Religious voting blocs shift allegiances

[La_Serpiente]

Religious voting blocs shift allegiances

The increasing influence of religion in American life is widely expected to shake up the 2004 presidential contest, realigning some traditional voting blocs in ways that might surprise both major parties, political pollsters and experts say.

Some Jewish and Muslim voters appear to be abandoning their past party affiliations and fewer evangelical Christians may go to the polls, adding to the volatility of the race.

The Bush administration's strategy to lure Jewish voters away from the Democratic Party seems to be working, said pollsters and Jewish leaders, who point to President Bush's support for Israel as one of the reasons for the shift.

Muslims, many of whom supported the president overwhelmingly in 2000, now are working to defeat him. Driven by outrage over what they see as a clampdown on their civil rights and by opposition to U.S. policy in the Middle East, Muslims across the country are holding registration drives, hoping to mobilize 1 million voters to try to oust Bush.

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Religious Voting Blocs Shift Alliances

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Interesting

Thanks for posting it. I can hear Ann Coulter now. "The Liberals are overwhelmingly supported by Islamic terrorists flocking to their masses united with there hate America ideology. They're breeding terrorists and traitors! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

[izzie]

3. I think you may be right.

What is it about Christians that go way to the right, think killing anything that moves is the way to go?What happened to live and let live? This Pew does some interesting things. You know when I grew up the South was very poor and the North wanted it to get modern and up to date. Now we have the needy states of the South getting to be the GOP states and the ones that get the money and I think the Northern states are the ones that still pay in the money. How come?Nice to see a map on that,in the Red and Blue style.With the church stuff added.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. You knwo this is what we need

a revival, we have them every so often, and I believe Falwell and
others have been pushing for one, but oh boy

[Kolesar]

4. I wish we could get Amish and Jehova Witness pacifists to vote

They could voted against the war monger

[grok]

5. It's a pity, but true..

Many of the great thinkers of the Left/Liberal are Jewish. They are a fantastic asset. Yet, there may not be a replacement of the same in the future.

But NOT because the repugs are so great at defending israel and Jews. Democrats have done better. If we look at ourselves, it is because of whom we often have alliances with. Yes, anti-Z forces that are loud and forceful. With MUCH justified morality on their side. But also much blatant and undisguised anti-semitism. Jewish-Americans are NOT blind and deaf. They hear and see quite well

A Jewish-American voter looks at that and it tugs at his not-so-distant memories of the holocaust and pogroms. And has to decide. And may take the easy, emotional road.

Unfortunately it is unavoidable. We have to listen to our Arab siblings in this country. They deserve to have their concerns heard. It IS the moral thing to do, just that a price will have to be paid.

Grok