Democratic voters divided, GOP voters united over social issues

[The Straight Story]

Democratic voters divided, GOP voters united over social issues, survey says
May 16, 2005
By Michael Foust

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Republican voters are essentially united but Democratic voters sharply divided on such social issues such as "gay marriage" and the display of the Ten Commandments, a new nationwide survey shows.

The survey of 2,000 adults by the Pew Research Center shows that while Republicans have their disagreements -- such as over economic issues -- Democrats are split over many of today's hot-button cultural issues.

"Despite differing degrees of religious intensity among core Republican groups, there is little evidence that the current slate of moral and values-oriented issues threatens to divide the Republican electoral base in any significant way," the survey says. "... Overall, divisions over social and religious issues continue to be far more intense on the left than on the right."

By asking a series of questions Pew divided voters in each party into three groups. Republicans consist of enterprisers (those who are pro-business), social conservatives and pro-government conservatives. Democrats are made up of liberals, disadvantaged Democrats (those who are struggling financially) and conservative Democrats.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=20794

[sarcasmo]

1. Right wing news source not a credible story.

[The Straight Story]

14. So we should not post anything from CNN, et al?

Because it seems to me they have become a right wing news lapdog, as have many other papers/outlets (at least according to many here)

[NuttyFluffers]

17. sure, why not? i won't miss not hearing anything from CNN, et al

would you?

remember the concept "no such thing as bad publicity,"? so let's give them no publicity. why waste time with proven compromised sources.

[The Straight Story]

18. Then I hope on any thread where a story is posted from such

places it is brought to their attention that it is a RW news source and disregard the story.

:)

[liveoaktx]

2. Uh... Source is the Southern Baptist Convention News......

[Maat]

6. Richard Land is one of several prominent Southern Baptists ..

who are advisors to Booosh, and this site, which I have read for a year, virtually functioned as Republican headquarters for the months preceeding the November presidential election.

"Kerry bad, Bush good" was the constant theme.

I read it because I want to know what my Religious Right relatives are being fed.

[The Straight Story]

15. Which is, in many ways, the whole point

To better confront those that are, if you will - against us, I find it prudent to monitor and expose what it is they are saying in a public way.

You may not believe what they say - but a lot of people do. Expose them, email them, blog about em, hit them head on and discuss it in the open.

Middle of the road people lurk here quite a bit (and I too lurked since way back when DU was started, read the site daily). I know baptists read this site as well. Hopefully they will get an education as to WHY things in BP are wrong.

[kwolf68]

3. Well not really

I know many Republicans who are not for the death penalty and I've met only a handful (only the most fascist) who will defend Bush's environmental policies. There are other areas as well.

There are areas they differ, but their interests don't seem to contradict.

The social lunatics vote with the anti-government Libertarian types. Social Darwinism meet Jesus Christ basically...and they lock-step to the polls together promoting two visions diametrically opposed to each other.

[BattyDem]

4. that's because Dems aren't required to drink the KoolAid in order to ...

be considered "loyal" to the party. Dems are encouraged to think for themselves and have their own opinions, without forcing those opinions on someone else.

[AlinPA]

5. I believe the republican party is now driven by hatred of gay people.

If it were not for the "gay marriage issue" and the hate and intolerance of their base, their national party would be a lot weaker.

[AirAmFan]

20. Instead of "GOP", their nickname should be 'HSP', for 'Hateful Scapegoater Party'

[Lerkfish]

7. so...the DLC concept to abandon gay rights would only splinter us

further.

[Todd B]

8. From the sound of things:

It looks like the are lumping the Progressives, Greens, and Democrats together while only including the mainline Republicans on the other side.

Why don't they conduct the survey featuring members of the Libertarian and Constitution Party and then see how united the Republicans are on certain issues.

Oh, and I love their idea of who Republicans and Democrats are - could they be any more biased? Basically they are saying that Republicans consist of those who like to work hard and support the government while Democrats are poor, "liberal", and borderline Republican. Riiiight.

[Warren DeMontague]

9. Once again, the fact that

THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE PRO-CHOICE

seems to escape their notice.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. why do we contantly post the repukes "talking points" for them?

[The Straight Story]

13. So we can publically tear them down

instead of letting them go unanswered.

If this is the message many people are getting, let's get our leaders to work on getting the facts straight.

[cestpaspossible]

11. About Baptist Press

Baptist Press (BP) has been the daily national news service of Southern Baptists since 1946. BP circulates to 40 state Baptist newspapers with a combined readership of 1.16 million and has a central bureau in Nashville, Tenn., as well as four active bureaus in Richmond, Va., Atlanta, LifeWay Christian Resources, and Washington. BP News -- witness the difference! Covering the critical issues that shape your life, work and ministry.

BP Sports, formed in September 2000, is a division of Baptist Press and provides daily scores and sports features from the 56 colleges and universities affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention as well as special features on professional Christian athletes and coaches. BP Sports -- sports with a spiritual attitude! Sharing the witness of Christ in athletics.
http://www.bpnews.net/aboutus.asp

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

12. This is crap!!!

Pure nonsense. The fiscally responsible and socially moderate/liberal Republicans are fed up and more angry than the Democrats, if that is possible.

As the Rapturist Right keeps demanding their extremist agenda and then GETTING their demands met, the moderate/liberal Republicans will be voting for Democrats in large numbers. Why do they think there were groups like 'Republicans for Kerry' and Christy Todd Whitman's book...oh ya, the Republican party is just one big happy family...NOT!!!!:rant:

[AirAmFan]

16. Makes sense: For the hateful GOP, 'social issues' is code for many among

those excluded from any voice in the Republican Party: the poor, feminists, African-Americans, gays, Hispanics, non-Christians, immigrants, ex-offenders, city dwellers, etc. Republicans can be unanimous in their contempt for all of these groups, and unite themselves in a "two-minute Hate" directed at any one of them.

However, for Democrats, "social issues" involve US. We do not exclude any of the aformentioned groups, and therefore we cannot revel in united contempt for any of them.

[LittleClarkie]

19. Indeed. They are united in their hate. How nice.

I'm thrilled for them. Really.