http://www.religionnews.com/2015/12/22/f...d-funding/

Quote:Evangelist Franklin Graham has announced he is abandoning the Republican Party in disgust over the move by the GOP-led Congress last week to pass a budget that Graham said was “wasteful” and provided funding for Planned Parenthood, which he compared to the Nazis.

Graham has previously said he has no faith in any political party, but his apparent renunciation of his Republican affiliation is an indication of anger on the right and the strong interest many disaffected evangelicals have shown in populist outsiders such as Donald Trump.

I find this very curious. Are the religious right flocking to Trump over disgust with the establishment GOP? I can't see how evangelicals could embrace Trump given his views in the past. And where does the religious right expect to go if not the GOP? The only thing that can happen is if they stay home on election day. Seems the presidential race is OK, but House and Senate seats may be in jeopardy.

They'll stick with the GOP. The RR has a tendency to spontaneously look the other way when push comes to shove and their choices are Dems, staying home, or a heavily marred GOP candidate.

Romney is a devout Mormon? Suddenly a non-issue.
McCain cheated on his disabled wife and married his mistress? Hey, no problem.

Of course they are in trouble with the religious right. They don't fight for anything.

(12-29-2015 11:46 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  Of course they are in trouble with the religious right. They don't fight for anything.

I've long maintained that the GOP's (short-lived) decision to publicly take a rhetorical stand against planned parenthood was merely paying a perceived debt for losing the marriage equality debate.

(12-29-2015 11:49 AM)Hitch Wrote:  

(12-29-2015 11:46 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  Of course they are in trouble with the religious right. They don't fight for anything.

I've long maintained that the GOP's (short-lived) decision to publicly take a rhetorical stand against planned parenthood was merely paying a perceived debt for losing the marriage equality debate.

I mean, it doesn't even have to be Planned Parenthood or gay marriage. Pick something, anything, and fight for it to get the religious right energized. Make something up out of thin air if you have to like the democrats do.

(12-29-2015 11:56 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(12-29-2015 11:49 AM)Hitch Wrote:  

(12-29-2015 11:46 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  Of course they are in trouble with the religious right. They don't fight for anything.

I've long maintained that the GOP's (short-lived) decision to publicly take a rhetorical stand against planned parenthood was merely paying a perceived debt for losing the marriage equality debate.

I mean, it doesn't even have to be Planned Parenthood or gay marriage. Pick something, anything, and fight for it to get the religious right energized. Make something up out of thin air if you have to like the democrats do.

The problem is that the GOP makes promises they can't possibly keep and then are astounded when the base turns on them.

Repealing the ACA? Not going to happen.
Eliminating the tax code and starting over? Not going to happen.
Eliminating x, y, z federal agencies/departments? Not going to happen.
Passing a Constitutional Amendment for a social issue? Not going to happen.

At least the Dems stick to things that are more realistic by pledging to "save" government that is in no danger of elimination. Social security, minimum wage, medicare, etc. are safe and sound.

of the four you mention, hitch.. i could see 1 happening:

"Eliminating x, y, z federal agencies/departments? Not going to happen."

This is probably one of the few that could happen. A president simply doesn't appoint anyone to take over a department and it's pretty much shuttered.. .Or he merges it into another dept.

"Repealing the ACA? Not going to happen. "

It's why Romney never ran on immediately getting rid of the ACA.. he ran on the voucher process for opting out as his first statement.

Eliminating the tax code and starting over? Not going to happen.

I'm trying to decide if this _could_ happen or not.. Revamp? Possibly, complete elimination/rewrite.. agreed won't happen.

Passing a Constitutional Amendment for a social issue? Not going to happen.

Total agreement.. Ironically, that gets away from what most conservative voters (IMO) want.

I disagree with you on the Planned Parenthood issue though.. that was not a "we'll make up to voters for failing on.. (insert voting issue here}." The moment those various stories/videos hit the airwaves, you knew something was going to have to happen, and it wasn't just on the religious right arm of the GOP; it was on Catholic Dems voters as well.