Huckleberries Online

Poll: Religion & Politics Do Mix

Posted by DFO

Dec. 11, 2009 2:51 p.m. • 26 comments

Americans’ intensity of religious belief is a strong predictor of whether they call themselves Republicans or Democrats, a new analysis from Gallup shows. Republicans who identify themselves as “highly religious” outnumber Democrats 49% to 37%, according to the analysis of more than 29,000 people polled last month. Meanwhile, 56% of those in the “not religious” category were Democrats, compared to 26% who identified as Republicans. The poll also found that African Americans tend to be Democrats regardless of religious intensity/USA Today. More here.

Question: Does your religious or nonreligious outlook affect which political party you belong to?

26 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Smacky on December 11 at 3:03 p.m.
Nope. But I wonder if a study has ever been conducted on whether party affiliation is indicative of Christian behavior, and not just lipservice. I may “identify” myself as a good driver, but that means absolutely nothing if I drive like a maniac.
poolman on December 11 at 3:07 p.m.
There is no such thing as a Democrat Mormon - just saying…

Actually I think this also holds true for the % of total income that people donate to charities.
Smacky on December 11 at 3:23 p.m.
Actually poolman, I know quite a few Mormons who support democratic issues and politicians. Some I know have run on the Dem ticket.

It is amazing to me how we’ve accepted wholesale generalities and assumptions of lifestyle and behavior based on who one chooses to vote for. Complete rubbish.
simpleton on December 11 at 3:36 p.m.
I didn’t consider myself “highly religious” until I read the survey definition. I know a lot of people who fit this category, and they are both democrats and republicans.
Bubblehead on December 11 at 3:38 p.m.
I’m a Mormon and an Idaho Democrat. I guess that blows poolman’s theory out of the water. Unless, maybe, I don’t really exist… But then that would mean my family doesn’t exist, either; as they’re all Mormons and Democrats.
DFO on December 11 at 3:42 p.m.
Bubblehead; long time no hear. You’re always welcome at Huckleberries Online. How you doing healthwise?
Phaedrus on December 11 at 3:42 p.m.
I’m a Liberal and a Christian, because Jesus was a Liberal.
DFO on December 11 at 3:44 p.m.
I’m a card-carrying Evangelical whose probably got a lot of ‘splaining to do when I reach the Pearly Gates for voting for so many Dems during my years on this mortal coil. ;-)
Bubblehead on December 11 at 3:46 p.m.
I’m doing great; cancer still seems to be completely gone, and I only have to go back every 6 months to make sure it’s still gone. I’ve even stopped losing weight (which I almost wish I could start again).
Smacky on December 11 at 3:47 p.m.
I believe all the fundies will have lots of “splainin to do” for their holier than thou attitude towards their fellow men. Since when did Christianity become a contest?
Cabbage Boy on December 11 at 3:50 p.m.
Phaed, did Jesus tell you that? Or did you forget your ;)
Sisyphus on December 11 at 3:52 p.m.
poolman there was a time when Mormons could be counted on for 40% of a vote for Democrats. We have some outstanding Mormon Democrats including Governor Evans, Congressman Stallings, Representative Ruchti in Pocatello and Bubblehead. And while they tend to be monolithic Republican these days, that can change. You might check the religious affiliation of Kieth Allred for example. I’m not sure but I heard tell he may be of the faith.
nic on December 11 at 3:54 p.m.
“Since when did Christianity become a contest?”

It’s a contest? How come no one told me?
MatthewRoot on December 11 at 3:58 p.m.
Senator Harry Reid is a member of the LDS church. Pretty sure he is a Democrat.
Me on December 11 at 3:59 p.m.
I’m shocked I tell you! Everyone knows the Morman church is just a cult :)
trishgannon on December 11 at 4:08 p.m.
Perfect opening for something I’ve been wondering about for the last few days. When I meet someone who’s obviously intelligent, I’m not able to predict with any certainty whether they classify themselves as a Republican or a Democrat. But when I meet someone who’s obviously ignorant… 90 percent of the time they identify as a Republican (this observation excludes anyone under the age of 18). Why is that? And I’m actually being serious here, not just a smart aleck like I usually am.
simpleton on December 11 at 4:19 p.m.
trishgannon:

It’s the region we live in. Some people are Republican’s because they believe what the party believes and have come to that conclusion as a conscious choice. Others are Republican’s because that’s what their mama and papa are. (Both apply to Democrats as well). In areas where Republicans are the majority you will find many that fit the second category, like in Idaho. I believe the same would hold true for Democrats in other parts of the country, say California. Of course, I’ve never lived in a place where there were a majority Democrats so I haven’t been able to test my theory.
Me on December 11 at 4:24 p.m.
Oh come on Trish - that one is sooooo easy. Geeze even I know that its because we are dumb. R=dumb

;)
Phaedrus on December 11 at 4:31 p.m.
Phaed, did Jesus tell you that? Or did you forget your ;)

I read it in a book, the Bible, I think they call it.
poolman on December 11 at 4:32 p.m.
OK - I should have said - I’ve never met a Democrat Mormon – or maybe I have and just didn’t know it. Of course there are a few Urban Mormon Democrats out there, but the overwhelming majority are Republican. It’s the primary reason why Idaho and Utah will always be Red on Election Day.

Did I mention that Glenn Beck recently converted to Mormonism?
Charles_Dixon on December 11 at 4:46 p.m.
Jesus as a liberal. Always good for a laugh. It’s always interesting to see a party that emphatically declares itself to be averse to preaching any morality adopt Jesus as some sort of member or endorser.

Why do Dems not think it’s as big of a deal when Dem politicians get caught with their pants down as when GOP politicians do? Because, we’re told over and over, Dems don’t claim to be the party of morality. They’re the live and let live party. The I’m okay you’re okay party. The I don’t judge anyone party (unless you’re a conservative, in which case you’re nothing but a @#$@#$@#$@#$@#).

And no, I hardly think Christ would be a member of the GOP either, but that’s not the topic here.
simpleton on December 11 at 4:51 p.m.
I remember from some philosophy course in college that the true meaning of “liberal” was those in favor of change, and “conservative” being those opposed to change. Using that definition seems to me Jesus was a lot more liberal than conservative. Just saying.
Stickman on December 11 at 4:59 p.m.
trish: I doubt you are being serious here. At least I hope not.
Stickman on December 11 at 5:07 p.m.
If you are, come by and meet me sometime, and then add me to your theory.
mike_s on December 11 at 5:14 p.m.
Too bad our political system is too corporate to embrace the values of Jesus. We’d live in an entirely different world.
Arch_Druid on December 12 at 11:52 a.m.
Try abandoning the values of Jesus. That is why Jesus becomes a partisan figurehead to render a blessing to something that in his lifetime, he would have absolutely opposed.

A generally good thread.

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.