<div>The local application is perhaps a local rejection of the more ideological religious conservatives ("Armband religion," as the article phrased it) as applied to politics ("..our troops sent to do God's will...," as Palin stated, for example, indicating a lack of respect for separation of church and state, a problem for those who "prefer a more private approach to worship," as the article stated), explaining in part why Latah County voted for Obama. The article notes that "other people of faith" have been alienated by the Republican approach, so the "overwhelmingly," as you phrased it, GOP religious conservative voting block, might not have been so "overwhelming" in this election, though this contention can be disputed based on the definition of "religious conservative" or "people of faith."</div>
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<div>But the economy was the dominant issue in the final weeks before the election. I am inclined to think only the most ideological religious conservatives (or those so rich they are insulated from the economic crisis) voted GOP given the economy in such dire condition, with the blame placed on the Bush administration. McCain could not break the public's perception he supported Bush administration economic policies. Obama might still have won with the DOW breaking 14000, as it was in July 2007, a economic growth rate of 2-3 percent, unemployment low, wages rising, etc. But if the economy was booming McCain might have won. Certainly the presidential election would have been much closer</div>
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<div>Ted Moffett<br><br> </div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 11/21/08, <b class="gmail_sendername">Scott Dredge</b> <<a href="mailto:scooterd408@hotmail.com">scooterd408@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:</span>
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<div>It doesn't have local application. The majority of Latah county voted for Obama as opposed to Doug Wilson's declared candidate via his pre-election announcement of 'I am going to vote for <span>McCain</span>/Palin.'<br>
<br>A high percentage of religious conservatives vote. And they vote for overwhelmingly for the GOP. How could they be dragging them down? The article doesn't give any solid reasons to back up its headline.<br><br>
Personally, I would prefer that the GOP not kowtow to the fundys, but I don't see any harm in throwing them a bone as a vote getter every once in while (ie; phoning in support to their anti-choice rallies ala George HW Bush instead of actually appearing in person, mentioning God in a speech or two, firing off a semi-auto rifle, touring and praising a bomb shelter at a fundy compound, etc.). Reagan and Bush 1 were good at schmoozing the religious the right for votes and then delivering nothing. Bush II should have followed suit but he's born again and by definition went overboard.<br>
<br>-Scott<br><br><br><br>
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Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:50:32 -0800<br>Subject: [Vision2020] Does this have local application?
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<h1>Religious conservatives dragging down the GOP</h1>
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<h3>By KATHLEEN PARKER </h3>
<h4>Nov. 19, 2008, 6:26PM</h4></div></div>
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<div>As Republicans sort out the reasons for their defeat, they likely will overlook or dismiss the gorilla in the pulpit.</div></div></div></div>Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D.<br>I'm bathing in holy water as I type.<br>
To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh.<br>
Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party. And, the truth — as long as we're setting ourselves free — is that if one were to eavesdrop on private conversations among the party intelligentsia, one would hear precisely that.<br>
The choir has become absurdly off-key, and many Republicans know it.<em> But they need those votes!</em><br>So it has been for the Grand Old Party since the 1980s or so, as it has become increasingly beholden to an element that used to be relegated to wooden crates on street corners.<br>
<em>Short break as writer ties blindfold and smokes her last cigarette.</em><br>Which is to say, the GOP has surrendered its high ground to its lowest brows. In the process, the party has alienated its non-base constituents, including other people of faith (those who prefer a more private approach to worship), as well as secularists and conservative Democrats.<br>
Here's the deal, 'pubbies: Howard Dean was right.<br>It isn't that culture doesn't matter. It does. But preaching to the choir produces no converts. And shifting demographics suggest that the Republican Party — and conservatism with it — eventually will die out unless religion is returned to the privacy of one's heart where it belongs.<br>
Religious conservatives become defensive at any suggestion that they've had something to do with the GOP's erosion. And, though the recent Democratic sweep can be attributed in large part to a referendum on Bush and the failing economy, three long-term trends identified by Emory University's Alan Abramowitz have been devastating to the Republican Party: increasing racial diversity, declining marriage rates and changes in religious beliefs.<br>
Suffice it to say, the Republican Party is largely composed of white, married Christians. Anyone watching the two conventions last summer can't have missed the stark differences: One party was brimming with energy, youth and diversity; the other felt like an annual Depends sales meeting.<br>
With the exception of Miss Alaska, of course.<br>Even Sarah Palin has blamed Bush policies for the GOP loss. She's not entirely wrong, but she's also part of the problem. Her recent conjecture about whether to run for president in 2012 (does anyone really doubt she will?) speaks for itself:<br>
"I'm like, OK, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere, this is what I always pray, I'm like, don't let me miss the open door. Show me where the open door is. ... And if there is an open door in (20)12 or four years later, and if it's something that is going to be good for my family, for my state, for my nation, an opportunity for me, then I'll plow through that door."<br>
Let's do pray that God shows Alaska's governor the door.<br>Meanwhile, it isn't necessary to evict the Creator from the public square, surrender Judeo-Christian values or diminish the value of faith in America. Belief in something greater than oneself has much to recommend it, including most of the world's architectural treasures, our universities and even our founding documents.<br>
But, like it or not, we are a diverse nation, no longer predominantly white and Christian. The change Barack Obama promised has already occurred, which is why he won.<br>Among Jewish voters, 78 percent went for Obama. Sixty-six percent of under-30 voters did likewise. Forty-five percent of voters ages 18-29 are Democrats compared to just 26 percent Republican; in 2000, party affiliation was split almost evenly.<br>
The young will get older, of course. Most eventually will marry, and some will become their parents. But nonwhites won't get whiter. And the nonreligious won't get religion through external conversion. It doesn't work that way.<br>
Given those facts, the future of the GOP looks dim and dimmer if it stays the present course. Either the Republican Party needs a new base — or the nation may need a new party.<br><em>Parker is a columnist for The Washington Post Writers Group. She can be e-mailed at <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:kparker@kparker.com" target="_blank">kparker@kparker.com</a></em><br>
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