|
PROSPERITY:
Economic Policy | October 20, 2004
ECONOMIC
VS.
SOCIAL
CONSERVATIVES
An
E-Mail to a DNC Member
In
Response to a Speech by Al Gore
Excellent,
as always from Mr. Gore. The comparisons of Bush policy and
practices to Orwell's dire predictions are bloodcurdling.
One
significant point on which I would disagree. The GOP is indeed
composed of two basic groups, the economic conservatives and
the social (religious) conservatives; but according to an old
Pew Center study (which I firmly believe still holds true),
the religious right differs with the economic right when it
comes to issues of assistance to the poor and other
"downtrodden" people (as long as the programs
are not weighted towards racial minorities). Clinton won
by exploiting that division and winning half of all born-again
Christians; Clinton pressed the issue of poverty and Bush the
First's being out of touch and not helping the poor.
Jobs
are the similar issue in today's economy; a lot of the working
poor are devout Christians who are very sensitive to the
candidates' sensitivity on help for the disadvantaged or the
"down on their luck". It really hits home and is
given weight by the gospel of the Last Judgment: Whatsoever
you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.
Sensitivity on that issue should be decisive to many socially
conservative, yet economically moderate voters in areas
that have lost many jobs, as in OH and WI. When Clinton said,
"It's the economy, stupid" it resonated with such
voters; and even with the problems overseas, jobs and the
economy are #1 issues in those swing states.
Winning
over socially moderate, economically conservative voters is
key to winning Sun Belt states; winning over socially
conservative, economically moderate voters is key to winning
Rust Belt states.
Return to
Archive of PROSPERITY: Economic Policy
Home
| Editor |
Values
& Issues
| Feedback
| Legal | Links |
