I Say. It starts like this: "
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/do-as-i-do-not-as-i-say/?goback=.gde_96472_member_113383334
IT’S election season, and once again Democrats are flummoxed by
evangelical voters. They think that 'those people' vote against their
own self-interest. They cannot believe that same-sex marriage matters so
much to so many people. They don’t get why Obamacare is controversial.
To them, evangelicals don’t make sense. That’s because evangelicals and secular liberals (the most puzzled
Democrats) think about life — and therefore politics — in such utterly
different ways."
Here is my response:
I enjoyed this view and it was well expressed. I am an evangelical, a
"white" female, and in my late 50's. I am also a registered voter as an
Independent.
I appreciate it when others do not generalize
evangelicals. I've noticed more often than not evangelicals are spoken
of as in one political camp. There is another group of us, as evidenced
by your statement "back in 2008, a quarter of white evangelicals voted
for Mr. Obama." Not all evangelicals rally in predictable ways. Thank
you for noting that here.
It would have also been interesting to
compare your observations of evangelicals by urban and suburban/rural
subgroups. That may have brought a more interesting perspective. I have
found city evangelicals tend to lean towards a candidate that is a
Democrat. I would also enjoy your evangelical observations for different
levels of education. That is another subgroup split where evangelicals
might be divided on presidential choice.
I appreciated your
paragraph that begins "If Democrats want to reach more evangelical
voters...." Those statements are part of why I voted for a Dem president
in recent elections. I think you make a good point. I do hear some of
the language you suggest.
I do think deeply about issues and the
role of government within my worldview. I find a better fit usually
with the Democratic platform on election day. However, that being said, I
realize no candidate can truly deliver on promises because of how the
system functions (or not).
