From the 10,000-foot view, the issue of abortion is a game-changer for the Democratic Party in the 2022 mid terms., but Biden, Pelosi and Schumer will end up with fool’s gold if they expect abortion rights alone to prevent the congress from flipping. The latest proof is from a recent Reuters Poll, where the economy remains the undisputed top concern of voters.
For the 43rd-consecutive week, a plurality of voters surveyed named the economy as the nation’a most important issue, with 33% of voters, including 42% of Republicans and 24% of Democrats naming it their top issue. Crime was the second-highest category for voters in both parties, yet it came in at 11%, merely an afterthought by comparison.
While there’s no doubt that young liberal female turnout will increase in November, social issues won’t outweigh a housing market downturn, inflation and other financial challenges. An important fact for Democrats to consider as they craft their campaign messaging is that when voters are wondering how they will put food on their table, social issues go to the backburner. Middle-aged voters, especially those approaching their 50’s, won’t shake the fear of seeing their 401k’s evaporate to focus on the arduous and battle to expand abortion access. In northern and West Coast states, where abortion laws aren’t strict, residents won’t see any new restrictions on abortion, which means that statewide candidates will have to get far more thoughtful with their pitches to suburban families who see no changes impacting their local region. They may view Democratic culture wars as a diversion from other pressing issues.
That leaves southern states and the mid-west, ”Deep South” and Appalachian states, where far more voters consider themselves Christian conservatives. National news outlets seem to forget that those socially conservative voters will be more inspired to vote Republican, which may cancel-out social liberal turnout where Republicans have a decent lead of active registered voters..
Republicans have a tougher path to flip the House, but Democrats still face even greater odds to maintain their control, regardless of the Supreme Court’s overturning Roe vs. Wade.
Opinion: National Media’s Use of ‘Evangelical Christianity’ Label is Intellectually Lazy and Inaccurate
For decades, mainstream media has applied the phrase “Evangelical Christian” in a manner that implies the majority of protestants active in their respective churches are included in the category. Any reputable journalist who researched “evangelical megachurch” leaders would discover that while there are several groups among Christians that could be deemed “evangelical” due to their desire to share their faith with friends, family and occasional strangers, the churches that show the most support for Trump are Charismatic Pentecostal Christians. The largest denomination representing this known as the “Assemblies of God” church. (*There are also plenty of random non-denominational churches, which aren’t bound to any particular doctrine, so they can’t be categorized any further.)
In several key areas of doctrine and practice, Assemblies of God churches operate and interpret scripture in a distinctly different manner than the largest historical denominations such as Southern Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians and Methodists. Key differences between AG churches and other denominations include belief in the power of healing oils, speaking in tongues, psychic prophetic visions and instant medical healing through prayer, often seen on cable TV. The sensationalistic style of these pastors is often parodied and mocked in satirical comedies.
One of the reasons Trump was able to build such a strong support base from this group is that many charismatics have built-in distrust of western medicine and major institutions including the federal government, particularly the FDA and CDC. AG churches also preach an apocalyptic view of the world where current news headlines are regularly compared to passages in the book of Revelation. This weekly exercise fuels conspiracy theories and distrust of authority, which thrived throughout the COVID outbreak and Trump’s claim of a stolen election by the “establishment”, namely Washington D.C. “elites.”
As a Christian of more than 30 years, I feel compelled to point out these vital differences, because there are millions of Christians who don’t boycott Western Medicine or overlook Trump’s actions, or believe that Washington DC is overrun by people who drink the blood of infants. Sadly, the vocal minority receives the most attention from the press and is viewed as Protestant Christianity’s unofficial bellwether.