McCain Having Problem With Evangelical Voters

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=3383


McCain Having Problem With Evangelical Voters

June 9th, 2008 by Ron Chusid

In 2000 John McCain opposed George Bush and criticized the religious right as “agents of intolerance.” The New York Times notes that evangelicals are still wary of McCain, and might not turn out to vote for him. It is often forgotten that not long ago evangelical voters were voting Democratic–for Jimmy Carter. This year the more openly religious candidate is once again a Democrat.

The two party system has served to form two broad coalitions composed of people who share some views and disagree on others. There is no inherent reason why religious voters should also agree with conservatives on economics or support the war in Iraq. There are actually strong reasons for them not to, and many are now questioning Republican viewpoints.

For years the Republicans have managed to keep their diverse coalition together. The height of this came when George Bush gave the religious right far more than any of his predecessors, who would typically appeal to them during elections but give them very little. With the overall collapse of the Republicans there is more of a chance that religious voters will reassess their allegiance to the Republicans. Obama might appeal to many as the more openly religious candidate. From there they might be more open to listening to Democratic viewpoints than they have in the past on other issues.

Hopefully Obama can also transform the way they look at politics and government. Historically religious leaders have often been strong supporters of separation of church and state, as Obama has noted himself. Hopefully Obama can also convince religious voters of the importance of separation of church and state, including to guarantee them the ability to worship as they choose, as opposed to using government to impose their religious views.