If GOP Abandoned Christian Right..................

[Nonno]

"Democratic strategist James Carville warned on Monday that if the Republican Party were to abandon its decades-old alliance with the Christian Right, it would only cement major losses in party identification and vote totals for the GOP."

"I don't think they can do that because their party would crumble," said Carville. "

"Over the past few decades Republicans have come to rely heavily on, and cater to, the Christian right as a key voting bloc, but they now face a problem we might term diminishing electoral returns.... In the 1950s, about four in five voters were married white Christians. Now only two in five voters are married, white, and Christian."

More here: James Carville: If GOP Abandoned Christian Right, "Their Party Would Crumble"

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Nonno

"Democratic strategist James Carville warned on Monday that if the Republican Party were to abandon its decades-old alliance with the Christian Right, it would only cement major losses in party identification and vote totals for the GOP."

I disagree with that, and Carville goes on to refute his own opinion:

"Over the past few decades Republicans have come to rely heavily on, and cater to, the Christian right as a key voting bloc, but they now face a problem we might term diminishing electoral returns.... In the 1950s, about four in five voters were married white Christians. Now only two in five voters are married, white, and Christian."

Um, duh?

If the GOP were to get a grip and stop nattering about personal issues, such as gay marriage, and start focusing on fiscal conservatism, they would knock it out of the park. There are a handful of religious or conservative voters who rilly rilly care about gays and abortion, but I'm pretty sure they would get over it if it meant an end to this extreme tax and spend that's been going on.

[bcp (Premo)]

Gays and abortion would be a non issue if it was let go for a few years while others things took their place in the hot topic list.

[This_person]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

If the GOP were to get a grip and stop nattering about personal issues, such as gay marriage,

You know, I almost never hear GOP candidates bring this issue up. It's always brought up to them.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Those damned conservatives incessantly doing conservative things all the time, cutting spending, reigning in government, avoiding playing global policeman, limiting entitlements, making us energy independent. How is that gonna ever appeal anyone, regardless of skin color?

[SamSpade]

People are often highly hostile to the GOP based on either an image created by their liberal antagonists - or their stance on specific social issues. I know some people who vote based on gay marriage or abortion - and that's it. Nothing else. Ironically, Obama is against gay marriage, but I bet a lot of his (non-gay) supporters don't know that.

If they dropped the Christian Right - they'd become something that some Democrats and independents could vote for, again. They'd lose voters, but they'd gain a lot more.

Imagine what a campaign might look like if social issues were non-topics? Brushing the entire social agenda aside, who would YOU vote for, then?

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by SamSpade

People are often highly hostile to the GOP based on either an image created by their liberal antagonists - or their stance on specific social issues. I know some people who vote based on gay marriage or abortion - and that's it. Nothing else. Ironically, Obama is against gay marriage, but I bet a lot of his (non-gay) supporters don't know that.

If they dropped the Christian Right - they'd become something that some Democrats and independents could vote for, again. They'd lose voters, but they'd gain a lot more.

Imagine what a campaign might look like if social issues were non-topics? Brushing the entire social agenda aside, who would YOU vote for, then?

Social issues can't and shouldn't be removed from the public square. They are, by definition, central to politics. This is why we have a constitution, to use as a foundation for public policy.

[This_person]

Originally Posted by SamSpade

People are often highly hostile to the GOP based on either an image created by their liberal antagonists - or their stance on specific social issues. I know some people who vote based on gay marriage or abortion - and that's it. Nothing else. Ironically, Obama is against gay marriage, but I bet a lot of his (non-gay) supporters don't know that.

Or, they listen to his politi-speak, and give him a pass for having the same views as others they don't like....

[Vince]

Originally Posted by bcp

Gays and abortion would be a non issue if it was let go for a few years while others things took their place in the hot topic list.

Zactly.

[aps45819 (Premo)]

The GOP has already abandoned the right