Will "values voters" finally catch on?

[hgc]

I am wondering if one of the significant outcomes of the Foley fiasco is if religiously motivated (from the Christian "right" evangelical point of view) Republican voters will finally figure out that they've been played for fools by the Republican party.

The central theme of the Republican appeal to this block is homophobia. But the religious nutters have often been suspicious that their agenda is not priority one. Now that their eyes are being opened to the gay men in the Republican ranks, and the moves by the leadership to protect same, will they come to think that they've been used and abused?

 

[DavidJames]

I am wondering if one of the significant outcomes of the Foley fiasco is if religiously motivated (from the Christian "right" evangelical point of view) Republican voters will finally figure out that they've been played for fools by the Republican party.

The central theme of the Republican appeal to this block is homophobia. But the religious nutters have often been suspicious that their agenda is not priority one. Now that their eyes are being opened to the gay men in the Republican ranks, and the moves by the leadership to protect same, will they come to think that they've been used and abused?

There may be a percentage who get fed up and stay away, but for those who feel the government should implement (legislate) their values, the Republican party is the only game in town.

 

[marksman]

Where would they go?

 

[Tricky]

There may be a percentage who get fed up and stay away, but for those who feel the government should implement (legislate) their values, the Republican party is the only game in town.

Not true. Laws are nothing more than the codification of values. Anti-segregation laws are an attempt to legislate the value of tolerance and fairness.

You just have to pick which party's values most closely resemble your own. For me, it is more often the Democrats, but there are exceptions.

 

[Cleon]

Where would they go?

That's kind of the key question.

Those who vote "values" really have no other alternative, and even if they did, all the GOP has to do is start pounding the table about gay marriage or some such to get them back in line.

If the people who vote GOP based on "small government" conservatism are still planning on voting for them in November, I really don't see the Christian component going anywhere.

Of course, I've been wrong before. A cow-orker of mine--a conservative, church-going, Hannity-listening type of guy--is fairly fed up with the Republican incompetence and is planning on voting Democrat. Not out of love of the Democrats, of course, but because after the Foley scandal, the gross financial incompetence, etc. he's come to realize that for all the GOP talk of "values" and "small government," it's essentially BS on a massive scale.

I would say I hope more people realize the same, but then, the Democrats sell a similar--if differently-worded--brand of BS that smells just as bad.

 

[Charlie Monoxide]

I was watching the "News Hour With Jim Lehrer" on PBS last Friday and miss mumble-mouth (I'm blanking on her name), was talking about this very topic. She was reading emails or phone calls from viewers. (paraphrasing) One from (where else?) Florida stated that they are Republican and feel even more strongly to vote Republican again because of all of this power grabbing from the Democrats. ??!!??

I can't even make this stuff up ...

Charlie (Charlie Manson Family Values) Monoxide

 

[IXP]

As I understand it, the Republicans have managed, in the last few elections, to motivate a segment of voters who did not vote before with their "values" platform. Even before the Foley situation, they were losing these people because they were not delivering what these new voters thought they were voting for, i.e. abortion is still legal, no gay marriage amendement, not even a flag burning amendment.

IXP

 

[hgc]

I was watching the "News Hour With Jim Lehrer" on PBS last Friday and miss mumble-mouth (I'm blanking on her name), was talking about this very topic. She was reading emails or phone calls from viewers. (paraphrasing) One from (where else?) Florida stated that they are Republican and feel even more strongly to vote Republican again because of all of this power grabbing from the Democrats. ??!!??

I can't even make this stuff up ...

Charlie (Charlie Manson Family Values) Monoxide

Oy. Well that person represents the zombie class of values voter. I wonder what portion of those religious conservatives are sentient beings, and among them, who will call BS. Obviously, I'm pretty much asking rhetorically, since there is no way to quantify it at this point, and little chance of quantifying it even after an election.

 

[hammegk]

I wonder what portion of those religious conservatives are sentient beings, and among them, who will call BS.

As previously mentioned, their only choices remain; vote Repub & hope (er, pray) for the best, or don't vote.

 

[fuelair]

I am wondering if one of the significant outcomes of the Foley fiasco is if religiously motivated (from the Christian "right" evangelical point of view) Republican voters will finally figure out that they've been played for fools by the Republican party.

The central theme of the Republican appeal to this block is homophobia. But the religious nutters have often been suspicious that their agenda is not priority one. Now that their eyes are being opened to the gay men in the Republican ranks, and the moves by the leadership to protect same, will they come to think that they've been used and abused?

