The American Spectator

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Evangelical Turnout

10.12.07 @ 12:01AM

SOUL SURVIVORS
Re: W. James Antle III's Left Behind:

These TAS pro-Rudy articles sound as if they are inspired by the Kossacks and seem engaged in bullying. It's more Metro-Con talk that will truly lead to marginalization with the Democrats becoming a new permanent majority, the PRI of the north, that ruled weakly opposed for 70-80 years to the south of us. Sorry, you can't respect a different opinion.
-- David Bartlett

W. James Antle III has chastised the Christian conservative voter with his article "Left Behind" for not stepping in earlier to promote a Republican candidate compatible with our beliefs.

In my view, it is not our job to drive the Republican Party in any direction. We are more like customers. In other words, Christian voters are not as tied to the party as the Republicans think. The point that Mr. Antle misses is that we have a higher authority. Faith is the driving motivation for the Christian conservative.

When Ronald Reagan ran for President, we had someone who appeared to share our beliefs. We supported him mainly due to his strong inner core values. Since then, the Republican Party has assumed that we would be a solid part of their base no matter what. They could treat us as the Democrats treat their base.

I'm with Dr. Dobson one hundred percent. I will not vote for someone like Rudy Giuliani. If that causes Hillary to be elected, so be it. I have faith that things will work out as long as I do not compromise by voting for the lesser of two evils. A lesser evil is still evil.
-- Rob Curtis
Alton, Illinois

Yes, electing Hillary Clinton would be a disaster--as would electing Giuliani. As a "social conservative" myself, I am confronted with a dilemma: Do I vote for someone with essentially identical views on social issues as Clinton (Giuliani), or do I not and adhere to my principles. Hmm. Tough one. What do I do? Time's up! My principles win. We social conservatives must vote on principle. Besides, why do we have to compromise our principles and they do not?
-- Terry L. Robb
Columbia, Missouri

I just love Rudy. I always have admired the man. Fred Thompson looks like he's not feeling well. Rudy is strong here in Ohio. People that I assume would vote for someone else, express their support for Rudy and it's intense. People, in my social circles that are mad at the Republican Party will express a slight interest in Obama, but when you ask them about voting for Hillary, they freak out! Most Democrat men dislike Hillary. That's my two cents.
-- Vicki Gattuso
Akron, Ohio

I am a Protestant, evangelical, Christian conservative who has in the past protested abortion, supported pro-life pregnancy counseling centers, and remain personally opposed to dumbing marriage downwards. Having said that, I plan to vote for Rudy Giuliani, simply because he is the best leader who is a candidate in this election. He proved himself under fire on 9/11 and during the weeks and months following.

Since Ronald Reagan assumed office, we've had "conservatives" in power except for the Clinton years. We are still aborting as many unborn babies as we were 25 years ago. We have continued the slippery slide down the redefining marriage slope. Why? Because "the hearts and minds" of the population have not been changed.

I respect Dr. Dobson. But I'd rather have Rudy in office, and be praying every day for his mind to change on some of these issues, than to torpedo the Republican Party and elect Hillary (with less than 50% of the popular vote).
-- Clint Wilkinson, D.M.D.

I think that our (religious right) wins in 2000 and 2004 showed us that our votes matter, but what it also did was make us sit up and take note of how things really work in elections. As a result I think that religious voters are a more politically savvy bunch than we were a few years ago. More savvy in a way to make us realize that if we stay home we could very well affect the election in a negative way and see Hillary become president of the United States! That scenario is just too scary to contemplate. While I do love Dr. Dobson, I think this time he will not have the majority of religious voters behind him. I, for one, will vote for the Republican candidate, whoever that is, because he can't be worse for our country than a Democrat!
-- Deane Pradzinski
Highland, California

Mr. Antle well spells out the dividing line between fiscal conservatives and social ones. The former have no honor or core principles other than personal greed, which is partly why there's such a divide between Dobson and his ilk and fiscal conservatives.

I'm Catholic and conservative strongly agree with Dobson that those such as I will not support a queer-loving, pro-abortion hedonist, not even at the near certainty of throwing the election to Hillary, whom I despise. The same may said of the Mormon, Romney, for whom I'll not vote under any circumstance whatsoever.

Should either of them capture the GOP nomination, I, unaffiliated, will vote 3rd party or not vote in the general election.

Letter to the Editor

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