I think one thing that prevents Democrats from making much headway into this group is the utter inability of most in the progressive community to actually talk to religious voters without condescending towards them. When we state that they don't analyze using facts, but rely on theology, we do tend to tick even the most intelligent of them off.
For the religious voter, their faith simply IS. It is not up for debate in the political arena. Policy prescriptions are, but their faith is not. And denigrating it by suggesting that they are out to lunch will certainly keep progressives from winning any allies in that movement, even on issues where they should be vocal supporters.
This and other comments in this thread demonstrate one of the saddest dynamics in politics today; pitting ourselves against one of the chief voices for justice and mercy in the world.
The following figures come from the University of Akron's surveys of the American electorate befoe and after the 2004 election. Traditional Evangelicals are basically the Religious Right, Centrist Evangelicals are part of a moderately conservative bloc of voters, and Modernist Evangelicals are relatively liberal.
Pardon the lack of vertical alignment; I don't know how to post tables.
Partisanship Percent Rep. Ind. Dem. D-R Electorate 100.0 38 20 42 4 All Evang. Protestant 26.3 56 17 27 -29 Traditional Evang. 12.6 70 10 20 -50 Centrist Evang. 10.8 47 23 30 -17 Modernist Evang. 2.9 31 25 44 13
Ideology Percent Cons. Mod. Lib. L-C Electorate 100.0 35 43 22 -13 All Evang. Protestant 26.3 55 31 14 -41 Traditional Evang. 12.6 66 25 9 -57 Centrist Evang. 10.8 48 36 16 -32 Modernist Evang. 2.9 30 39 31 1
Importance of religion to political thinking Percent Important Somewhat Not Imp. NI-Imp Electorate 100.0 39 24 37 -2 All Evang. Protestant 26.3 58 21 21 -37 Traditional Evang. 12.6 81 10 9 -72 Centrist Evang. 10.8 41 32 27 -14 Modernist Evang. 2.9 21 27 52 31
Issue Priority Percent Economy Foreign Culture Pol. Proc. Electorate 100.0 43 30 20 7 All Evang. Protestant 26.3 35 30 29 6 Traditional Evang. 12.6 27 27 40 6 Centrist Evang. 10.8 40 32 22 6 Modernist Evang. 2.9 55 29 11 5
2004 Vote Percent Bush Kerry K-B Turnout Electorate 100.0 51 49 -2 61 All Evang. Protestant 26.3 78 22 -56 63 Traditional Evang. 12.6 88 12 -76 69 Centrist Evang. 10.8 64 36 -28 52 Modernist Evang. 2.9 48 52 4 65