No, "They're the salt of the earth, the common clay, they're anal orifices" (rule 8 adjusted quote from Blazing Saddles.).

 

[hgc]

As previously mentioned, their only choices remain; vote Repub & hope (er, pray) for the best, or don't vote.

hammy, I'm glad you joined in. As a homophobia-motivated voter, how do you feel about this situation? Is it just as you said? You'll continue to vote Republican and hope that they will indeed find a way to lock up the queers? Even now that you know their ranks are swollen with them?

 

[hammegk]

As a homophobia-motivated voter,

Thta's news to me. Sexual preference doesn't show up on my radar when I'm voting for politicians.

how do you feel about this situation?

It's totally, completely, irrelevant.

Is it just as you said? You'll continue to vote Republican and hope that they will indeed find a way to lock up the queers?

Do you have a hangup concerning queers? I haven't suggested locking them up.

Even now that you know their ranks are swollen with them?

Did you see Novak's comment? "House GOP leaders, who had started the week shooting at each other, now were on the same page."

Who cares?

 

[hgc]

You've let me down yet again. Not willing to cop to your position, and nothing to contribute. Too bad. You had so much potential.

 

[Charlie Monoxide]

You've let me down yet again. Not willing to cop to your position, and nothing to contribute. Too bad. You had so much potential.

Hope springs eternal ....

Charlie (hoping you have a nice day) Monoxide

 

[Dorian Gray]

I am wondering if one of the significant outcomes of the Foley fiasco is if religiously motivated (from the Christian "right" evangelical point of view) Republican voters will finally figure out that they've been played for fools by the Republican party.

The central theme of the Republican appeal to this block is homophobia. But the religious nutters have often been suspicious that their agenda is not priority one. Now that their eyes are being opened to the gay men in the Republican ranks, and the moves by the leadership to protect same, will they come to think that they've been used and abused?

NO sir. Denial is one of the most important tools in the Republican toolbox.

 

[peptoabysmal]

That's amazing.
Four sentences... four conspiracy theories.
Flat out amazing.

 

[hammegk]

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/..._part_ii&ns=ThomasSowell&dt=10/11/2006&page=1

Some people say that there is no point voting because there is no difference between the two major parties, and the other parties have no chance of winning. However, there is a difference: the Republicans are disappointing and the Democrats are dangerous.

The Democrats are in Washington pushing for the kinds of things their supporters want: more spending, more immigration, more liberal judges.

But the Republicans have finally stopped nominating liberal judges, after years of putting liberals like David Souter and John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court.

The most that can be said for the current Republicans is that they want to throw away less money than the Democrats. In general, Democrats are the only real reason to vote for Republicans.

hgc etal and the miniscule fraction of voters his mindset represents will never 'get it'.

 

[Hutch]

I am wondering if one of the significant outcomes of the Foley fiasco is if religiously motivated (from the Christian "right" evangelical point of view) Republican voters will finally figure out that they've been played for fools by the Republican party.

The central theme of the Republican appeal to this block is homophobia. But the religious nutters have often been suspicious that their agenda is not priority one. Now that their eyes are being opened to the gay men in the Republican ranks, and the moves by the leadership to protect same, will they come to think that they've been used and abused?

In a (probably futile) attempt to keep on topic before ham-man and hgc go spiraling off to who-knows-where, I think that it will cause the religious conservatives who are now the backbone of the Republicans not to desert the party, but to take even stronger action to dominate it, to 'cleanse' it (my terminology) of those who corrupt it, both politically and morally, so that a truly Christian leadership can take over running the Republicans and restore true Moral and Christian leadership to the United States as the Founding Fathers had intended...

For the record, the above is what I think they want to do--NOT what I want to see happen, in fact I think it would be the beginning of the end of the American experiment if that was to happen.

But that is how I think they will react. We shall see.

IMHO as always.

 

[marksman]

I agree with Hutch. The lesson the religious right will learn is not to abandon the Republicans but to work even harder to get rid of "RiNOs" like Foley, who was not only semi-secretly gay, but also pro-choice.

 

[daredelvis]

I am wondering if one of the significant outcomes of the Foley fiasco is if religiously motivated (from the Christian "right" evangelical point of view) Republican voters will finally figure out that they've been played for fools by the Republican party.

The central theme of the Republican appeal to this block is homophobia. But the religious nutters have often been suspicious that their agenda is not priority one. Now that their eyes are being opened to the gay men in the Republican ranks, and the moves by the leadership to protect same, will they come to think that they've been used and abused?

They will continue to vote Republican because the GOP is the party of "personal responsibility"... ...as long as that person is Clinton.

Daredelvis