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Wayne et. al.<BR>
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Yes, of course there is oversimplification in the "God, Guns and Gays" explanation of the dominate issues in the Kerry/Bush battle. What about Iraq and the war on terror? <BR>
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But who can doubt, for example, that if the evangelical vote split even just 50/50 between Kerry and Bush, Kerry right now would be the winner? <BR>
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The "guns" issue is perhaps not so clear cut. Nonetheless, the NRA is a powerful organization, and though I have not researched this to offer specific data, I would not be surprised to find that if Kerry had the endorsement of the NRA, this again alone might have delivered the White House to the democrats. <BR>
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The "Gay" explanation really is linked closely to the "God" issue. Most if not all evangelicals have a very strong view of the Gay rights controversy, which of course went against Kerry in the election, even though Kerry did not promote Gay rights to the extent of advocating allowing Gay marriage. His image as a liberal senator from a state (Mass.) that has been advertised as open to Gay rights no doubt contributed to the impression he was pro-gay (whatever that means) compared to Bush.<BR>
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You can boil this election down to one fact, if you wish, which was researched and repeated often in the media: if you were a regular church goer, you voted in a group that as a whole elected Bush: if you were not a regular church goer, you voted in a group that as a whole elected Kerry.<BR>
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So we can, if we want, simplify this election down to one issue: Religion!<BR>
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And I know that just warms your God loving heart!<BR>
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Ted Moffett</FONT></HTML>