If it means anything, the new PPP poll showing that evangelical Republicans in Florida support Mitt Romney by just about the same plurality as do non-evangelicals means that those cowboys who decided to round up their livestock for Rick Santorum out in Texas last weekend have their work cut out for them.
There's been a certain amount of chatter that this time around our religious right leaders ain't what they used to be, so it's worth bearing in mind just how fractious they've always been when there isn't a sitting Republican president to support--at least since 1980, when Ronald Reagan wowed their nascent movement in Dallas. In 1988, the Baptists didn't like Pat Robertson, the charismatic, and drifted over to that lock-jawed Episcopalian, George H. W. Bush, when the campaign turned South. In 1996, Ralph Reed of the Christian Coalition tried to broker a softer line on abortion for Bob Dole and had his head handed to him by his green-eyed peers, who refused to go along. Four years later, evangelical leaders were slow to warm to George W. Bush, and failed to deliver the popular vote that Karl Rove was counting on. In 2008, they were notably lukewarm towards Mike Huckabee, even though the people in the pews took him into their hearts.
What's been the problem? In the ego department, pastors make politicians look like Milquetoasts. And to be first in line for those Oval Office invites means getting in early with the candidate of your choice. Nowadays, there's more consensus than ever in the GOP on abortion, same-sex marriage, Creation, Israel, and the rest of the evangelical agenda. But as usual, the evangelical leaders are having trouble marching under a single banner. It's kind of a Protestant thing.
There's been a certain amount of chatter that this time around our religious right leaders ain't what they used to be, so it's worth bearing in mind just how fractious they've always been when there isn't a sitting Republican president to support--at least since 1980, when Ronald Reagan wowed their nascent movement in Dallas. In 1988, the Baptists didn't like Pat Robertson, the charismatic, and drifted over to that lock-jawed Episcopalian, George H. W. Bush, when the campaign turned South. In 1996, Ralph Reed of the Christian Coalition tried to broker a softer line on abortion for Bob Dole and had his head handed to him by his green-eyed peers, who refused to go along. Four years later, evangelical leaders were slow to warm to George W. Bush, and failed to deliver the popular vote that Karl Rove was counting on. In 2008, they were notably lukewarm towards Mike Huckabee, even though the people in the pews took him into their hearts.
What's been the problem? In the ego department, pastors make politicians look like Milquetoasts. And to be first in line for those Oval Office invites means getting in early with the candidate of your choice. Nowadays, there's more consensus than ever in the GOP on abortion, same-sex marriage, Creation, Israel, and the rest of the evangelical agenda. But as usual, the evangelical leaders are having trouble marching under a single banner. It's kind of a Protestant thing.
"...as usual, the evangelical leaders are having trouble marching under a single banner. It's kind of a Protestant thing." You hit the nail on the head with that one!
Peace,
Ray
www.tuesdayafternoonwithraygryder.blogspot.com