Republicans targeting Amish voters

[zakur]

GOP Courts Amish Votes in Pa., Ohio

BIRD-IN-HAND, Pa. Aug. 5, 2004 — The Amish live without electricity, cars, telephones, and usually, without voting. But they are being sought out this year as Republicans try to sign up every possible supporter in presidential battleground states.

Amish almost always side with the Republican Party when they do vote making them an attractive, if unlikely, voting bloc in the neck-and-neck campaign between President Bush and Democratic nominee John Kerry. A majority of the nation's Amish live in key swing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.

"Pennsylvania and Ohio are just absolute battleground states, and to think that the Amish could weigh in to the tune of thousands of votes that are clearly going to be Republican that could be very significant for Bush," said Chet Beiler, a former Amish who has been dropping off voter registration forms at Amish businesses and farms in hopes of signing up as many as 3,000 new voters.

As pacifists, most Amish avoid political activity that they believe would link them even indirectly with government-sponsored violence. But hot-button social issues, coupled with gentle prompting from people like Beiler, are galvanizing some Amish to register to vote.

"We hate that abortion issue," said Sam Stolztfus, 60, an Amish farmer and gazebo maker in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County, where an estimated 27,000 Amish live. "We're totally against it. And as far as gay issues, that's completely contrary to the Bible."

The bearded Stolztfus proudly says the Amish are "sort of swept up with Bush fever."

"You could hold up a dead mouse with a sign 'I love Bush' and we'd still probably think twice about stomping that mouse underfoot."

He lost me on that stomping-on-a-dead-mouse analogy. Perhaps it's an Amish thing.

 

[BPSCG]

GOP Courts Amish Votes in Pa., Ohio He lost me on that stomping-on-a-dead-mouse analogy. Perhaps it's an Amish thing. [/B]

I think what he means is that he wouldn't tromp on a dead mouse if it meant he had to step on a "Bush For President" sign in the process.

Though why you'd want to tromp a dead mouse will remain a mystery for the ages...

 

[zakur]

Re: Re: Republicans targeting Amish voters

Though why you'd want to tromp a dead mouse will remain a mystery for the ages...

Well, yeah, that's where my confusion lies.

Back to courting the Amish vote - does this strike anyone else as a sign that the Bush campaign is scared? I mean, really...the Amish?

And how does one go about rallying this population? Promise cheaper registrations for buggies? Secretly fund groups like "Butter Churners for Truth"? Publicity photo ops at barn raisings? Get Cheney to change his name from Dick to Jebediah?

 

[Charlie Monoxide]

I personally hope that the Bush campaign spends millions developing TV and internet ads targetting the Amish.

Charlie (Amish for Bush) Monoxide

 

[pgwenthold]

Re: Re: Re: Republicans targeting Amish voters

Well, yeah, that's where my confusion lies.

Back to courting the Amish vote - does this strike anyone else as a sign that the Bush campaign is scared? I mean, really...the Amish?

And how does one go about rallying this population? Promise cheaper registrations for buggies? Secretly fund groups like "Butter Churners for Truth"? Publicity photo ops at barn raisings? Get Cheney to change his name from Dick to Jebediah?

This is the part I have been really trying to figure out. Why, exactly, do the Amish, when they vote, vote republican? Is the republican party really more Amish friendly?

Personally, I really have a hard time seeing how either political party is better for the Amish. The only possibility I can see is that the Republicans are more for forcing puritan restrictions on everyone, but as far as I know, the Amish are not all that big into forcing their lifestyle on anyone else, being much for "to each their own."

They can't be complaining about all the sex and violence on TV and in video games.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Perhaps the hope is that other segments of the population will be swayed by the Amish endorsement. I mean, when I'm picking presidents, I seriously consider the opinions of people who think buttons are evil.

 

[zakur]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Republicans targeting Amish voters

Here is another article on the subject:

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - President Bush met privately with a group of Old Order Amish during his visit to Lancaster County last Friday. He discussed their farms and their hats and his religion. He asked them to vote for him in November.

The Amish told the president that not all members of the church vote but they would pray for him.

Bush had tears in his eyes when he replied. He said the president needs their prayers. He also said that having a strong belief in God is the only way he can do his job.

[...]

At the end of the session, Bush reportedly told the group, “I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.’’

As the president left the room, one Amish man wished him good luck in November.

Looks like the appeal for the Amish is piety...

[cynic]

...or at least the appearance of piety.

[/cynic]

 

[TragicMonkey]

Depends on what the prayer is for. For all he knows, the Amish might be heartily requesting that God gather his beloved spokesman George W up to heaven really quite soon.

I don't normally pray, but I'd make an exception for that.

 

[Regnad Kcin]

At the end of the session, Bush reportedly told the group, “I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.’’

[cynic redux]

This is the best God can do?

[/redux]

 

[Rob Lister]

Re: Re: Re: Republicans targeting Amish voters

Back to courting the Amish vote - does this strike anyone else as a sign that the Bush campaign is scared? I mean, really...the Amish?

Courting the Amish vote is not a sign of desperation, its a sign that Chet Beiler is an effective campaigner. My take is that getting them to vote for Bush is the easy part but getting them to the polls to vote is the hurdle. He seems to know and understand this community. If he can get them to register, they'll show up at the polls...much like keeping a promise.

And how does one go about rallying this population? Promise cheaper registrations for buggies? Secretly fund groups like "Butter Churners for Truth"? Publicity photo ops at barn raisings? Get Cheney to change his name from Dick to Jebediah?

Well, abolishing the death tax is probably a HUGH incentive for these folk but its possible they just admire his character.

 

[pgwenthold]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Republicans targeting Amish voters

Well, abolishing the death tax is probably a HUGH incentive for these folk but its possible they just admire his character.

So if the democrats come in and show the Amish Bush's statement about "Keep those motherf****rs away from me" will they still admire his character?

 

[Rob Lister]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Republicans targeting Amish voters

So if the democrats come in and show the Amish Bush's statement about "Keep those motherf****rs away from me" will they still admire his character?

I have no idea.

Edit: Actually they would probably dismiss the report as gossip...which it appears to be. They're not real big on the whole gossip thing. I am though.

 

[Gastric ReFlux]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Republicans targeting Amish voters

So if the democrats come in and show the Amish Bush's statement about "Keep those motherf****rs away from me" will they still admire his character?

Could such cursing be construed as a capital offense? I know Bush isn't cursing his own parents, but cursing someone's parents.

 

[Rob Lister]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Republicans targeting Amish voters

Could such cursing be construed as a capital offense? I know Bush isn't cursing his own parents, but cursing someone's parents.

Assuming its true (which is a pretty darn big assumption) then technically he'd be cursing somebody's kid, presumably a male.