Arizona

Jilly_in_VA

(9,984 posts) Sun Apr 14, 2024, 04:20 PM Apr 14

These Mormon women are rejecting Trump, fraying GOP support in a key state

It was Annie Lewis' idea to put a "Republicans for Biden" sign in the front yard in the lead-up to 2020. For her, it came down to civility. As a teacher for over a decade, the mother of six little ones, and a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she felt then-President Trump did not show true leadership.

"I was embarrassed anytime a clip of Trump, at that time, was on and my children were in the room," Lewis said.

Lewis was not alone in her thinking. In 2020, GOP residents of Maricopa County in Arizona banded together to stand up against Trump. The signs were created by Dan Barker, a leader in the Maricopa County LDS community and former GOP-appointed judge, who wanted to find a way to support Biden without giving up his lifelong Republican identity.

His wife, Nan, was the one who pushed him to have a sign.

"She probably got there quicker than I did," said Barker, who in 2020 started the political action committee Arizona Republicans Who Believe in Treating Others with Respect. "I just wasn't quite comfortable identifying with the Democratic Party. And so for me, I said, hey, well, I'd rather do something like, 'Republicans for Biden.' "

https://www.npr.org/2024/04/14/1242051595/trump-arizona-mormon-lds-republican-voters

I don't care how we get 'em, keep 'em coming!

12 replies

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Highlight:

These Mormon women are rejecting Trump, fraying GOP support in a key state (Original Post) Jilly_in_VA Apr 14 OP

When a patriarchal group like the LDS turns away from the GOP, you know there's a problem RainCaster Apr 14 #1

Religous leaders don't usually like their followers thinking for themselves. 70sEraVet Apr 14 #3

The priests not as likely. LiberalFighter Apr 14 #10

there is hope BlueWaveNeverEnd Apr 14 #2

Mormons in general have never been all that enamored with Trump. paleotn Apr 14 #4

i understand his inability to switch over. SleeplessinSoCal Apr 14 #5

May I ask, were we to understand that Watergate turned you off niyad Apr 14 #6

I'm guessing he meant to say he registered as a republican cuz it doesn't make sense as is. Lucky Luciano Apr 14 #9

I was following the hearings via the BBC. SleeplessinSoCal Apr 14 #11

Thank you for that helpful perspective. niyad Apr 14 #12

Jackassery! Mme. Defarge Apr 14 #7

That is a FANTASTIC one. calimary Apr 14 #8

RainCaster

(10,892 posts)

1. When a patriarchal group like the LDS turns away from the GOP, you know there's a problem

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Sun Apr 14, 2024, 04:31 PM

Apr 14

I would say it's a big problem. How soon will the Catholics follow?

70sEraVet

(3,504 posts)

3. Religous leaders don't usually like their followers thinking for themselves.

Reply to RainCaster (Reply #1)

Sun Apr 14, 2024, 05:39 PM

Apr 14

Trouble in Paradise.
But, as John Lewis used to say, "get in good trouble"!

LiberalFighter

(50,966 posts)

10. The priests not as likely.

Reply to RainCaster (Reply #1)

Sun Apr 14, 2024, 07:14 PM

Apr 14

BlueWaveNeverEnd

(7,975 posts)

2. there is hope

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Sun Apr 14, 2024, 04:36 PM

Apr 14

paleotn

(17,931 posts)

4. Mormons in general have never been all that enamored with Trump.

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Sun Apr 14, 2024, 05:46 PM

Apr 14

SleeplessinSoCal

(9,123 posts)

5. i understand his inability to switch over.

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Sun Apr 14, 2024, 06:04 PM

Apr 14

At 21 I registered as a Democrat because they/we put people first. Then seeing Watergate from the UK, turned me off. But I couldn't register as a Republican even though I voted for Reagan, twice!!! Mea culpa...

It was the 1994 backlash to Clinton that got my brain working again. Along with Al Franken's "Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot". Registered as a Democrat for good ASAP.

niyad

(113,427 posts)

6. May I ask, were we to understand that Watergate turned you off

Reply to SleeplessinSoCal (Reply #5)

Sun Apr 14, 2024, 06:13 PM

Apr 14

Democrats? Or the political process in general? I apologize if I am misunderstanding.

Lucky Luciano

(11,257 posts)

9. I'm guessing he meant to say he registered as a republican cuz it doesn't make sense as is.

Reply to niyad (Reply #6)

Sun Apr 14, 2024, 06:55 PM

Apr 14

SleeplessinSoCal

(9,123 posts)

11. I was following the hearings via the BBC.

Reply to niyad (Reply #6)

Sun Apr 14, 2024, 07:27 PM

Apr 14

I hated Nixon and was very upset when he won. But the way the hearings were covered by the BBC lent sympathy for Nixon. It seemed like a bloodbath from over there. Plus his name was part of the American Memorial Chappel at Saint Paul's Cathedral. Now I realize that was strategy to give him more recognition on the world stage.such naiveté.

Later, I actually worked with Sen. Frank Church's son, Forrest Church, in church.

"He was Senior Minister of the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City, until late 2006 when he was appointed as Minister of Public Theology. He wrote about Christianity, Gnosticism, religious liberty in the US tradition, and his own father, a US Senator."

He died at 61. He would've be horrified by where we are today. In my defense I also came very slowly to understanding American politics and learning about the influence of Ayn Rand and the Evangelical Christianists. And how the most loathsome among us abuse their religion for political gain.

About Forrest:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Church?wprov=sfla1