Churchgoing closely tied to voting patterns

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Susan Page, USA TODAY
Where will you spend Sunday morning? Will you go to church or Home Depot? Sing in the choir or play golf? Answer that question and you've given the most reliable demographic clue about your vote on Election Day.
Voters who say they go to church every week usually vote for Republicans. Those who go to church less often or not at all tend to vote Democratic.

Forget the gender gap. The "religion gap" is bigger, more powerful and growing. The divide isn't between Catholics and Protestants, Jews and Gentiles. Instead, on one side are those of many faiths who go to services, well, religiously: Catholics who attend Mass without fail, evangelical Christians and mainline Protestants who show up for church rain or shine, some Orthodox Jews. On the other side are those who attend religious services only occasionally or never.

The religion gap is the leading edge of the "culture war" that has polarized American politics, reshaped the coalitions that make up the Democratic and Republican parties and influenced the appeals their presidential candidates are making. The debate over same-sex marriage is expected to make it wider than ever this year. Gay rights, partial-birth abortion, definitions of patriotism and other "values" issues are likely to exacerbate the divide between the most observant and others.

more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-06-02-religion-gap_x.htm

[Kolesar]

1. Here is the media, hard at work keeping the wedge issues alive

Budgets are busted, glaciers are melting, and the world is burning down. Ordinarily people would vote on the war and the economy, but USAT would rather promote the GOP plans.

They do have it correctly that there is a correlation between church attendence and voting patterns. I see it as an opportunity to get the "non-church goers" back to the ballot box. Then the far right will be overpowered electorally.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. *siiigh* The spiritual left votes too, Ms. Page.

Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/liberalchristians.htm

[Kolesar]

6. Nice website!`

I always wondered how "proportional representation" worked. It would be good if some states tried it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Thanks :^)

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. in other words

People who belive they are right despite of an overwhelming lack of evidence to support their beliefs choose the Republican Party over the Democratic Party.

Why does that not suprise me.

[napi21]

4. I disagree with this writers conclusions.

I have gone to church every Sunday since I was born, and have always voted Dem. I live in Ga. now, but was originaly from Western Pa. The difference I see between the 2 parts of the country seems to be more reflective of a more independant thinking in the North, and follow the leader in the South. I don't know of any Yankees who would have continued to support Jim Baker after his arrest & conviction, but they did here.

Yes, gay rights, PB abortion, etc. are concerns in all parts of the country, but so are things like the war, the refusal of a Pub congress to extend un-employment benefits, funding for schools, the intrusion of the Patriot Act, etc.

There are people on both sides who disagree with parts of Dem goals & Pub goals, but thinkers will look at goth and support the one that is mostly aligned with their desires. Group thinkers follow whatever they are told is right.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Oh, believe me. We have our follow-the-leader types up here

That kind of mindset is the hallmark of conservative thinking almost everywhere.

[Killarney]

8. Separation of church and state my ass

when you have churches and bishops telling you who to vote for.
:argh:

[cheezus]

9. Just shows what happens when you think for yourself

[Auntie Bush]

10. Bush* will go down is history as "The Great Divider"

I think we should start referring to him by that name.