Did GOP candidates really avoid moral and religious talk when courting black voters?

[rug]

July 31, 2015
by Terry Mattingly

If you follow trends among African-American voters, you know that they tend to be more conservative on moral and social issues than other key players in the modern Democratic Party coalition. There have been some small shifts among younger African-Americans on issues such as abortion and gay rights, but the basic trends can still be seen.

So, African-American voters are more culturally conservative than most other Democrats, but they have remained very loyal when venturing into the voting booths – especially in the Barack Obama era.

But one other factor should be mentioned. If Republicans are going to find any black voters that are willing to cross over and ACT on their more conservative values, it is highly likely that those voters will be found among those who frequent church pews. That isn't surprising, is it?

Thus, I would like GetReligion readers to dig into the following Washington Post story that focuses on attempts by GOP candidates – including Dr. Ben Carson – to recruit some additional black voters to their cause. The headline gives zero clue as to what this very long political story is about: "Clinton takes a swipe at Jeb Bush’s ‘Right to Rise.' "

http://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2015/7/31/did-gop-candidates-avoid-moral-and-religious-talk-when-courting-black-voters

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-see-opportunities-with-a-changing--and-skeptical--black-electorate/2015/07/31/388c35a4-372a-11e5-9d0f-7865a67390ee_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

[onecaliberal]

1. So republicans fail to talk about religion

With a group known to be very religious.

Color me shocked, not.